In Indonesia there is a heavenly island that is not Bali
Not far from Bali, Labuan Bajo is Indonesia’s Special Maritime Tourism.
It is the first day of the semester, I am standing in the middle of my new classmates introducing myself; my name, major and where I come from.
“I’m from Indonesia,” I answered.
I cannot forget either the confusion or the excitement on my mates’ faces. Some does not know where is Indonesia, and some would be so excited and say “Baliii?!”. “Yess, Bali!.” I will be as excited as them too when I think of Bali; surfing on Sanur Beach’s waves, sunbathing, chilling by the pool with ocean view, having spa and massage in Ubud and anything else you can think of to make your summer vacation perfect. Is there more to Indonesia than Bali?
Indonesia is home for 38 provinces, 17,000 islands, and 1,300 distinct native ethnic groups who speak more than 300 local languages. Indonesia’s land is gifted with wonderful beaches, mountains, and the population is highly diverse. This country is awarded as megadiverse country, displaying world’s second greatest biodiversity after the country of Brazil. As Bali now is the most celebrated island in the country, not far from this Dewata Island, with 75 minutes plane ride, lies a cluster of islands in East Nusa tenggara Province. Islands where you can get access to marine life and see the Komodo Dragon. Islands where you can experience the best snorkeling and diving with the crystal clear water and see the fascinating wildlife.
“Labuan Bajo is a port to paradise,” says Irvan Muthalib, a tour leader and entrepreneur in Labuan Bajo. Bajo is the main port for visitors to explore the exotic surrounding islands namely Padar Island, Komodo Island, Kalong Island, Taka Makassar Island and 4 other islands. These places have become the super-priority destination for tourism announced by the local government which means the access and facilities have already been prepared. Visitors also can hop to a UNESCO World Heritage site, Komodo National Park. Indonesia is a maritime country and in Labuan Bajo visitors can experience a special maritime tourism, living on-board, and hopping island to island. Both the land and underwater, and not to mention the sky are astonishing.
Coming back to 2013, Labuan Bajo started to be seen by the local government as a promising future spot of Indonesian Tourism. Labuan Bajo rose to fame following the “Komodo Sail” where people from around the world, especially from Europe, gathered to the island to show off their phinisi and see the mythic endangered dragon, Komodo Dragon.
“Since that event a lot has changed within the island, people are migrating to Labuan Bajo due to its massive job opportunities, investors are coming to build hotels and facilities in the island, and the new airport that was officially opened in 2015 made the access to Bajo easier,” says Irvan. In the first place Labuan was designed specifically for maritime tourism with an addition of seeing the Komodo Dragon. In short, as the tourism grows, the economic and the living quality of the people grow too. Hearing all of these made me very optimistic that Bajo will not only be a great tourist destination but also more importantly will be a blessing for the locals and Indonesian Government themselves. “I am happy and grateful that Labuan Bajo started to be well recognized both in national and international world especially in the last 4 or 5 years, the growth has been super impactful for the infrastructure of the land and the locals.” Irvan adds.
One of the unique experiences in Labuan Bajo is living on iconic Indonesian boat, called phinisi, for island hopping. Usually visitors will stay at this enormous boat for 3 days and 2 nights while going from one island to another island. Either the islands as the destination or the sea as the way to the islands has its own extravagant activity. From diving with manta, enjoying sunset in Taka Makassar Island, to snorkeling at numerous exotic spots and many more. “Ultimately, I dived to many places in the world and nothing can compare to the underwater beauty of Labuan Bajo. It is the best diving spot in the planet,” says Irvan. A lot of option offered based on the visitor’s budget, from the phinisi to the hotel and the activity.
The islands that undeniable to visit are Padar island, Takka Makasar, Kanawa Island and of course the world’s famous Komodo Island. In Padar, visitors will hike to the peak of the hill and will discover the exotic panoramic scenery. In Takka Makassar, if visitors are lucky they will be able to have the island by themselves and enjoying private dinner or camping with their love ones. In Kanawa, you can discover underwater kingdom by snorkeling among the beautiful coral reefs and fishes. Last but not least in Komodo Island, you will be guided by the ranger, professional guide for surrounding area and the animals, to see the endangered Indonesian dragon.
While Bali will remain as Indonesia’s most visited tourist spot, there is a lot more that Indonesia can offer to travelers. “Bali is rich in culture while Bajo is a rich in maritime tourism.”
Ranging from breathtaking landscapes to exhilarating adventures, there will always be something visitors can discover and be amazed by the beauty of Indonesia.
