Sempu Island

ALL OF THESE PHOTOS ARE TAKEN FROM OTHER PEOPLE. MAINLY FROM IAN WHITE, OUR RESIDENT PHOTOGRAPHER. BUT I COULD HAVE TAKEN JUST AS GOOD PHOTOS... SO WE CAN PRETEND THEY'RE MINE... The port where we got boats to cross to the island

Morning on the river

This past weekend was one of the best trips I have done in a very very long time. It's called Sempu Nature Reserve, and it's off the Southern coast of Java. It's an island right off the mainland that is a nature resurve (thus the name) and it is completely human-free.

The lagoonThe Lagoon with small hole entrance (you dont have to climb through this to get into the lagoon, its where the water crashes through) The beach

We rented a van to drive us overnight from Surabaya and arrive at the little port at about 5 am, where we had some breakfast and hired a boat and porter to cross the river and hike into the "secret lagoon".

Morning on the beach

Waves crashing through the hole

Sunset through the enterence


Awsome shot

The boat drops you off at a little trailhead, and you spend the next hour or so winding through the jungle until you finally reach a blue-green calm lagoon. You hike around the lagoon and come to a little white sand beach. The lagoon is completely surrounded by the little mountains, and their is a little hole where the crashing waves splash water into the lagoon. I think there is also some underwater caves where the water can rise and fall with the tides.

South Javanese Coastline

The crashing waves is where the hole is

The lagoon is really nice, and we spend the day swimming and reading, relaxing and trying out best to stay out of the scorching sun. Right up some jagged rock area is a gorgeous view along the edge of the island, and the rough seas smashing into the cliffs, spraying wayer in all directions. There are also lots of little islands scattered around in the distance.

More lagoon shots

Where the hills came together is a great viewpoint of the ocean and the island's coast

We hung out and really enjoyed swimming in the lagoon, taking photos and playing around on the beach. We slept on sheets out in the open and expect for a little rain, and the tides rising and hitting us, it was a decent night. the next morning I went to see the sun rise over the side of the island from a lookout 30 feet above the crashing waves. I wasn't able to see the sun, so I climbed up to a lookout point, which was a really hard and steep climb straight up (luckily it was short). The view from there was breathtaking. You can see the whole lagoon, and the jungled interiour of the island, and the rough angry seas churning on the other side of the camp and peaceful lagoon. It was about 6 am when I got there, and everyone else was just waking up, so you can see morning fires for breakfast, some people washing things in the lagoon and generally waking up. It was very peaceful and quite.

The lagoon

Lagoon + beach from the viewpoint

We then spent the next 3-4 hours following a little trail that winds along the coast of the island, going up and down the hills and crossing beaches. These beaches are what you think of when you think deserted island paradise. The sand was coarse, and you could actually see the different rocks and shells creating a multicolored beach. The sand was also deep, and each step you suck into it. The waves roared and swirled offshore, and crashed anywhere they could. Its hard to describe, but it was fantastic. We saw three seperate beaches and some cool interior that looked like it was a set for Jurrasic Park. Very real jungle, without humans ruining it.

First unspoilt beach

One of the nicest beaches I've seen

We then hiked out, showered up and drove home for the evening and arrived home late at night Sunday. It was a quick weekend trip, but easily one of the best. I would love to go back and see more of the island.