1 Night Escape to Pulau Payung

Let's have a throw back. November 2015, I had a holiday in Payung Island, part of Thousand Islands at northern of Jakarta, with my elementary school friends. I haven't met them for a long time, so that was a chance to get reunited! This time, be were going to beach camping.

Using taxi, we arrived at Muara Angke Port, Jakarta, at 7AM. We met our local guide and we took the speed boat and heading to Payung Island.

Actually the island was below my expectation. The beach was not good as beaches in Bali , the island was very quiet and not so many people there (I am more a crowd seeker) and not so many attraction there. But then, I thought "come on! this is a small island. not an Indonesia's main tourism destination."

After took a rest for a while and had lunch, our guides started to set the tent for us to stayed tonight. We had two tents, one for the boys and one for the girls. That was when my excitement went back. That was my first time to camp in a beach. We really built tents in the beach, just 10 meters away from sea water. Imagine, you will wake up and the first time you'll see and feel is the sea. Who can say no?

The same day, we explored the island. The island was called Payung Besar Island, and the island has a "sibling" named Payung Kecil Island. Payung Besar Island is not a big island, only a few people lived there, and there was a one big villa owned by a rich guy. In front of the villa, there is a very beautiful lagoon, which everyone can access. Payung Kecil island is a very small uninhabited island.

Other agenda we had was snorkeling! Yes, another first time for me. I thought snorkeling will be scary, but not at all! I was really amazed seeing what was happened below the sea. Fish, corals, and more! If you can swim, then snorkeling will be easy for you. But some of my friend was not good at all at swimming, even they were using floats but they got hysteric and feared so they can't even enjoy, so sad for them.

We visited three different snorkeling spot. One were in a spot between Payung Besar Island and Payung Kecil Island, one was in the shore of Payung Kecil Island, and lastly, a few kilometers from Payung Besar Island.

At the night we had a seafood barbecue and enjoy the locals playing music. We joined them, dancing and singing.

Before went to sleep, I tried to get a solitude. Lying in one of the unused boats, just stargazing and listening to some music. Very mesmerizing experience.

The next morning, I woke up and open my tent. The first thing I felt was the sea breeze in my face, then my eyes seeing the sea and blue sky, and don't forget that your ears now hearing the waves and birds singing. Very beautiful short escape.

We were not staying in the island for long. Our boat will arrive this morning, to pick up back to Jakarta. While waiting our boat to come, we spent our time exploring the island, going to the lagoon, built sand castles, and get to know with locals and other tourists.

Bye Payung Islands!