Indonesia again
ENTen days off. Ten days of freedom. From May 10 to May 20, 2014, I left. In Pulau Weh, Indonesia.
Take off again
"Nooo!!?"
"Again?"
"Tell me it's not true!!!"
I burst out laughing when I discovered the little indignant-amused words of colleagues and friends on my Facebook page.
Yes, Indonesia again. The journey has its reasons that reason does not know.
My destination: Pulau Weh, a small island off the coast of Banda Aceh, in the west of Sumatra.
It was short but intense. I have absolutely no regrets about this getaway, decided almost at the last minute. Pulau Weh regenerated me. The trip itself exhilarated me. Rennes - Paris - Abu Dhabi - Kuala Lumpur - Banda Aceh - Pulau Weh. Too long, too complicated, too tiring? Buoyed by the exhilaration of this new journey, I plunged back into the atmosphere of the airports with delight, and went through the successive immigration controls with bliss.
Departures give me wings. I feel each time like a kid who was offered an extra ride.
Flying. A good habit to adopt these days, now that we are well aware of the impact of air travel on global warming: calculate the carbon footprint of your trip. Yes, it makes you think... 😱 Every ton of CO2 sent (or not) into the atmosphere counts. It is important to be aware that flying to the other side of the world is not insignificant... If you cannot give up flying completely, you can try to reduce your impact by flying less often but for longer stays.
Pulau Weh
Pulau Weh is the westernmost and northernmost inhabited island in the archipelago. On the western tip of Sumatra, in the province of Banda Aceh, it is the "kilometer zero" of Indonesia.
There's a beach there, Gapang, which I really liked on a previous trip four years ago, and which I was keen to revisit. A quiet, authentic spot. As in 2010, I settled into one of the bungalows at the excellent Lumba Lumba diving center.
If you'd like to take a look, all my articles on the 2010 trip are at the end of this link:
→ Pulau Weh - Sumatra - Indonesia - March 2010
In May 2014, the beach hasn't changed much. Atmosphere as peaceful as ever, high tide, low tide...
The people of Gapang are as friendly and welcoming as ever. The tourists who choose to come here are almost all divers.
On land and underwater, Indonesia is irresistible...
8)
Well I say you were right! 🙂
When we love, we do not count! Let's enjoy it!
And the place looks so charming! 🙄
@Didier: Exactly !!! 8)
oh oh oh, makes you want to see the rest 😀
and I see that your luggage is the same style as mine volume-wise.... 😉
@Laurence: yes, a wheeled bag for diving gear, clothes and a bit of bardas for my underwater flash, which goes in the hold, and a small "cabin" backpack for precious and/or fragile items. I talked about it here (this packing configuration dates back to my first trip to Pulau Weh in 2010):
-> https://petitesbullesdailleurs.fr/le-sac-20100307/
-> https://petitesbullesdailleurs.fr/dans-mon-sac/
😉
We can't wait to see more photos...
@Alain: It's coming... 🙄
It's true that this Indonesian obsession is starting to look a bit suspicious. Aren't you a double agent 😉 I imagine you'll categorically deny it, but hey ...
@Laurent: I'm my own double agent. I like to go there and see if I'm there... 😈
Addicted to Indonesia, I know what it means !!!
Over there, so far away is this archipelago...you will find what you need to live magical moments on holiday. Wild islands, welcoming population, exceptional seabed.... 🙄
You discovered the Maldives just before the new law rehabilitating the death penalty for all, now you can boycott this desti because there's just as good, if not better, diving and contact with the locals elsewhere!
For my part, I still galley the choice being so vast from KL! ❓
Show us some more beautiful photos of Pulau Weh, we tend to forget that the tsunami passed through there and did a lot of damage...
"The starts give me wings. Each time I feel like a kid who's been offered an extra ride on the merry-go-round."
I totally and completely agree with you! One more week and I'll get my free ride, and my very own thrill!
May be less exotic but departure anyway.
Talking about travel or reading your travel stories allows you to breathe a little! 😉
keep on going
Eric
But why deprive yourself when you can treat yourself 😉 You're becoming a real ambassador!
Otherwise, I'll make a note of it! Now that I'm a certified diver (thanks in part to you, Corinne), I'm looking at Indonesia with even more interest than before.
Beautiful pictures! I hadn't been there on my trip to Indonesia but I'd heard about it!
It's funny because I already knew a bit about your blog (as a diver, one has to know 😉 ), and I just saw that you met one of my best friends while you were there (Rimen)!
That's what I love most about traveling: meeting people 🙂
Look forward to following your next aquatic adventures!
Emma
Beautiful articles, beautiful photos, Indonesia is a beautiful and very hospitable people .. I just returned from Flores and even n being a diver, I could appreciate the beauty of this island and its surroundings. A lot of divers also give Rv .. The giant manta rays, coral reefs, sea turtles, .. Are in range even snorkeling .. By cons small flat about cleanliness in the streets but I think it is general in Asia .. Good trip to all ..
Well, even though I'm not a diver (just an occasional one), I have to say that I understand your desire to return to Indonesia. The scenery, both on land and underground, is fantastic!
Hey,
We will have to go back to dive Shark Plateau and Sophie Rickmers (a bit of deco but worth it so much) ...
Congratulations for your site.
AT.