My diary to Karimunjawa

The first time I heard about Karimunjawa was from my relative, and then I read also in some magazine about this small island. It described that this small island had beautiful underwater world and the corals there were still in good condition. Since that time I already planned in my heart that I had to go there someday. By accident I met a girl in a public transportation. Actually we met already several times in our way to the office because accidentally we worked in the same building. After exchanging smile, we starting to talk about anything until she told me about her planned to go to Karimunjawa with her club, she said it was very cheap because 1 person costed only about Rp 500.000,- for 4 days tour including accommodation, meals and transportation. After hearing this I was so encouraged to get more information about going to that place. Finally I got all that I needed and starting to make some reservation either for transportation and accommodation.

There were 2 ways to enter Karimunjawa, one from Semarang and the other from Jepara. I chose Jepara because the ferry fare was cheaper. Although the duration was almost 4 hours longer but it was ok with me. On the way, I was lucky that I could see some dolphins swimming and jumping beside our ferry.

Actually there were several motels and guest houses in the main island of Karimunjawa while the luxurious one located in another island called Kura Kura Resort, but from the first time I saw the picture of the floating wooden lodge of pak Joko named "Pondok Terapung Jaya Karimun", I already said to myself that I had to stay at this place, because I felt more adventourous. Well, the floating wooden lodge was really met with my expectation. It had several kind of rooms, some with private bath room, some with outside shared bath room and only 2 rooms had aircondition. I chose a room with a private bath room. It was clean and had a double bed, while the bath room was ordinary, there were only a bucket to hold water and a plastic water scoop. The water ran from the tap not continually, but for sure in the morning and afternoon you would have water to take a bath. Fortunately beside my room was a small quarantine pond where they put sharks, after they big enough then pak Joko would free them in the ocean, so everytime I could see the sharks swimming to and fro in that little pond from my window without going out from my bed room, wasn't that cool ?!! Although the floating wooden lodge located a bit far from the beach but there was a family who stayed in that lodge and they would serve your meals and also help you whenever you needed some information. Upon my arrival I already arranged with pak Joko what I wanted to do during my stay. Unfortunately I had to rent his boat privately because I was there not during holiday so there was no guest except myself. Under the lodge and the surrounding there were many live corals and I thought thousands kind of fishes too, so you could even do the swimming and snorkeling just around the lodge, but please be careful for the sea urchin, because they were also so many. The open dining and living rooms located just in front of the rooms. During a warm night when the sky was full with stars, you could bring out your pillow and sarong and lay down on the wooden pier which was located also just in front of the rooms and saw the bright night sky with many stars, you could even sleep there in the open air and hearing the wind made small waves and slapping the floating lodge and it made the pier moved slowly to and fro, and made you felt that you were sleeping in a craddle.

There were some points to do the snorkeling named Ujung Gelam or Tanjung Gelam, Menjangan Besar, Menjangan Kecil, etc. All were beautiful. Could you imagine that I swam in the middle of hundreds of colouful fishes ? Several times I tried to touch them, but of course they swam away from me. At that time I just thought how our God is so great and wonderful because in a day He created those fishes and there were not only hundreds but thousands or even millions kind of fishes, from tiny to big, big enough to swallow a human being. The colourful live corals were also beautiful, just named the colour then you would find it, green, orange, blue, pink, red, yellow, etc, etc, I just could not describe them in words, you have to witness them by yourself. One thing that I afraid of when swimming in the sea is sea snake, because my friend saw it when swimming in Bunaken and I didn't want to have the same experience like him. In one place, if I was not mistake was the Menjangan Besar where you could do the snorkeling just in front of the beach, so you could touch the coral with your own hands from the surface. Oooh my... I wished my house were there so I could snorkeling at anytime I want. I went snorkeling almost the whole day, I didn't care if my skin became dark and burnt by the sun as long as I could enjoy the snorkeling, hahaha I think I couldn't be a model with that kind of skin. Another thing that I regreted, that I could not dive, because if I could then I could see the more beauty of the underwater world there but I hope if I come back again, then I can dive already so I can see all the beauty of God's creation and not only from the surface like now. In the late afternoon after taking a bath and changed into clean cloths, sitting on the wooden chair with a book in my hand, the servant came and brought me some coconut from their own plantation and fried banana, oooh my this was delicioussss, I really should come back to this place.

How to get there :
There were 2 ways to reach Karimunjaya, either from Semarang and from Jepara. From Semarang the ferry was more "luxury" therefore the ticket price was also more expensive. Ferry between Karimunjaya and Semarang or Jepara operated only on certain days, so check first before you going there, otherwise you have to spend a day or 2 in Semarang or Jepara before getting that ferry. The rough quotation from Jakarta will be as follows :
- Bus ticket from Jakarta to Jepara Rp 70.000 one way
- Becak to the harbour Rp 5.000 one way
- KMP Muria from Jepara to Karimunjawa Rp 48.000 per person one way VIP class

Rp 24.000 per person one way economy class
Takes about 6 hours sail from Jepara to Karimunjawa

- KMC Kartini from Semarang to Karimunjawa (about 2:30 hours)
Ticket fare Rp 110.000 Business airconditioned class

Rp 140.000 Executive airconditioned class
- Becak from the harbour to pak Joko's house Rp 5.000 one way

What to bring :

- Swimsuit

- Snorkel and diving equipment, if you don't have one, you can always rent them there

- Your favourite snacks and drinks, 'coz there were only small 'warung'

- Sun block

- After sun lotion

- Sarong

- Your favourite book

Room rates at Pondok Terapung Jaya Karimun :

- Rp 77.000 room with private bath room

- Rp 66.000 room without bath room

- Rp 200.000 airconditioned room with private bath room including breakfast for 2

- Rp 15.000 per meal per person (buffet)

Rental boat : Rp 200.000 full day, Rp 150.000 half day

Rental snorkel, mask & fin : Rp 25.000 per person per day.

Important phone numbers :

Jepara Harbour Information 62 291 591039

Semarang Harbour Information 62 24 3545006

Karimunjawa Information Office 62 297 108

Pondok Terapung Jaya Karimun owned by Ismarjoko 62 297 312185

Note : All the above information are based on 2007