We found some of the most beautiful remote islands you’ve never heard of in the Java Sea. Halfway between Java and Borneo are two unspoilt, seldom-visited island paradises.
Bawean
We hired a scooter for the day and took a clockwise trip around the remote island of Bawean. At only 18km wide, the roads are narrow and winding. But travelling by scooter is always a great way to see local life first-hand.
We stopped off for a coffee by one of the many paddy fields, and then made our way south to the main port in the Sangkapura district.
The real treat, though, was returning north along the backbone of the island. Our route took us through rainforest, past the crater lake of Danau Kastoba a remnant of the extinct volcano which had originally formed the island, now hidden between its peaks and forest.
In among the inclines and vistas local people make the most of this fertile land with paddy fields and crops.
Bawean isn’t necessarily a known tourist spot, but if you do find yourself in the vicinity, it’s definitely worth an explore and has become one of my favourite ever places.
Sailing Between Remote Islands
Our overnight passage from Bawean began slowly; the promised winds took their time to arrive. But after a few hours of drifting along, they caught us and we were off. With the foresail poled out and main prevented, we made good progress. A squall after midnight had us taking down the spinnaker pole and easing back the sails, it was a good decision because when the squall hit, it was fierce.
Karimunjawa
Although they are situated close to each other, Karimunjawa, with its cafes and bars, is a far more tourist-savvy island than Bawean.
Karimunjawa’s National Park is a popular spot for Indonesian tourists as well as international backpackers. It has the usual mangrove forests, beaches and coral reefs you expect to find with an Indonesian island, but it’s also a place for travellers looking for somewhere away from the crowds of Bali and other more well-known Islands. We saw plenty of coral and turtles from the boat, but weren’t lucky enough to see the pangolin or Javan rusa deer which inhabit the interior.
There was plenty to see in the main town situated just off the pier.
Jamie spent hours walking through the narrow lanes off the main roads while I lounged about in the shade of various cafes. He documented local people living their lives away from the tourist hot-spots, and, as usual, was received with a huge welcome.
We would have liked to stay longer to explore further inland as well as some of the outer deserted islands, but the wind wouldn’t wait so it was time to embark on the longest part of our journey to Malaysia. We didn’t know it at the time, but this next passage would take us straight into some of the worst gales we’ve ever encountered on the open seas…
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