Live, travel, adventure, bless, and don’t be sorry.: Maratua Island, and the lost trip

Hello~~~~

Is it me you're looking for?

So, on long holiday for Easter last month, I finally decided to join Sean's trip to Derawan, together with Mas Bayu and Sari whom also joined Krakatau Trip previously.

Like last trips, we joined Travelmate. The cost for Derawan trip was IDR 2.250.000 for 4D3N, exclude plane ticket (Lion Air) to Jakarta-Tarakan and Tarakan-Jakarta that cost IDR 1.4mio (for me, IDR 1.5mio for him. While both Mas Bayu and Sari got IDR 1.2, they booked around 2 weeks before the due date).

The flight was scheduled at 5am. Because previously my flight to Bali was also around 5am, so at least I know I could make it on time. Buuutttttt.... Human can only made a plan, but in the only God who can choose whether it will happens or not (and Sean will ruined it--said himself=__=).

Short story, we missed the flight. Yup, both me and Sean. Actually we made it into boarding room, but the gate already closed and we couldnt going in to the plane, eventhough it still hasn't departed yet. In the end he has to book another flight to Berau, and arranged everything to catch the others.

So actually if you want to go to Derawan/Maratua, you could choose the flight whether it goes to Tarakan or Berau. The differences are, flight to Berau was much more expensive than to Tarakan because you have to transit in Balikpapan then continue to Berau with smaller plane, and took longer time in land trip but shorter in sea trip. While the flight to Tarakan mostly direct flight, shorter land trip, but longer sea trip, with bad wave (my friends whom already went to Derawan said this, before I experienced it by myself on way back home).

Finally we chose the 11.55am flight to Berau (another flight with Lion). And you know what, it got delayed for 3 hours. And we finally flight at 3.30pm and arrived in Balikpapan at 6.30pm. While, the scheduled for next flight to Berau was at 5pm. So, yes, we missed the flight. Twice in a day (My very first experience indeed=="). Fortunately we got complimentary hotel near airport in Balikpapan. Or if not, I bet someone will turned into Gozilla and raging in the airport. Hahaha. But, well, you cant expect anything from free hotel thou. I dont know how long the room was not being cleaned up or the last time it being used.

Night and day in Balikpapan (Photo taken by Sean)

Our next flight to Berau was at 8.45am. The hotel driver picked us at 7.15am since it only took 15minutes to go to airport. And fortunately they made the flight earlier than schedule.

Someone seems so happy flying with propeller aircraft.lol

Above the sky to Berau

Arriving at Kalimarau Airport, Berau. It's getting cloudy..

We arrived at Berau at 10.30am and booked a taxi that cost IDR 80k/car to drive us to the travel agent that provide car transport to Batu port. Basically the travel agent were local people who rented their car and drove the tourist to the port. Usually it will needed 4 to 6 people on one way usual trip since the usual car was Avanza. But apparently there's also an agent who drove smaller car that allowed 2 people for one trip. (Though in the middle of the trip, he picked another one person. But nevermind). It only cost us IDR 100k/person for 2-3 hours trip. When stopped for lunch in local tavern. Actually at first I kinda confused about the payment method. I thought like usual payment, it will counted from what menu that we eat. But apparently it counted by person. So how many person whom eat. It didnt matter how many and what you eat. It also selfserve though.

Around 1.30 we finally arrived at Batu Port, we're confused whether we would go to Derawan first then looking for people who will also want to go to Maratua (since the others apparently stayed in Maratua instead of Derawan). It only cost IDR 300k-400k/person from Batu to Derawan (in regular ship and still have to wait for another passenger) and only took 30minutes since it's quite near from there. But if we want to go to Maratua, we need to rent for Speedboat for IDR 1,5mio/boat and took around 2 hours from there. Finally he decided to rent a speedboat and went directly to Maratua. Eventhough the weather was quite nice, but the waves still quite big and tide and we have to 'enjoy' the ride for around 2 hours. Hahaha

When we finally arrived at Maratua. I was,, stunned.. It's more than amazing.. The beach, the water, the view.. Beyond measure.. How incredibly Beautiful Indonesia is.. And let the photos speak for it..