GoWander ID

 Written By: Aurel ezmarelda ratu imang

Class: XII-6

 

Hello friends! Let me tell you one of the most unforgettable trips I’ve ever had with GoWander ID.

It started with a journey that literally shook me, hahaha. I say that because the road was badly damaged and we had to go through it anyway. Even though it made me a little nauseous, it was okay because that was part of what made it unforgettable. The trip took about 1 hour and 24 minutes by the yellow Samarinda Lestari bus. At noon, we rested at Warung Hailam Acim. The food was really delicious and felt just like home.

Then we continued our journey to Tanjung Redeb District. I do not remember how long it took because I slept the whole way. When I opened my eyes, I was greeted by a beautiful view in Sidayang, Tanjung Batu. The crew immediately took us to board a speedboat. Half asleep, I was suddenly speeding across the water while cold wind hit my face. I really want to experience that again.

Not long after, we arrived at Derawan Island. We were picked up and taken to our accommodation. If I am not mistaken, it was called Fisheries Inn, but I am not completely sure. What I do remember clearly is how beautiful it was. It looked like a stilt house right on the edge of clear blue water. You can imagine how many photos I took there.

We were given time to rest and freshen up, then we went to eat at Warung Jawa Timur. The meatballs were incredible and unbelievably good. I even had three extra portions. After that, we walked around the beach and enjoyed our own time. At night, we gathered at a dining table by the beach. The sea breeze was cool, the food was abundant, and while eating, I suddenly felt homesick. The view of our accommodation at night was insanely beautiful.

On the second day, after breakfast, we rode the speedboat again to Sangalaki Island. Even though I cannot swim, the tour guide accompanied us while snorkeling. I saw manta rays and turtles. It was beautiful, though a little scary. Then we continued to Kakaban Island and snorkeled again. We met small orange jellyfish that were super cute, a new experience and definitely something worth trying. For lunch, we went to Noah Maratua Resort. The place was clean and the food was delicious. At night, we gathered again by the beach to eat grilled fish, which tasted amazing.

On the way back, we stopped at a roadside clothing shop because we had snorkeled twice that day and needed extra clothes. On the third day, we had grilled fish again for breakfast. I felt like I had turned into a mermaid, eating fish and playing in the water all the time. We snorkeled again and met many sergeant major fish. They were so cute and kept swimming close to me. Then we rested in the yard of a local resident’s house and played traditional games.

For lunch, we ate sweet and sour fish, fried noodles, and avocado juice. After that, we snorkeled again, but I did not join because I was tired and bored. I waited at the net house while snacking on the food they provided. I saw some of my friends fishing, so I joined them and caught four fish at once.

On the way back, we had dinner at a roadside stall with lemon fried fish. At night, we played together on the beach. On the fourth day, we had mixed rice with peanut sauce for breakfast, then did outbound activities and fun games while enjoying the scenery. For lunch, we ate our own packed meals together, covered in sand from the games earlier. We were given hours for me time, which was a really good choice.

At night, we had seafood such as octopus, shrimp, and lobster. All of it was so delicious. After dinner, we sat in a circle, joking around and singing while enjoying the peaceful night atmosphere. On the last day, we had snacks and juice for breakfast, then were taken to the speedboat and continued our journey by land. Along the way, we stopped at Warung Pojok Indah for lunch, and after that, everyone continued their journey home.

Overall, this trip was truly unforgettable. From the shaky roads, beautiful islands, snorkeling adventures, delicious food, to peaceful nights by the beach, everything created memories that I will always remember. Personally, I really enjoyed this trip, even though most of the activities were focused on snorkeling and playing in the water every day can be quite tiring. I also got a little bored because we kept snorkeling again and again, especially since at first I thought we were going to visit the steep coral cliff known as “The Wall” when I signed up for the Derawan Island trip. Still, for anyone who loves the ocean and underwater scenery, this trip is definitely worth trying.