After accompanying the group of K-Staters around the island of Java for 1.5 months, I wasn't finished traveling in my final months in Indonesia. A few friends that I had contacts with started a eco-tourist business on the island of Batam several years ago. The destination is a wonderful place to rest and relax with no distractions and little entertainment. They host many couples, families, and partner with school groups from around Southeast Asia to do community development projects on the islands that surround their resort. I enjoyed one night at the resort, but mainly enjoyed the boat rides to get a look at the surrounding area and people.
www.telunasbeach.com
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| Home to 17,000+ islands, Indonesia has beautiful beaches and tropical paradises throughout the archipelago. |
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| The only way to get to this island resort is by boat! |
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| The main economics in the area is fishing and many of the employees at the resort come from families of fishermen. (Above is a fishing boat) But a bird's nest soup, famous amongst many Chinese, has driven a growing market for swallow's birds nests in the area. The building pictured left is full of holes for the swallows to fly into and make their nests. Many of these can be found on one of the main island cities. |
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The ropes course is probably more fun with a group
of friends, but I hopped on anyway! See what I
mean, no distractions and lots of quiet! |
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| The dining and lounging area provide for a peaceful setting to enjoy your Western food. It was the first time I'd had spaghetti and meat balls with onion rings, and the first time I'd eaten either one for over a year! |
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The resort design is the same used by the locals that
have lived on these islands for hundreds of years.
Normally built above the water on long stilts with
walkways connecting the rooms. |
While the resort was nice for an evening, I enjoyed more the time watching my friends' kids and connecting with my only Indonesian friend I knew while a student at Kansas State.
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| Samuel and I hadn't seen one another for at least 3 years! Fun to re-connect and talk about K-State football! |
