Exploring Indonesia's Hidden Tropical Paradise

Indonesia's natural beauty captivates with lush forests, enchanting islands, and serene beaches, offering a hidden tropical paradise to be discovered.

### Discovering Indonesia's Hidden Tropical Paradise: A Journey through Aceh's Raw Singkil and the Banyak Islands
* 🌴 The journey begins in Aceh's Raw Singkil, where the team explores the Singkil Swamp, a part of the Gunung Leuser National Park, encountering **local wildlife** and experiencing the **unique ecosystem** of the area.
* 🚣 Traveling through the Singkil River, the team witnesses the daily life of the local community, who navigate the flooded area with ease, and learns about the **importance of the swamp for both the environment and the people**.
* 🌅 After a few days of rest in Aceh Singkil, the team continues their adventure to the Banyak Islands, a cluster of around **99 islands with pristine beaches and crystal-clear waters**.
* ⛵ The journey to the Banyak Islands involves a **4-hour boat ride to Pulau Balai**, the main hub of the island cluster, followed by visits to various islands such as **Pulau Panjang, Nago Resort, Aso Island, and Rangit Island**.
* 🐋 The team is fortunate to encounter a **blue whale** during their island-hopping adventure, highlighting the **rich marine biodiversity** of the area.
* 🌺 Each island visited offers unique attractions, from **stunning coral reefs** to **picturesque landscapes**, providing a **diverse range of experiences** for the travelers.
* 🌿 The journey showcases the **natural beauty and cultural richness** of Aceh, from the **lush rainforests of Raw Singkil** to the **idyllic beaches of the Banyak Islands**.
* 🌐 The exploration of these hidden gems in Indonesia's western tip serves as a reminder of the country's **vast potential for eco-tourism and sustainable travel**.

As the largest archipelagic country in the world, Indonesia captivates with the beauty of its beaches and lush tropical forests. With over 17,000 islands, this nation holds world-class potential waiting to be explored. In the western tip of Aceh, a cluster of enchanting islands and the Raw tropical forest form part of the world heritage site. The Sumatran rainforest at every corner offers amazing adventures and natural wonders, making Indonesia a hidden tropical paradise ready to be discovered. This is the journey of Kelana Bentala from Aceh. Singkil, after approximately one and a half hours of travel, we are exploring this coastline. On our left side, there are beautiful beaches, and many people were swimming despite the rain. For those of you who want to camp, it is possible here because the grass is lush and green, with plenty of coconut trees resembling those in Bengkulu. Yes, it's similar to Bengkulu, but here there are more stalls and local residents. Heavy rain accompanies our journey as we trek through the forest, creating a natural melody along the way. Soon, a row of neatly arranged coconut trees welcomes us, leading to an aesthetic road to the beach. Midway, we stop at a seaside stall to enjoy warm coffee and fresh coconut water.

Saturday brings tranquility to our adventure, right, bro? Look at this, the beach, why are the waves so small? I thought ahead it would be directly into the ocean. It turns out there are many islands in front of us, small islands and Nias, the largest one. So, this area is blocked by the waves, blocked by Nias Island and small islands in the middle. Not long after, we entered the Barus district, Ulu Tengah Regency, North Sumatra Province. Now, we have arrived at Barus E. Behind me, there is the point zero KM of the Nusantara Islamic civilization in Barus. The city of Barus is considered one of the oldest cities in Indonesia and believed to be the starting point or point zero of the civilization and spread of Islamic teachings in the archipelago. This assumption is inseparable from Barus' position as a bustling port city visited by foreign traders in ancient times. They wanted to buy logistics because we still have a 2-hour journey ahead. My stomach is starting to rumble, yesterday there was no March, confused about where to buy, now there is March. Indo is confused about what to buy. The journey from Sibolga to Aceh Singkil is an exciting adventure through small winding roads. Oh, if only we knew the right road, where it is smooth. The bridge earlier, so don't go straight. We got lost in the middle of vast

Guide us back to the right path. The distance is still the same; we have to cross the river without a bridge. Because the condition is a bit dark, meaning it's cloudy, we are afraid the river will overflow. Here, the river is quite deep already, so we choose the option that is a bit far, it's okay as long as it's safe because our journey is still long. We don't want to take the risk of putting Mr. Jarot into the river when it's dark. Finally, we entered Aceh Singkil, luckily we found a gas station to refuel and rest. Unlike other cities, the rules in Aceh require all businesses, including gas stations, to be closed temporarily during the Maghrib and Isha prayers. So we waited while enjoying a brief break in this long journey. Along the way, we met kind people again. As the day grew darker and the new year approached, we were introduced to Triswan, a good friend of Brother Faisal who is part of Nusantara Explorer. The conversation continued over dinner at Rimo, in the Gunung Meriah District, Aceh Singkil. So, we have arrived in Rimo, entering the Aceh Singkil Regency. Tonight, we will rest here. We don't know yet what we want to explore, but the important thing is to rest first before we think about exploring the single area.

