Finding a place to stay along the road through Banten

Finding a place to stay along the road through Banten

The Jakarta Post, in cooperation with Banten West Java Tourism
Development Corporation, is presenting weekly issues on the
Banten region. This week's issue is on finding accommodation and
what you can do on your trip.

Transparent water the color of brilliant turquoise ripples and
catches the sun on a clear day outside bungalows overlooking a
quiet white sandy beach dotted with swaying palms. No one is
around, except the occasional waiter quietly refilling your
drink. This has got to be the ultimate escape, and it's hard to
believe this is only two hours away from Jakarta.

Banten is the most western part of Java and it offers many
retreats along its coastline which cater to a vast range of
tastes, guaranteeing that much-needed rest or adventure you are
looking for.

Here's a brief sampling of where you can stay and spend your
hard-earned leisure time.

A major first on the road along the West Java coastline is
Hotel Mambruk Anyer, a four-star hotel located on seven
landscaped hectares of land right on the beach near the landmark
Mercu Suar lighthouse, which was built by the Dutch.

Privacy is a main feature here, whether your trip is for
pleasure or business. Mambruk, one of the best established hotel
resorts in the area, is owned by a famous model of the 1970s and
1980s, Enny Soekamto, and boasts a private white sandy beach
surrounded by nature, two swimming pools -- one near the beach
and another more private one near the garden area -- and outdoor
facilities for beach volleyball, tennis, billiards and table
tennis.

This hotel caters to everyone in your entourage. Children are
well-accommodated and welcome with a playground to romp in,
various activities and an around-the-clock child care service.

One could simply partake in lounging around and drinking one's
favorite cocktail or beer at the outdoor bar, but being in one of
the world's best deep-sea fishing areas, casting a line at least
once in these waters should not be missed. The staff says the
Sunda Strait is far from overfished and includes a healthy
population of marlin.

The hotel hires out 12-seater speed boats and guides are
recommended for swift delivery to prime fishing spots.

A "squid hunt" places you and two other friends in a
traditional four-seater boat with a guide. The trip, from 7 p.m.
to 11 p.m. costs only Rp 25,000 a head and whatever you catch is
yours.

Activities on the water are not limited to great fishing.
Visitors can arrange jetskiing, snorkeling and scuba diving.
After a U.S. navy diver dived in waters off the coast of Ujung
Kulon National Park in 1987, he concluded the area was "of world-
class standard equivalent to Bunaken in North Sulawesi in terms
of sea life".

All dive equipment and a dive master are on hand; however,
diving experience is necessary as an instructor is not available
for first-timers. It is recommended to organize diving
expeditions through one of the numerous dive operators in Jakarta
prior to your trip down.

Back on the surface, why not take in a climb on Mt. Krakatau
which looms majestically across the strait. A boat can be
arranged to take you and your party on a one-hour trip there,
when it is advised safe by the Meteorology and Geophysics Center.
Or, if wildlife, jungles and explorations are on your itinerary,
turn left and head for the amazing Ujung Kulon National Park,
which can be toured within a day, or with an overnight stay
included if you wish. All can be arranged through the hotel.

After a hard day playing, nighttimes turn social and are just
as busy with a new outdoor disco recently opened at the resort's
marina. The Rocks plays a mix of older rock and new pop songs,
and should be visited just for the interior's theme alone.
Everything from the furniture to the bar is made from stone,
evoking never-ending comments from patrons of the connection to
the Flintstones cartoon characters.

On Saturday nights, a special cultural performance along with
a beach barbecue is a must. A traditional Sundanese Rampak Bedug
involves costumed drummers whose rhythmic playing and dancing is
an unforgettable show to capture on film.

Mambruk is ideal for families venturing away together as sea
or garden view bungalows are available which can accommodate four
adults and four children. The bungalows also have a dining room,
living room and kitchenette and are good value at Rp 700,000 for
a sea-view bungalow and Rp 630,000 for a garden view, plus tax.

If you don't have your own transportation, the hotel is more
than happy to pick you up from Jakarta or the airport, either by
car or bus at a minimal charge. You'll miss the traffic by
starting out on Friday night, and, upon your return home, it's
recommended you either head out by noon or wait until after 4
p.m. Late checkout is easily arranged to 6 p.m or 7 p.m., so you
can avoid the peak hours from 2 p.m to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

The Sol Elite Marbella, also in Anyer, caters to the
energetic, and that includes children, for whom it has put
together a full schedule, which starts in the morning and goes
well into the early evening. Painting, pillow fights, swimming
lessons, shuffle board, sand castle building, watching cartoons
and children's pool games are just some of the activities on
offer for children of all ages. Also, children up to 12 years of
age can stay free of charge when sharing their parents' room.

Adults can choose from a full array of daily activities, which
include archery, minigolf and water volleyball at the hotel, or
head out to the 600-meter-long sandy beach or one of the three
lagoon pools, especially for adults. There's a Jacuzzi, four
tennis courts and beach volleyball to round out your choices. All
water activities from sailing, fishing, waterskiing snorkeling,
diving and boating are available on request.

