Depart Rajabasa bus terminal in an aircond bus (fares:Rupiah 22,000) for a 3 hours journey to Bakauheni ferry pier.On arrival I had a plate of 'nasi padang' (Rupiah14,000) at a nearby restaurant before making my way to the ferry ticketing counter.
Nasi Padang is rice with some Minangkabau cuisines.
It was not so congested at this time of the year as the Lebaran (Idul Fitri) New Year has already passed which at that time saw an estimated million travellers exodus.
Sumatra is the sixth largest island in the world having a population close to 50million whereas Indonesia on the whole has 237million,the world's ranking number 4.
Bakauheni port has six piers,Pier I,II,III for unloading passengers and cars while Plengsengan Pier I,II,III will only operate when there is a need.
The ferries main operator is PT ASDP Indonesia (Persero) and adult fare was Rupiah11,500.
Just infront of the ferry terminal are the buses platforms that goes back to Lampung City.
The Sunda Straits (Indonesian:Selat Sunda) is a narrow sea lane between the Sumatra and Java Island having a width of 24 km.
The seabed is like a flat table but deepens towards the east as it approaches the Indian Ocean.
With a depth of only 20metres in most of the eastern part of seabed,navigation might be problematic with the presence of sandbanks and at times the tidal flow.
One of the volcanic island called Gunung Krakatoa and a newly formed Anak Krakatoa back in the 1927 volcanic explosion is along the Sunda Straits just opposite Lampung Bay.
Being on a plate tectonics or fault line,this area is within the Pacific Ring of Fire.
An islets with white sandy beach near the Bakauheni pier.
In the case of Mount Krakatoa,the shoreline will be black volcanic sand,hot under the tropical sun.
A fishing vessel returning to base after a great catch.
The Sunda Platform which is part of the Eurasia plate has as a shallow sea with warm seawaters and a good breeding ground for planktons.
From the Straits of Malacca till the Straits of Makassar,the abundance of planktons invited most of the marine fishes to feed in these areas.
Planktons are responsible for providing food source and nutrients to fishes. Most of the fishes caught in domestic waters are processed locally while the better species like tuna and sashimi are exported.
Morotai near the northeastern tip of Maluku Island is a center of tuna industry because the tuna fishes from the Pacific Ocean made a stopover here.
Carita coastal town is the main gate to Sunda Straits and a great place for fishing tour or deep sea fishing.
15km west of Carita is the Krakatau Archipelago that have nice fishing spot such as Rakata Island,Pulau Panjang,Batu Mesjid and Serdang Islands.
For deep sea fishing,Ujung Kulon Panaitan Island is a good base.
Outstanding hotspots are at Karang Copong,Karang Jajar,Tanjung Parat,Karang Kereta and Tanjung Layar. Fishes like tenggiri,yellowfin tuna,marlin,wahoo and sailfish can be caught.
Karang Jajar faces the Indian Ocean and have strong tides.
Tanjung Parat is shelterd and suited for small boats.
Tanjung Layar is the lighthouse and rocky sea bottom.
Fishing boat rental at Berkah Resort.Tel:0252-5600378/9 HP:087880269951 (bapak Slamet)
Oil palm plantations in the high mountains near ferry terminal.
The hills in the foreground is the Rajabasa Mountain and over the mountains on the other side is the Kalianda town facing the Lampung Bay with the Krakatoa Nirwana Resort in the locality.
Canti fishing village along the coastline is before Kalianda town from the direction of Bakauheni.
Ranau Lake is the second largest lake in Sumatra after Lake Toba located in the Lampung Barat Regency at Sukau,in the village of Lumbok or 31km from Liwa the regency's capital.
Hotels around Liwa town: Dana Insani,Gunung Putri,Karang Nyimbor,Pesagi,Sarijo,Sempana Lima,Losmen Fajar Bulan,Wisma Sindalapai,Wisma Selalau,Losmen Gembira,Stabas,Serdahana,Purnama,Permata,Dwi Putri and hotel Jembar Manah.
Kids swimming near ferry hoping for passengers generosity.
A small token of the rupiah notes folded and thrown into their direction will see them diving for it.
Siger Tower just opposite Bakauheni's terminal port inland is a landmark symbol to reflect Lampung's identity as a province of south gate and Zero highway marker point of Sumatra.
Canti ,a small fishing town is an hour minivan drive from Bakauheni ferry terminal.
There were speedboats to the smaller islands like Sebuku Besi,Condong Sulah and Umang-umang island.
On the eastern part of Lampung Province facing the Indian Ocean,Belimbing town is the southernmost point which is near to the Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (a World Heritage) at Sukaraja and near to Kota Agung town facing the Semaka Bay.
Vessel: 'WE LOVE INDONESIA' (kami cintakan Indonesia)
There are three express ships Pascadana 2,Ele Expres and Ctra Jet 2.
Ferry's slogan: 'WE BRIDGE THE NATION' (Bangga menyatukan nusantara)
About 33 ferries in operation among them BSP II,Duta Banten,Nusa Mulya,Nusa Agung,Nusa Jaya,Jatra I/II and Panorama.
Large ship like Trubuna I had a capacity to transport 175 four wheeled vehicles and 395 passengers.
A 'KELONG',fishermen floating shelter platform.
Merak bus terminal ahead as the ferry approached the north western end of Jawa Island.
On leaving the ferry,just walk along the pedestrian bridge till the very end and turn right.Walk down the stairways and continue into a building passing through many stalls and there were many buses to Metropolitan Jakarta.
