Updated: March 14, 2022 – My Banten Getaway
Estimated reading time: 14 minutes
Remember, Labor Day is your day. A day to unwind, reflect, recharge, refresh, refocus and restore your energy. For me, going for a retreat with my loved one’s makes me feel good. Therefore, this boosts my ‘happy hormones’ (serotonin and endorphins).
Taking a step back and looking at the bigger picture helps me refocus on what is truly important in business, career, and life. It takes a logical mind to tackle a lingering problem efficiently, supercharge productivity, and envision future success.
Having 4 days 3 nights was a great getaway. Following are our journey itineraries:
Day 1 – Anyer
The first day we departed from Jakarta and took us about 3 hours to reach our first destination. This is the first time for my Banten getaway trip. Super excited as we explore this place. We have planned it weeks before this. As the Idul Fitri festival is approaching, the policemen have set up many check stations along highways and main roads to control people, especially from Jakarta, to return to their respective hometown in time for the Idul Fitri celebration.
The first thing that we did was to have had our Covid Antigen Test results ready as part of our travelling documents in case the officer stop us along the way. However, our journey was smooth, and no one stopped us. Perhaps it was a weekday travelling and not the route that the police officers were eyeing for. We love this online education from our daughter’s school. Now she can attend classes in any part of the world and doesn’t have to wait for school holidays to travel places. We still opt for local travelling because international travel has many restrictions and we still take precautionary steps because of the current covid situation.
The Anyer Lighthouse was our first stop. Built in 1885, during the Dutch Colonial era, this lighthouse is really a landmark for Anyer. At the Anyer shore, with a stunning and beautiful view of Sumatra Straits, even you can see the Mount of Krakatau when the sky is clear.
This place also marks the starting point of the 1000 km road of Anyer-Panarukan built by Daendels, very dark history of Dutch Colonialism. There is a monument as a sign of starting point (km 0) (Titik Nul) for a long Anyer – Panarukan (1000 km) road, the first road built in Java. A good place to bring your kids, also the perfect place to have a nice photograph.
There is a monument to commemorate the old lighthouse location (Menara Suar Lama Cikoneng) which was destroyed by the Great Krakatoa eruption on 26th August 1883. The Dutch erected the new Lighthouse Anyer 2 years after that. I enjoyed this beautiful and historical scene. There are some chalet owned by the local council to be rented out to the public.
Our next stop was Mambruk Beach (Pantai Mambruk). We asked for permission to enter this private area. The Lighthouse Anyer was still invisible from here.
We hurried to Carita Beach (Pantai Carita) as is getting dark before we checked in into Novus Jiva Anyer Villa Resort & Spa and called it a day. The restaurant provided us dinner with the Sparkling Ramadhan hotel package. This hotel has this very cyber feel. My family loves it.
Day 2 – Tanjung Lesung
As we progressed into our second day, we headed south. Balai Taman Nasional Ujung Kulon has a good deal of information on the Ujung Kulon National Park, at the south-western tip of Banten Province. The national park is only for research work. However, the island of Handeuleum, Peucang and Panaitan is open to the public for jungle trekking and snorkelling activities. These are on our bucket list for our next visit.
Spent awhile at the Teluk Batako. Basically, all shops were closed because of the fasting month.
Capo Katapang and Pantai Kerang both were closed due to upgrading works. We skipped Wisata Mangrove and Jembatan Cinta as my family complained about the mosquitoes.
Tanjung Lesung Beach was quiet because of the Tsunami incident that happened on 23rd December 2018, which killed several lives. However, this place maintained its natural beauty and aura that didn’t stop attracting visitors.
The batik motif has its own characteristics based on the region where it’s produced. I will take you to the Cikadu in Banten region, where Cikadu Tanjung Lesung Batik is one of the Indonesian Batik Motifs available.
The distinctive, unique motifs are the Rhinoceros and Tanjung Lesung Village. The local government is putting efforts to preserve the cultural heritage of batik from becoming extinct. This will improve the local economy needed the most during this time and, most notably, become part of regional identity.
