Bakauheni pier to Merak bus teminal.

As the ferry SMS Kartanegara left Bakauheni's pier in Provinsi Lampung Selatan,the view of the mainland was fantastic.

The crystal clear water of the Sunda Straits and the cool breeze of the afternoon was very refreshing.

This is one great holiday destination not to be missed while visiting Indonesia.

 Lampung is a very unique place for ecotourism and the many mountains here are suitable for trekking.

The highest peak is Gunung Pesagi (2,262m) in west Lampung near Liwa.





The Menara Siger in the horizon is very eye catching.

The building might be mistaken as a resort hotel especially when it is located on a mountain top overlooking the sea.

This is ground Zero marker for the Sumatran Highway.








S P Ferry passing by SMS Kartanegara.Both ferries are in fact very old made wayback in the 70's or 80's but with regular maintenance then only will they be seaworthy.

It's time that there should be a certain limit of lifespan for a certain vessels to operate and be replaced with new ones.

 A larger passenger ship with the theme 'We serve Indonesia'(Kami berkhidmat kepada Indonesia)

 PT ASDP Ferry Indonesia is the main operator.
ASDP means Angkutan Sungai dan Penyeberagan (River and cross straits transportation).

List of ports throughout Indonesia:
Java Island: Jepara,Merak,Surabaya,Ketapang
Kalimantan: Balikpapan,Pontianak,Batu Licin

Maluku: Ambon,Tual,Ternate

NTT/NTB: Kayangan,Lembar,Kupang,Sape

Papua: Biak,Sorong,Merauke

Sulawesi: Bajoe,Bitung,Selayar,Bau-Bau,Luwuk,Siwa

Sumatera: Bakauheni,Batam,Padang,Sibolba,Bangka,Bengkulu,Sabang,Sinabang

A modern skybridge linking to the ferry.

Latest ferry fares list in per 1000Rupiah( adult/children/motorcycle)

Tanjung Kelian-Palembang (46/31/70)

Merak-Bakauheni(11.5/7/20)

Ketapang-Gilimanuk (6/5/8)

Padangbai-Lembar(36/23/52)

Bajo'e-kolaka (62/41/90)

Sape-Labuhan Bajo (46/30/70)

Sape-Waikelo (45/30/71.5)

Selayar-Labuhan Bajo (111/71/177)

Pagimana-Gorontalo (73/49/115)

Balikpapan-Mamuju (111.5/74.5/175)

 Batulicin-Garongkong (126.5/86.5/190.5)

Bitung- Ternate (95/64/150)

Namlea-Sanana (117/88/175)





Merak Port workers waiting for the ferry to berth.

Lately the Sunda Straits is experiencing winds of 35 knots and the seawaves of 2.5m making berthing slight difficulty.

The workers are very professional in administering the situation. On the whole,Merak Port area including the bus terminal is very clean.

Even the crystal clear blue sea hardly can you find any rubbish strewn around or any eyesore sights.





We have to walk through rows of stalls selling snacks and drinks before reaching the Merak bus terminal.

 Foodstalls are available near the buses platforms.

The most popular package instant noodles in Indonesia is 'Mie Sedap' with chicken,curry and soto flavours.

The stalls here seemed to have ample stocks of pancakes and the 'krupuk'(prawn crackers)




  Merak bus terminal is just beside the Merak Port(Pelabuhan Merak) situated at the westernmost tip of Java Island in the District of Pulo Merak,Cilegon,Banten Province.

Merak terminal is about 125 km from Metropolitan Jakarta City or about 95km using the Merak-Jakarta highway

The small bus terminal have many buses both aircond and economy seats to Kalideres,Bandung and Cipularang,Pulo Gadong bus terminal,Tanjung Priuk bus terminal,Kampung Rambutan bus terminal and other cities in Central Java.

There won't be any ticketing counters nor touts except for the respective bus companies drivers and conductors scouting for passengers.

I took an aircond bus with a fare of Rupiah20,000 departing at 5:00pm(WIB) with an estimated travel time of 3-4 hours depending on traffic conditions.

  Provinsi Lampung has a population of over 6.5million where a large portion of the people are migrants from Java,Madura and Bali.

 Due to overcrowding in Java Island the government has embarked on a transmigration program.

The province has 8 regencies and 2 cities:
Bandar Lampung and Metro.
With a valuable assets of various ethnic cultures,cultural dances like the Ponogoro(Java's mask folk dance),wayang kulit(Java's shadow puppet show),barongsai(chinese lion dance) and Bali's Ogoh-ogoh (purging of evils) are popular over here in Lampung Province.

Unique Rumah Adat(Customary Houses) are the Nuwou Balak(Balai Keratun) which is the home of Village chief and Nuwou Sesat or Sesat Balai Agung, a place where the chiefs of the villages convene can be observed at Taman Mini "Indonesia Indah"

About 80km from Bandar Lampung is the Elephant Training Center (Taman Nasional Way Kambas,Lampung Timur) and the nearest zoo(Taman Wisata Bumi Kedaton) is 7km from the city in the direction of Kampung Sukarame II,Batuputu,Kecamatan Teluk Betung Barat.

The main entry to the zoo is via Jalan Pangiran Emir M Noor.
Entrance fees:Rupiah3,000
Animal shows:Rupiah10,000
Elephant ride:Rupiah10,000

The most famous food of the Lampung people is the Pindang Lampung,with a gravy similar to 'Tom Yam' of Thailand.
Try it at No:45,Jalan Arif Rahman Hakim,Taman Santap Rumah Kayu. Another popular dish is the 'pempek' which can be found everywhere. When it comes to shopping for souvenirs,the Kain Tapis Inuh is a traditional hand woven embroidered silk fabrics in various design.