Earlier, the journey from Si Bolga was at 12 noon but we stopped by a waterfall first before continuing, passing through mostly oil palm plantations. We went through the oil palm plantation and entered the gate of Eceingkil Regency, not far from there we found a gas station and filled up the front tire, but there was no air pump. When it was our turn, the air was gone, so we had to wait for it to be refilled. Luckily, there was a trick to filling the tank directly, and only then did we arrive here. After eating, we were taken to the home of Triswan's parents, who turned out to be transmigrants from Banyumas, Java Island, who had been living in Aceh Singkil for decades. But I was brought here when I was 4 years old, so that means it's been a long time. Yes, a long time. So, we decided to stay at Triswan's house for a few days to rest and avoid the New Year's Eve crowds. It turns out that New Year's Eve celebrations in Aceh tend to be quiet without fireworks. Triswan's family just stayed at home, living a simple daily life since retiring early from the oil palm company. Triswan's parents now choose to farm vegetables around their house, enjoying a peaceful and serene life. Good morning, today we will explore the Aceh Singkil area and head to the Little Amazon of

Singkil is said to have crocodiles, tigers, and orangutans. Let's see the uniqueness in Raw Singkil, hopefully we can find those animals to capture them to complete the Kelana Bentala journey. From here, it's about a 1-hour journey to the crossing point at Desa Makmur, which should lead to Teluk Rumbiah, but it's flooded there, so we are redirected from Desa Suka Makmur. Hopefully, the journey will be safe. Let's follow our journey towards Rawas. After a few days of rest, we are ready to explore tourism in Aceh Singkil. Based on information from the locals, there is Swaka Margatua Rawa Singkil, a very captivating large swamp. Passing through the flooded oil palm forest, hopefully, Jarot can manage it. The journey will start from Desa Teluk Rumbia, but due to a major flood, car access stopped. In Desa Suka Makmur, we met the boat owner who will take us along Rawa Singkil. From under the Suka Makmur bridge, we continue the journey with Robin, a small motorized boat, to navigate a river with a width of less than 10 meters. Actually, outside until reaching Kuala, it used to be a military center, Panda. If we pass there, it takes about 2 hours, ah, maybe 2 hours more. Let's break through this, so it

In the past, the Singkil community was asked to create rivers for these rivers that we passed through. We briefly stopped at the house of the boat owner on the banks of the large river, which was affected by floods, to pick up supplies. The view there showed houses surrounded by brown water due to the floods that occur regularly every year. So, in the Singkil River, our guide said that this is the largest river in Aceh that reaches Gayo Lues. To reach Raw Singkil, we had to go against the current, and coincidentally, after the flood, the houses here are on stilts and currently, the water is overflowing. Here, most people have small boats for transportation to the market. Children here swim and play with wooden boats in the water. They consider floods as part of their daily lives. During the flood season, children like these play with rowboats because other activities like going to school are impossible. How can they go to school if the school is submerged? It has been almost three months since October, so during the flood, schools are closed. Teachers might come here later, right? They come to the terraces of the houses. The children here are used to rowing, they are no longer surprised by it. They are indeed river children, swimming and playing.

He's already skilled, that means he's good at swimming, indeed, he's really good. It's a must to teach the little ones to be skilled because we're by the river, whether we like it or not. Yes, Ma'am, they have to be skilled by the age of 5, they've been taught here, it's very comfortable here, the place is comfortable, the toilets flow directly far away by helicopter. Even though the situation is challenging, the spirit and togetherness of the local residents inspire us and give us new spirit to continue this adventure. Along this very large river, we met a group of monkeys playing by the riverbank. Then, we started to enter the swamp area on the left and right sides, the swamp widened, filled with various plants and animals. Most of the land is peatland which can help absorb carbon dioxide for human life. Here, the water is still clean as it is filtered by millions of roots in the Singkil Swamp. So, the people here sometimes drink the water without needing to boil it, just take it and drink it. No one has ever gotten sick from drinking raw water like this. Some of us believe that it's actually a remedy because of the millions of roots filtering the water. The people here are always thirsty, keep drinking like that. Even if they want to cook, they take this water, especially the fishermen who catch fish in the.

