"A hop, a skip or a jump": Pangandaran

I was told we were going to the beach so I arrived to to Pangandaran expecting sunny skies, lapping waves and a pristine beach. That's my vision of the beach. Instead dark skies, rough surf, trash on the beach and torrential rain is what I found and I mean torrential! So much so, that the hotel pool started overflowing and Uncle Wawa's room flooded. The forecast called for everyday rain, rain, rain. Well our trip is a wash (I thought) me, always the pessimist.

A storm is brewing

We made the best of it by watching the fishermen/women pull in their nets. As the rain poured down they worked hard together like a machine, never breaking their pace to pull in the heavy endless net. As they finished, they cheered in union even though their catch was scrawny and full a lot of trash and a few fish. But with the catch a few neat surprises: A squid, crabs, blow fish and mini swordfish. It was cool to see the types of sea life that live in the Indian ocean.

Fishermen (and women) pulling in the net

Fresh Catch

The fresh catch (an assortment of trash and some fish)

A crab

A squid

Me and the blowfish Crab

Mini sword

Later we went for a drive (more like a boat ride through the flooded streets) in the pouring rain and then swam in the hotel pool with the rain beating down on us and when the rain finally eased, we went in search of food. The town has several restaurants which display fresh catch which you can have cooked to your liking. Along with several local dishes, dinner was hearty and filling. All the food was served family style which worked perfectly for our large group.

After dinner we walked through the quiet beach town (with wild deer roaming around) and my Indonesian family met up with people they knew along the way. I found out later that a bunch of Adventists pastors were in town for conference. I ended the night with ice cream, what more could I ask for?

Deer all over town

Surprisingly the next day the skies cleared and the sun came out. As I always say, you can't trust the weather report. I was so happy that was a true statement this time.

The east side - The fishing side

When I went to the swimming beach side I found a lot of families and children. People were swimming, taking pictures and playing games in front of the colorful boats. Where is the trash thought. Oh there is hidden behind the boats. Wow the locals cleaned up the beach, that's nice. The longer I stayed and the more I observed the more I realized that Pangandaran is a real local's beach getaway. Very family friendly and quiet. I place where one can truly relax from the hustle and bustle of city life. There are no nightclubs that I could see, no obnoxious people and very little traffic.

The west side - the swimming side

A variety of activities are available. Including banana boat

Love this sign :)

As the day unfolded we really started to settle in and enjoy the locals way of vacationing. The hotel was comfortable with air conditioned rooms and we enjoyed nice buffet breakfast and swam in the pool some more. Later we went to the beach to hang out and enjoy fresh coconut juice/meat and local fruits. With with a strong surf my brother and his brother-in-law took on the challenging waves on rented boogie boards.

Pool at Hotel Sun in Pangandaran

My first Indonesian Coconut

Lunch was held in a shack by the beach. All I heard was "they are cooking us lunch". I entered the tiny dirt floor shack thinking to myself, "this is going to be good". Two emaciated little kittens meandered around are feet, I thought, they are ready for this feast too. It was another family style and also potluck meal (as some friends brought food too ), while the patrons had fried up and stewed us up some fabulous red snapper! The best red snapper I have ever had! I made sure to eat like the locals and feed the kittens my scraps.

Tempeh

Fried Fish

Macaque monkey with baby

Earlier I had told Uncle Wawa that I wanted to see a waterfall or do something in the great outdoors (like I wasn't already outdoors enough?). I said I like hiking, biking, kayaking, etc. and that I longed for some adventure. Next thing I know I am told we are going to a white beach, that is all I am told. Turns out Uncle Wawa had a serious hike in mind. He made certain to take the most difficult route possible through Pangandaran National Park, including having us crawl through a dark, wet cave with bats, only to have us come back out to the same place where we started. There were lots of bugs, deer, a lizard, jungle, a beach but best of all there were lots and lots of laid back nonchalant monkeys. They just sat and minded their own business (jumping, eating, scratching, etc.), stared with curiosity or followed you.

As as I watched the sun lowering in the sky behind a shipwreck and could hear the locals belting out Brian Adams via karaoke at the beach. I thought to myself, "this is paradise".

Cave entrance

Macaque Monkeys

View of west beach

The next morning as I walked at sunrise along the eastern beach path the idea of Paradise was further solidified. It was dawn and it seemed like smiles were brighter, colors were more vivid, sounds were crisper, the wind was softer and the sun was it's most gorgeous, as it shone it's light on a new day. For me life is more beautiful in the early morning light.