Trip to Krakatau

Trip to Krakatau

I am writing to warn the public about a tour company
(Pandawa/Ivia Tours) advertising a trip to Ujung Kulon and
Krakatau. I recently went on this trip, and was subjected to
danger and recklessness. We had expected quality service since
our guide, Mr. Handoyo, is also the manager of the company. But
from the beginning of the trip, it was obvious the guide was
unqualified, having to constantly ask for directions to Labuan.
He was also discourteous, waking up an hour late for his own
scheduled departure time. The food was very meager, even
considering the constraints of buying "on the road". But these
complaints are minor, compared to the disastrous trip to
Krakatau.

The night before leaving for Krakatau, the guide stressed the
importance of leaving before 6 a.m., "to avoid the large waves".
He slept in again, and we left at 8 o'clock. The trip out to
Krakatau was fortunately uneventful, although the waves were
large. We later found out that the captain of our boat had
advised that the sea was too rough for the journey that day, but
our guide ordered him to go away.

Because we were late getting started on the trip, we were
forced to come back at night. The boat ran aground on coral
reefs. Mr. Handoyo leapt out of the boat and ran to shore,
leaving us stranded. Luckily, some residents of Labuan helped us
to safety. It was then near midnight and we were exhausted. I
urged the guide not to drive us back to Jakarta at that hour. But
the guide, fearing he might have to pay for another night's
accommodation in Labuan, found a driver and told us we could
leave with him or find our own way back to the city. Having no
money, we were forced to accept the ride. The guide said we
should consider ourselves lucky to be alive.

As foreigners, there are plenty of difficulties in finding our
way around a new country, without having to worry about putting
our lives at risk while vacationing.

BRIAN WEMP

Jakarta