Here, because some fishermen sometimes stay overnight in this area. So here, we meet with the fishermen who have been looking for fish inside the swamp. They catch catfish here, and they say the catfish here are more expensive than the mud catfish. We can see here that the catfish is tender. The meat is tender, so it's more expensive than the mud catfish. The catfish population won't be depleted, even with an area as wide as this one, it will be depleted if they are caught like this. If they are caught like this, oh, yes, their habitat will be destroyed. It will be over because they catch them in a traditional way, so there will be no end to enjoying tourism activities in the Singkil Swamp. Visitors can rent boats from the local community with a capacity of 3 to 8 people, depending on the size of the boat. Tourists only need to pay between Rp400,000 to Rp500,000 for a round trip along the Singkil Swamp. If this area is called the Singkil Swamp, we usually call it the Singkil Swamp. If the name of our area is Paya Le Terup, that's the name of the tree that grows here, the Terup tree. It's the water from the Terup tree. That's it. This is indeed our community's livelihood area here. So, during the Dutch occupation, some people sought refuge here because if they were caught outside, they

Forced like this, there are many types of animals here, still many of them are possibly popular, such as orangutans, sun bears, and crocodiles. There are also many types of birds. Actually, if you want to see more, it's better to go inside, but we have to prepare our supplies. It's more beautiful inside, and there are more people in there because it is deeper. This Rawa Singkil Wildlife Sanctuary is part of the Gunung Leuser National Park, which is a World Heritage Site of Sumatra's tropical rainforest. Its existence must be maintained and preserved as it is the home to various endemic species that need to be observed and preserved. We found a fisherman's hut located in the middle of the marsh. This hut is usually used to observe orangutans and as a resting place for catfish fishermen. Here, we rested for lunch while enjoying the tranquility and unique beauty of Raw Singkil's nature. The calm and natural atmosphere around the fisherman's hut made our rest more memorable and satisfying. So, we felt like jumping around. The journey back from the swamp was decorated with a very stunning sunset. Along the way, we met a group of fishermen families with their catches. Next, a warm meeting with the ship owner's family...

The atmosphere became even more cheerful and warm. When we arrived at the parking lot, we were greeted by many young children who were about to go to study the Quran, reminding me of a childhood full of joy. President Indonesia's second president, Indonesia Abang Abang Abang Mau Ratiah, they were so friendly and warm towards us, leaving an unforgettable impression on the journey home. This is still in the western tip of Sumatra, there are beautiful islands that are so enchanting, namely the cluster of Pulau Banyak Aceh Singkil Kelana Bentala together with Go Pulau Banyak will visit each exotic island in this cluster. Now we are going to explore Pulau Banyak in Aceh Singkil, but before that, we will lay the foundation first. We eat near e forest Ace Singkil, we meet Bang Kurniawan and park our vehicle at the PPI harbor, a starting point for our adventure towards Pulau Banyak. This morning we have arrived at the beautiful Anak Laut Lake harbor. There is a fishermen's dock for crossing to Pulau Banyak. Now, let's have some coffee while waiting for our friend who hasn't arrived from Banda Aceh yet. While waiting for the boat, let's have coffee and see if we can find a boat that is available. It seems like our friend from Banda Aceh has arrived, ready to go hiking? Yes, bro. It's okay, bro. We

Yes, the sound of the engine is uncomfortable, spinning the propeller fan taking us away from the mainland towards Pulau Banyak. We embarked on this journey using a traditional boat with a fare of 50,000 per person to Pulau Banyak and 60,000 per person to Pulau Banyak Barat. Now we are already cosplaying as spirits, and we are on a fisherman's boat heading to Pulau Banyak, approximately a 4-hour journey. Maybe 4 hours or 5 hours, hopefully, we will encounter whales. Due to the long journey, it's better for us to rest and sleep until we reach there. Maybe we'll see the sunset, hopefully. Hopefully, there will be a sunset and no rain. There are many things here, such as motorcycles, fish, vendors, fuel, and us, the stranded spirits on Pulau Banyak until we meet at Pulau Balai and Pulau Panjang. We see how amazing Pulau Banyak is in Aceh Singkil. After a 3-hour journey approaching sunset, the traditional ship nears Pulau Balai, the capital of Pulau Banyak sub-district, marking the end of our voyage. During the journey, the boredom was completely compensated by the beauty of the island panorama in the cluster of Pulau Banyak. When we docked at the Pulau Balai pier, the locals warmly welcomed us amidst the hustle and bustle of the pier. Sh

