The beach or the mountains? It's your choice
The beach or the mountains? It's your choice
T. Sima Gunawan, Contributor, Jakarta
Jakarta is a hot, hectic city, crowded with people and cars.
Luckily, not far from the metropolis, you can find many places
with beautiful views where you can unwind.
You don't have to go as far away to relax and enjoy a
different atmosphere that will refresh your mind and body.
Among the holiday resorts close to Jakarta are Anyer, the
Thousand Islands (Kepulauan Seribu in Indonesian) and Tanjung
Lesung. These are for those who enjoy the sea, while for those
who prefer a cool mountain breeze, Puncak is the place.
Anyer is only about a 90-minute drive from Jakarta. It is quite
easy to get there, thanks to the toll road that connects the two
places. Arriving in Anyer, you can see the sea and hear the
roaring waves from the road. You can park your car and play along
the public beach, which is relatively quiet during weekdays.
There are many hotels and cottages located along the road.
Among them are the Marina Village, Sol Elite Marbela and
Sanghyang Indah Resort, which offer various facilities for sports
and leisure, from snorkeling and fishing to banana boats and jet
skiing.
A room at the Marina Village resort hotel costs between Rp
550,000 and Rp 600,000 (about US$65), while a cottage costs about
Rp 1.5 million a night. Meanwhile at the five-star Sol Elite
Marbela, it costs Rp 900,000 for a standard room and Rp 3.5
million for a special suite with four beds and a living room.
"Every Saturday night there is a debus show, which is a
great attraction for our foreign guests," said Fajri from the
hotel, referring to the famous "magic" show from Banten.
You can also have fun by availing of the water sports
facilities, all of which cost extra. For example, jet skis and
banana boats are available for rent for Rp 150,000 for
15 minutes. If you want to go snorkeling or diving, you can rent
a boat that will take you to the Sanghyang islands, or other
places with beautiful coral reefs, for Rp 850,000. You can also
view the natural beauty of Krakatau volcano from a distance.
"If you want to go diving, you can rent the equipment, but
this is only for certified divers," said Fadjri.
Similar facilities are offered by the Sanghyang Indah Resort,
which charges guests Rp 700,000 for a hotel room and between Rp
1.1 million and Rp 1.25 million for a bungalow.
If spending the holiday on an island is your choice, you can
visit the Thousand Islands in Jakarta Bay or Tanjung Lesung in
Banten, west of Jakarta.
As the name indicates, the Thousand Islands consists of a
great many islands and islets in the waters to the north of
Jakarta. Some of the islands have been developed into tourist
resorts, like Pulau Ayer, Pulau Kotok, Pulau Matahari and Pulau
Bidadari.
Pulau Kotok has 18 bungalows for rent. Each is for two
persons. The cheapest one, which is equipped with a fan rather
than an air-conditioner, costs Rp 600,000 for one person at the
weekend, while the cost of a bungalow is Rp 750,000. On weekdays,
the rate is reduced by Rp 50,000.
"You can go snorkeling near the pier and see the beautiful
coral reef," said Widi Anggoro from Alam Kotok Indah Resort.
The snorkeling equipment is available for rent at a price of
Rp 81,000 per day. You an also rent a boat if you want to go
further afield for snorkeling, or diving to explore the
magnificent underwater scenery. But again, only certified divers
are allowed to dive there.
Tanjung Lesung is another place that is worth visiting. The
150-hectare island is a favorite holiday resort for the whole
family. Sports facilities include basketball, beach volley ball,
jogging, cycling and a mini soccer field, in addition to marine
sports like sailing, diving and fishing.
It is also an ideal departure point for excursions to Krakatau
or Ujung Kulon national park. There are three types of cottages
at Tanjung Lesung. The smallest one has one bedroom for two
people, while the biggest one has four bedrooms for seven people.
It is currently offering special packages for between Rp
625,000 and Rp 2.18 million on weekdays, and between Rp 1.25
million and Rp 4.37 million at weekends. The weekday package
includes breakfast, free use of a bicycle for one hour and free
participation in daily resort activities, while the weekend
package also includes a BBQ dinner, live entertainment and a
local traditional show.
For anyone who prefers to spend their holidays in the mountains
with fresh air and a cool breeze, Puncak is the right place to
go. From Jakarta, it is only about an hour and a half's drive.
But at weekends, the traffic is usually heavy as there are so
many people from the city who like to spend their days off in
Puncak.
After you come off the Jagorawi toll road and begin to ascend,
going up into hills that reach an altitude of 1,500 meters, you
quickly begin to enjoy the cool breeze and wonderful scenery as
well as beautiful views of tea plantations.
Finding a place to stay will not be a problem as there
are many hotels and villas in the area. Accommodation at a cheap
motel could cost less than Rp 100,000 but a suite in a luxury
hotel might set you back millions of rupiah.
Among the spacious resorts are Lembah Bukit Raya, Lembah
Hijau, Ciloto Indah Permai, the Lido Lakes Resort and Novus
Resort & Spa, all of which offer various sports facilities for
the whole family.
The three-star Lembah Hijau sits in 14 hectares of lush
gardens and has 150 hotel rooms, as well as bungalows. The
weekend rate for a standard room is Rp 275,000, including tax and
breakfast for two, and Rp 319,000 for a deluxe room. As for the
bungalows, the smallest one with two bedrooms costs Rp 575,000
while the biggest one with five bedrooms is to be had for Rp 1.88
million.
"We have an indoor swimming pool with hot water, sauna, gym,
facilities for basket ball, volley ball, badminton, pool,
karaoke, fishing, and there is also a hiking trail," said Roy
Souisa, the sales coordinator.
The Novus, which is a four-star hotel, offers rooms for
between Rp 515,000 and Rp 2.88 million per night at weekends. Spa
treatments start from Rp 100,000 per hour.