Sol Elite, the only five-star hotel facility along this
stretch of beach, is relatively new and designed with a Spanish
atmosphere, and is busy during the week as a popular venue for
conferences and corporate meetings.

Further down the coast from Anyer is Carita Beach and Clarion
Suites, which has larger accommodation than what other hotels
offer. The luxury condos, which all include a private balcony
overlooking the sea, are just one part of the resort, which is
under the Lippo Group and the international franchise of Choice
Hotels International. Holiday apartments are also available for
purchase.

The property is ideal for families as it is next to the ocean,
which is more inviting than Anyer with its cleaner water for
swimming and better beaches. A Balinese swimming pool is located
in front of the beach as well. Having this kind of beach makes it
a sin not to take part in the jetskiing, parasailing, banana
boats and scuba diving on offer. Snorkeling is highly recommended
at nearby Putri Gundul Island.

The marina is a draw for keen fishermen who want to take
advantage of the full range of boats available. From small local
boats to ones suitable for deep-sea fishing are of various
quality and can be rented short-term. Trawlers are available if
booked in advance. You can hire one of the captains who know the
area and can find the best fish, or rely on a sonar to locate
schools of fish. Once you catch your fish, it can be cooked on
board or taken home.

Repeat visitors say there are few places in the world where
people can go deep-sea fishing that is so accessible to a major
metropolitan area and offers great value at the same time.
Another visitor said the activities were astoundingly economical
compared to other places around the world. Right now is the
optimum season to go fishing. Premium fishing is limited from May
to October; authorities say that at other times of the year it is
unadvisable for unseasoned fisherman due to rough seas brought on
by the wet season.

The golf enthusiast has easy access to an on-site mini golf
course or the beautiful 18-hole golf course at Permata Krakatau
Golf Course, which is just an hour's drive away. Tennis court
facilities are in the works.

Nature lovers as well as tourists will want to head straight
to the newest resort of Tanjung Lesung, located further down the
coast close to Ujung Kulon. It is unique from others in Anyer and
Carita in that it has a natural unexplored environment and is
close to the national park, making it a prime destination for
many escaping Jakarta for the weekend. At 1,500 hectares, it
dwarfs Nusa Dua in Bali by about six or seven times. Management
attributes the unlimited privacy and tranquility of the place as
what makes it so popular and in high demand. One visitor said
there was no other development in the area so it was great for
bike riding. All the cottages are four-star rated.

Also situated right on the beach, this hotel is the most
similar to accommodations in Bali in terms of design. There is a
beach club with water activities of all kinds, ranging from
kayaking, jetskiing, snorkeling, windsurfing, diving and sailing.

Children are not overlooked at the hotel. They have their own
kids club with plenty of activities to ensure an early bedtime.
Adult activities are on almost every hour, and everyone is
welcome to join in the water polo, Ping-Pong or volleyball.

The Tanjung Lesung Sailing Club, a 10-minute drive from the
hotel, is open to everyone and is in full operation for the
experienced and the first-time sailor. Boat rentals for
nonmembers range from Rp 25,000 to Rp 100,000 an hour. The
sailing club is a separate facility from the hotel and also
offers cottages. Occupancy is mainly concentrated on the weekends
and nonmembers should call in advance before coming down. The
one-and two-bedroom cottages available are basic and natural and
start from Rp 150,000 per night.

The resort is a great base to use for your tours of Ujung
Kulon, Mt. Krakatau and the interior, where the indigenous tribe,
the Baduy, who have retained their ancient Javanese beliefs,
still live in the old way. If you want to step back a few
centuries, here's your chance. A guide is highly recommended for
trips to the isolated community, and it is advised to go through
a reputable travel agency who will provide one. Roads leading to
the remote community are not good, and delays are to be expected,
but the sights and experience are well worth the time and
patience it takes to get there. A certain amount of walking is
required, but it is not strenuous.

Two groups make up the Baduy tribe, the inner group and outer
group. Forget about being able to see the inner group, they have
resisted all influences and contact with the outside world.

But it is possible to visit and stay overnight with the outer
group to experience insights into their way of life. However, one
should realize the comfort level is basic, such as toilet
facilities, which comprise a bridge and a stream below.

Visitors wanting to see the remaining rain forest and
protected wildlife, including wild oxen, hornbills, and the rare
Javan Rhino, clamor for the chance to go to Ujung Kulon.

And although one can do the trip in a day, after a two-hour
boat ride to Ujung Kulon, a minimum of one night's stay is
recommended on a nearby island in order to take in a trip up
river to see more the next day.

Tanjung Lesung resort can arrange trips to Ujung Kulon easily,
but if your plan is to stay for more than a few days it is better
to book in advance.

Due to it being the most popular retreat on the coast
presently, visitors planning a trip here are well advised to call
and book at least one week ahead of time. Management promises to
minimize the groups in order to give more opportunities to
individual travelers but, basically, the more notice one can
give, the better. In compensation, the management is offering a
20 percent discount for those who stay from Monday to Thursday
and for an at least two-night twin share stay.

Tanjung Lesung has major plans for the area. A world-class
marina is under construction, and several hotels will be added as
well as a university, holiday housing estates and a marina
village. (Maria Kegel)