8 Tourist Attractions in Belitung

Friend: Hi Donny, Let’s travel to Belitung!….me : It’s high season, bro….#lazymood

Friend: There is cheap ticket, Donny…. me : what’s the ticket kind?….#stillstandardmood

Friend: Donny, it’s free….me : Whaaaattt?….#turnedawayfromlaptop

Friend: “Accommodation is also free”…. me : shock and very surprised….#closelaptop

It’s crazy moment….I was packing right away.

I didn’t realize that I had reached sales target which set by my office and was rewarded with a trip to Belitung. And a few months earlier, Jokowi (Indonesia President) decided Belitung as one of 10 leading tourism destinations in Indonesia

I was lucky.…

The departure day arrived and “The Green Airline” was landing me at Tanjung Pandan.

Because of free trip, I didn’t need to be a backpacker. Enough to sweetly sat and I was picked up by a blue tourism bus. This tour is hosted by the Belitung Nusantara Tour.

Also itinerary, I didn’t need to make it because it has been made by my office.….very nice moment. This time, I wasn’t an backpacker. Right now, I was Donny the luxury tourist.

Bus directly went to Tanjung Kelayang Port which was located in 30 km north of H.A.S Hanandjoeddin Airport. Looks like, I would go straight to sea tourism through this port. Using a life jacket, I immediately sailed to the main destinations in Belitung

This is it:

1.Batu Berlayar Island

Very beautiful … Granite rocks towering above soft sand island. Combined with clearly blue sea water, making this island as perfect opening session in my trip.

It only takes 15 minutes from Tanjung Kelayang pier. Climbing the granite stone is something which I had to do to marking that I’ve been here. It’s easy to find starfish and small hermit crab which slip between large granite rocks.

Nice….

2. Lengkuas Island

At the beginning of trip, I didn’t understand why bus driver bought so many biscuits before arriving at Tanjung Kelayang port. I thought it was for his snack (but still suspicious… It’s very much for snacking….maybe for lunch also….hahaha).

Apparently, I found the answer here. biscuits was bought for feeding fishes around Lengkuas island.

You have to come here, guys….snorkling like I feel….#alwayspray4u

You also have to visit the Dutch-made Lighthouse in 1882 on Lengkuas Island. The 62-meter in high and 18-floors lighthouse can be climbed by tourists (I hear now, it cann’t be climbed again because of an official regulation regarding the prohibition of climbing lighthouses by Transportation Ministry).

Taking off footwear and making sure legs are completely dry are a must before climbing lighthouse. Made from solid metals with relatively thick paint, it shows perfect maintenance of lighthouse.

The tiredness of climbing lighthouse will pay off with a beautiful ocean top view, like heaven that I rarely find with my naked eye.

3. Kepayang Island

From Lengkuas Island, trip continues to Babi Island-babi is pig in English– (another name from Kepayang Island). The island is protected with giant granite rocks. It famous for its turtle conservation activities in Belitung, Kepayang Island has an important role.

You can take a freshwater bath with a very clean public bathroom. Bathrooms managed by a restaurant. This restaurant is also be place where tourists have a lunch after snorkling on Lengkuas island.

4. Tanjung Tinggi Beach

Flanked by Tanjung Kelayang and Tanjung Pendam, making this beach very quiet. Blue sea water that doesn’t rip much, makes it very suitable to calm down. Granite expanse is more massive than three previous islands that I visited, making Tanjung Tinggi beach have a champion view.

Also known as Laskar Pelangi beach by public because it was used as one of locations for taking scenes in phenomenal film by Riri Riza.…Laskar Pelangi.

5. Kaolin Lake

Do You know Kaolin, right? … it’s mineralized clay for cosmic and toothpaste raw materials.

This Kaolin lake is a lake which is formed by accident.…Starting from Kaolin mining remains, it make large holes. And finally, after mining was inactive, holes were filled with rain water. Hence Kaolin lake is formed.

Because soil colour is white and water in the lake reflects a turquoise colour, it makes beautiful stretch of Kaolin lake.

This lake is also one of spots in Laskar Pelangi movie scene.

Cool…..

6. Kota Gantung Muhammadiyah Elementary School

Did You ever seen “Ikal” (main role of Laskar Pelangi) daily activities when studying at school?.

I visited replica of that Muhammadiyah Elementary School. Based on information that I heard, the real elementary school building has collapsed. So for filming purposes, its replica was built. And the replica still stands today.

The brilliance of elementary school buildings is indeed made intentionally to describe the real condition.

Very inspiring……

7. Andrea Hirata Word Museum

Do You know him?

The native son of Belitung who write Laskar Pelangi novel which it transformed in three sequels of film.

This museum is a literary museum and the only one in Indonesia. No need to pay to visit it. In accordance with its famous novel, room name in the museum was named according to characters names in Laskar Pelangi film i.e “Ikal” Room, “Lintang” Room and “Mahar “Room.

Come here then you will be amazed by words which was made by Andrea Hirata.

8. Kampung Ahok

For this figure (Ahok), everyone in Indonesia knows. Who doesn’t know Ahok as Jakarta’s phenomenal Governor.Spend your time to visit his house if you travel to Belitung. Even though you can’t enter into his house, at least you can imagine how Ahok’s childhood lived in his village.

If you go to Kampung Ahok, take time to stopby at the Daun Simpor Gallery. You can buy the original East Belitung batik cloth which were directly produced by gallery.

Very grateful to be able to visit Belitung. One unexpected thing, can get free trip to one of my bucket lists .