Still sticking in the memory of a piece of lyrics from the song of instant noodles advertising popular in the era of the 90s. The song reminds us of the vastness of Indonesia with thousands of islands along with its natural beauty.
Likewise with the island of Rote, the southernmost island in Indonesia is included in the administrative area of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) and directly adjacent to the Indian Ocean and Australia.
Famous in the song of instant noodle ads, but the name of Rote Island is not as popular as Bali, Yogyakarta or Raja Ampat for local tourists. Funny thing is, more foreign tourists who know this 1,200 square kilometer island.
I had the opportunity to visit this beautiful arid island for work on a few weeks ago.
To get to Rote Island, I boarded the plane from Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Jakarta to El-Tari Airport in Kupang, NTT. The flight duration is about three hours, plus one hour time difference between Jakarta and NTT.
From El-Tari Airport, I had to get back on a short flight using a small plane, for about 15 minutes, to reach David Constantine Saudale Airport on Rote Island.
From Kupang to Rote Island, there are only two flights per day, at 6:30 and 15:00. So, leave the ngaret habit before planning a holiday there.
I happen to get the last flight schedule to get to Rote Island and stop for two days there. From the top of the plane, the afternoon sun illuminates the arid land of Rote Island that looks like Africa. Do not expect to see the green rice fields as in the crayons of elementary school children.
Before coming, I had already booked a hotel and a rental car to stay on Rote Island. There is no luxury hotel chain operating here. So tourists can stay at the residence of a resident converted into lodging. The rate is around Rp300 thousand to Rp500 thousand per night. Prices are still cheap for the East.
Arriving at David Constantine Saudale Airport, I was picked up by a rental car. The rate is around Rp700 thousand per day, including driver and gasoline.
In the car I feel that the asphalt road in the city center of Rote Island is very smooth, no wonder if many vehicles that spur speed. But, the driver said that he tends not to speed, because many dogs and pet pigs are wandering around.
The driver continued to tell me that the name 'rote' came from a Portuguese sailor who had come here in the days of colonial past.
At that time the Portuguese-speaking sailor introduced himself as a 'Rote' to the people he met.
The arrival of Portuguese sailors to Rote Island shows that the island is very strategic. The seafood is rich, as well as the potential of its aquatic tourism.
Rote Island Regent Leonard Haning said that the island has the highest waves in the world after Hawaii. No wonder at the airport many foreign tourists who mudik carrying surf boards.
Every year, the world surfers come to Rote Island, precisely Namberala Beach in Rote Ndao District, to conquer the waves.
After putting luggage at the place not far from the city center, I immediately asked the driver to be escorted to Nembrala Beach, which is a journey of about an hour.
The barren expanse entertaining eyes all the way there. In my heart joking, this scene is less decorated giraffes and tigers, so similar in the National Geographic show.
Halfway through the journey, the asphalt began to feel bumpy. This is where the challenge is traveling in Eastern Indonesia, because the condition of the asphalt is difficult to guess.
Arriving at Nembrala Beach, I saw many simple lodging buildings lined up. Apparently it belongs to a foreign citizen who is also managed by the local community. The driver said that many foreign tourists who come to travel, go home, then returned to live on the island of Rote.
Nambrela beach is right in front of Indonesia. From the shore, I see the faint buildings in the city of Perth, Australia.
Near Nembarala Beach, there is Bo'a Beach. However, the "small change" can not go in there, because he said the beach is owned by the family of the most powerful former president in Indonesia. Only acquaintances, neighbors, or thick purses can feel the beauty there.
Spending the day on Rote Island is fun. Many new things that can be explored, especially about culinary and tourism.
The intention of returning to Jakarta ends full of drama. I ran out of airline tickets from Rote Island to Kupang, so I boarded a ferry from Ba'a Port.
I bought a ticket for the VIP class at Rp140 thousand per person. The ship with a size large enough that I can expect to accommodate about 500 people.
In the VIP room, there is a large television as a facility other than air conditioning that quite make me nod off for about 2.5 hours drive to Tenau Port in Kupang.
I was lucky, the ocean waves were friendly. If the monsoon season arrives, the waves can reach three meters which makes the ship can rock great.
The view of the sunset at Ba'a Port then became the closing of my encounter with Rote Island. Hopefully I can repeat the trip again there.
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