When I visited Sanggar Batik Cikadu Tanjung Lesung, I was fortunate enough to speak to this young local entrepreneur, Toto Rusmaya, who was in this business since 7 years ago. He brought me around and showed me some activities behind the scene. Some valuable information gained. The pandemic hit his company significantly but still survives till today. My Banten Getaway won’t be complete without going to this batik centre.
I am writing this to promote his artwork and could reach thousands if not hundreds of audience.
With its overall technique, technology and motifs development, Indonesian batik becomes the masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity, established by UNESCO in 2009.
This wealth of art has become a trend globally. Local designers are using various motifs in their masterpiece.
‘Love is like a batik, created from many emotional colours. It is a fabric whose pattern and brightness may vary.’—Diane Acherman.
#IndonesianBatik #CikaduTanjungLesungBatik #BatikMotif #Banten #TanjungLesung #VeterinarianIndonesia
Day 3 – Sumur
Spent my morning at the hotel beach reading my non-fiction books, while enjoying the sea breeze caressing my skin gently. This resort has all the facilities that we need. Love the sun, which generates much needed Vitamin D in my body since I work from home mostly in Jakarta.
Cemara Beach was our first stop on the 3rd Day. This place is sparkling clean, and the beach is suitable for group activities and events. The owner was kind enough to allow us to enjoy this private place for 15 minutes before we head on to our next stop. I don’t recommend BRT Village. There was nothing there except a rundown kampung house. Pantai Cisiih-Jaralang was closed due to grading work.
Stopped over at Lesehan Ibu Etin for lunch. We love the fish soup, very much like the Tomyam but in very simple cooking. The other seafood cooking was fresh and tasty.
The Sumur Port fascinated me because this is the point where you can go to Umang Island, Oar Island, Handeuleum Island, Peucang Island and Panaitan Island. This local port was busy with fishing and business activities. Got me a closer look at the Aren Sugar (Gula Aren) – a type of brown sugar. This picturesque port mesmerised us until sunset was over. We took the sunset some photos at the Dapalangu Beach – near to the Sumur Port.
Therefore, we had to skip Sabatur Beach, Sumur Pandeglang Banten Beach, Patung Badak Ujung Kulon, Pantai Teluk Paraja Ujung Jaya Sumur and the Ujung Kulon National Park. We headed back to the Hotel and in time to have our cosy dinner.
Day 4 – Anyer
Our last day here of ‘My Banten Getaway’ Trip. As our daughter was attending her online morning classes, we took a stroll and explore the hotel area. Their future expansions are on water park; individual bungalows (where the public can actually invest in it); and apartments. 12 acres of land for development. I had a few chats with the sales representative, I couldn’t have put it better myself for this location. Great place to relax and unwind.
At noon we checked out and head home towards north. We stopped by the famous Karang Bolong Beach. The name of its self means rock with a hole. Frozen lava created the mountain, formed during the eruption of Mount Krakatau.
Marina Beach perhaps is more suitable for those who enjoy fishing at the sea. You can rent a boat for Rp 1.000.000 for the whole day fishing around the small island not too far from this resort. Sambolo Anyer Beach is a place for public swimming with public showers. Entrance fee of Rp 25.000 per person.
After all the sea view exploration, our final destination is the Puncak Sidapang. A hill that overlooked the forest of Banten. The solitude felt good. We spent most of that evening relaxing on a mesa. I snapped pictures of the sun as it settled behind a bluff. Life was good. This four-day three-night trip was really my Banten Getaway.
Adventure means a great deal to me. It means appreciating the little things in my life, always trying new things and accepting the challenging situation.
I always bring my family along to explore fresh places, try new food, and experience different cultures. Dealing with that sense of adversity, even if it is just fighting with our own anxiety over trying something new and be present in our life, has dramatically improved our happiness.
What’s an adventure you’ve had recently?
‘There is no certainty; there is only adventure.’—Roberto Assagioli.
#Adventure #CoreValue #NewThings #Happiness #Banten #VeterinarianIndonesia #Indonesia #LabourDay #Unwind #Reflect #Recharge #Refresh #Refocus #Restore #VeterinarianIndonesia #Anyer #Banten #My Banten Getaway
You can reach out to my YouTube Channel as well for the video on this trip. The best is to view via mobile as it is in a vertical format. My first time making a vertical video as staying in trend as IGTV and TikTok Videos.
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