Tourism of Indonesia
Ready to Go to Um Island, Raja Ampat
Planning to go on a tour or travelling, we definitely want a smooth trip, comfortable accommodation, cheap hotels, good food, cheap plane tickets, close to everywhere, and can rent a motorbike or car.
Attraction
In Um Island, Raja Ampat, there is natural beauty and unique culture of the local community. There are many uniqueness, starting from the village (desa), sub-district (kecamatan), district (kabupaten) and provincial levels.
In Indonesia, each province has different and interesting characteristics. Each province has a different and unique culture and lifestyle.
Um Island is a unique getaway if you are staying for a couple of days in Sorong, gateway to Raja Ampat.
The town of Sorong was once a bustling town for oil companies, but most have left since oil supply here has depleted. Therefore, the town is more cosmopolitan compared to other towns in Papua.
To be on Um Island is most relaxing if you have the whole day to drift into an environment filled with living creatures, above and below the glittering sea.
Within a couple of hours you will find new friends among the Moi tribe, find new sensations swimming close to a sea cow (or dugong), dive by an underwater World War II wreck, or be plain exhilarated to catch your own lobster.
Now that you have decided to travel from Sorong to Um Island, why not ask the locals to show you around the island and tell you about the sasi system.
The natives look for fish with traditional bait and spear. Sometimes their goggles are so simple, that they make your 5-year old Speedo look very shiny.
It is always interesting to swim with them and learn how they master their fishing skills.
The government is taking good care of the preservation of nature and maintaining the condition of the forest.
The environment is also well maintained.
Activity
Visiting Um Island, Raja Ampat, we will witness routine community activities in unique traditional cultures. And there are special dishes and food as part of culinary tours that are delicious and yummy.
In this place there are also regular events or activities held every year, both national and international.
If you bring an English speaking guide, go into the forest, and learn the flora and fauna. Watch the circling bats above, as they look for ripe fruits, soaring out from the caves.
Snorkeling here is also refreshing since the water is constantly warm in any season. As the island is near the equator, a hot day is best spent in the sea, or under the shade. The breeze is a blessing, filling you with serenity.
In Malaumkarta Village, get to know the Moi Tribe who are the original inhabitants of the area. They still preserve their traditions until today.
Looking primitive yet their indigenous knowledge and skills about diving will cause you to redefine your concept about life.
Equipped with diving gear, underwater camera and your own photographic skills, visit the home of the large lobsters and gracious turtles.
Your most amazing dive will be to meet a dugong, which is highly possible around Um Island. This area forms part of the Asia-Pacific Coral Triangle, which is extremely rich in ocean bio-diversity.
Walking around Um, you may even feel as if you are the first person to have discovered the island.
Accessibility
The journey to Um Island, Raja Ampat is now very easy. We can enter through various modes of transportation.
The condition of the infrastructure is getting better. Starting from highways, airports, trails, ports, bridges, stairs, even some places can be reached by toll roads.
Access to go to Um Island, Raja Ampat:
To get to Um Island it is best to start from Sorong. You may want to learn a tad about the town of Sorong.
From Sorong, you have several alternatives. Angkot or locally called bemo or taxi is convenient for a daytrip to Um Island.
The distance to Malaumkarta Village at Makbon is around 40 kilometers, taking between 2 to 3 hours’ drive. The normal price is IDR 15,000 one way.
Make sure you book the angkot for your return journey to Sorong if you do not plan to stay overnight.
From Makbon, hire a longboat for IDR 300,000 to cross the sea to get to the island. From the boat, you can see Um Island covered with lush beautiful trees.
This is a small island, which you can circumnavigate within only 15 minutes. Though small, yet it is rich in the number of species living here peacefully. Ask the longboat owner to wait if you wish to return the same day.
Please note that prices can change without prior notice.
It will take only around 15 minutes to walk along the beach that encircles the island, where you will find that you are probably the only person or couple there.
If sandals are too much to wear, get rid of them and feel the fine pristine sand between your toes.
As you stop over in Malaumkarta Village, you realize that you would have missed many interesting aspects if you chose to go around on a motorized vehicle.
Ask around and sit with the warmhearted natives, who are eager to practice their English. Although not too good at the language, they do make excellent buddies to share your smiles and laughter with under the shady coconut palm trees. An experience that you don’t come across too often at home.
Um Island sits right across the the Malaumkarta village in Makbon, a short distance away from Sorong in West Papua.
Makbon is an inland lagoon, located north of the Bird Head Peninsula. Um Island is known as the habitat for bats and seagulls.
Bats on this island look for food during daylight, while seagulls fly out at night. Quite the opposite of what we are familiar with.
We can visit by plane, car, ship, bus, motorcycle and bicycle. At some point, we can take the train. We can also walk freely.
Amenity
In Um Island, Raja Ampat, as technology getting better. We can easily find locations for mini markets, shops (warung kedai), ATMs, Bank BRI BCA BNI Mandiri, BTPN Bank Nagari BJB, supermarkets, and restaurants. So we will not starve or lack the necessary items.
Suggestion before vising Um Island, Raja Ampat:
When you rent a longboat, please choose one with balancing wings so as to reduce the possibility of losing its balance when hit by waves.
If you are sick and need help, you can also visit clinics, drugstore pharmacies (apotek), practice doctors, hospitals, health centers (puskesmas).
In this place we can also look for places of worship such as mosques, churches, and others.
Accommodation
Finding place to stay in Um Island, Raja Ampat is very easy. We can stay at homestays, hotels, inns, hostels and other places.
To get lodging at a cheap and definitely comfortable price, please see below:
Booking.com
Experience and Reviews
There are already many visitors have visited Um Island, Raja Ampat, there are many interesting stories that are told. Like feeling satisfied, happy, wanting to come again, sleep well, and almost no one is disappointed or complains to come here.
So, visitors will find out on how to find the best hotels, where is exactly located, why it is amazing, how much is the fare and rate, who are the people, whom to ask, and when is the best time to visit.
We can visit these tourist attractions from Tanjung Pinang, Tanjung Redep, Tanjung Selor, Tapak Tuan, Tarakan, Tarutung, Tasikmalaya, Muara Bungo, Muara Enim, Muara Teweh, Muaro Sijunjung, Muntilan, Nabire, Negara, Nganjuk,
That’s all the information we provided, hopefully useful.
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