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The quiet beauty of the Thousand Islands’ Desa Laguna
The island chain off the Jakarta coast provide perfect short getaways for those looking for some quiet time.
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A boat manned by an operator from Desa Laguna Regenerative Resort on Karang Bongkok Island in Jakarta’s Thousand Islands regency, picks up guests on Jan. 28, 2024 from Coconut Island.
(JP/Prodita K. Sabarini)
A
s daylight disappears below the horizon and the water surrounding Karang Bongkok Island in Jakarta’s Thousand Islands turns dark, a colorful light show by bioluminescent sea creatures begins.
The tide was low. Bursts of blue and green illuminated the shallows, flashing and moving fast in straight lines, leaving vaporish trails of light before slowly dissipating.
On a recent visit to Desa Laguna Regenerative Resort on Karang Bongkok Island, I sat on the deck of the resort’s lounge for hours, watching this natural, underwater light show.
I manage the online media The Conversation Indonesia, which publishes popular articles written by academics about their research, analysis and journalism explainers. I visited Desa Laguna early this year to find a quiet place to write while being recharged by nature.
Like many Jakartans, there comes a time when I need a respite from the dusty ol’ “Big Durian”.
Some might choose to take the 2-hour flight to Bali to enjoy its rich and unique culture at its beaches and terraced rice paddies. Others might take the 2-hour train (now half an hour by high-speed rail) to Bandung for a culinary tour in the temperate air of the Sundanese city.
Meanwhile, the hiker looking for nature therapy might visit the many mountains of Java, such as Gunung Gede in West Java, which is also only around 2 hours away.
