Pulau Macan (Tiger Island) -- Weekend Getaway

Jakarta -- the capital of Indonesia, known for notorious traffic-jam and high-pace life style. We are tired and exhausted. We are drown in our work the whole week. We need to refresh our minds and our souls. Yet we only have weekend. Most probable people will wind down in cafes or restaurants scattered in Jakarta. But with thundering loud-music, smoke-filled air-conditioned air, who'd want to get trapped indoor anymore??

There lies a hidden paradise off Jakarta coastline -- an island among Thousand Islands (Kepulauan Seribu) called Pulau Macan (Tiger Island) http://pulaumacan.com/ . The boat-trip is 1.5 hours away from Pier 6 Marina Ancol -- where the host will greet you upon arrival. But it will transport you to a whole different place and let you experience nature in an unimaginable way before...

The boat-trip itself is a relaxing time with wind blowing against your face. Experience the dark muddy water turns to crystal clear turquoise blue. I notice that every other island has BTS tower for handphone as the only means of communications with outside world.

Once you arrive at the island, you are free to do (or not do) whatever you want. They have a big clubhouse with pillows and book collections. Or you can go to the adjacent Pulau Macan Gundul -- a must see, either by walking (YES, YOU SEE IT RIGHT) on shallow water, or by paddle-boat (the boatman will take you there).

And the room is not air-conditioned room that you used to stay on business-trips. Their room is open-air concept (we stayed at the driftwood hut -- which we think is the best accomodation in that island, although many people prefer sunset hut because you have your own private sundeck).

Yep, you see it right once more... no door, no lock, just you, the mosquito nets, and the sounds of crashing wave right to your deck.

They have several communal bathroom (communal? YEP!) in few places. So be prepared for someone knocking your door while you peeing or so. :-)  But that experience added the nature adventures, don't you think?

The accommodation in Pulau Macan is meal and board. Means that you have 2 Lunches, 1 Breakfast, 1 Dinner, sandwiches, non-alcoholic juices, tea, coffee included in the price. Their meals mostly home-made healthy vegetable-based but the taste is delicious.

While in this island, we're required to help them in energy conservation, thus electricity is limited (from solar panel-during the day and generator-at night), so does water.

We can join their snorkeling / island hopping to another surrounding islands. The fishes are a lot and the corals are huge.

One of our favourite moments beside laying around in Pulau Macan Gundul is waiting for the sunset... from our own small sundeck.

One night seems not enough.... but it surely recharge our souls and it renew our love...

Contact person: Mimi (Zevillages) 0856-141-6041
Website: http://pulaumacan.com/