Pulau Banyak, now we have arrived at Pulau Balai precisely on Pulau Balai. This is the gateway to the paradise of the Banyak Islands, so Pulau Balai is a stopping point for many islands with a large population. Because after Pulau Balai, most of the following islands are resort cottages. So, here is where the most civilization in the Banyak Islands, specifically on Pulau Balai, is summarized from various sources. Pulau Banyak consists of about 99 islands, with some of them still uninhabited by humans. These islands are still very natural and untouched by modern development, making it a perfect place to seek peace and tranquility. One of the popular islands here is Pulau Tuangku or Pulau Balai, which has white sandy beaches and crystal clear blue sea water. The island is also surrounded by beautiful coral reefs, making it an ideal place for snorkeling or diving. Pulau Balai has become a tourist village in Aceh Singkil. This village serves as the first gateway to enter Pulau Banyak and is the center of government facilities and tourism facilities in the area, which are quite complete. Since our accommodation is close to the PPI Pier on Pulau Balai, I chose to watch the process of unloading the freshly caught fish by fishermen. The fish are then placed in boxes already filled with ice, ready.

For sale or delivery to various places, this event is not only attractive but also provides a real picture of the daily life of the coastal community of Pulau Banyak. It is truly an eye-opening experience. Our journey in this Hidden Paradise continues as we head to the main destination, Pulau Panjang. It is called Pulau Panjang (Long Island) due to its slender and elongated shape when viewed from the air. The island resembles an exotic natural dot among other islands in the Banyak Islands. Pulau Panjang has tourism supporting facilities and infrastructure. Besides resorts, there are restaurants available to cater to the visitors' needs. The travel time from Pulau Balai to Pulau Panjang is only 15 minutes by speedboat. Alright, friends, so as we embark on a tour of Pulau Panjang, let's start with eating. Now, we have noodles because I know you love them, then we have eggs as well, but let's eat noodles first. So, let's eat and enjoy the sunset on Pulau Panjang, which has its own unique sensation. Until we [MUSIC] ourselves and some other friends decide to spend more time with Pulau Panjang, for example, playing Stand Up Paddle in its refreshing waters. We get lost in the embrace of the beauty of Pulau Panjang. Nature can soothe the troubled souls of humans, calming the heart and mind on Pulau Panjang.

We believe that we can be a calming antidote for those tired of the city's noise, releasing the burden of hustle and bustle and routines. Second day of work in the Banyak Islands after this morning we toured around the island using pedal bikes. After breakfast, we will continue to the next island. We will go to the Nago Resort area, reportedly there used to be Dugongs and the coral reefs were beautiful. We will see the current condition there, hopefully, it's still good, and the weather is also nice. Next, we will use a speedboat to Nago Resort, a mini exotic island located about 30 minutes from Balai Island. Nago Resort is located north of Halobon Island or Tuangku Island, which is the largest island in the Banyak Islands cluster. This island is named Nago Resort because its shape resembles a dragon's head. Here, a wooden dock, a canteen, a gazebo, and swings have been built to enhance the comfort of visitors. Nago Resort offers the beauty of a mini tropical island the size of a tennis court and is filled with refreshing coconut trees. We are already at Nago Resort in the Banyak Islands. Oh, there are two resorts here, but one is already damaged. This place should be nice, but maybe because there was trash delivered, it's messy. We are also confused about what to do here.

There is a great spot, Kelapa Island. Do you have any ideas? We can enjoy the landscape of Nago Resort on a paddleboard, exploring every beautiful and amazing corner. If lucky, visitors can witness a mermaid show passing by, adding a magical charm to this tiny island. Nago Resort truly provides an unforgettable experience amidst the natural and calming beauty of the surroundings. Now that everything here is finished, we are going to move to the next island. Next, we head to Aso Island, one of the favorite islands for island hopping in the archipelago. Many of these islands offer gently sloping beach structures with very calm seawater. Aso Island is adorned with hundreds of coconut trees and clean white sand, creating a stunning tropical view. Moreover, its underwater beauty is equally amazing, making it an ideal place for snorkeling and diving. Aso Island is truly a hidden paradise that pleases the eyes and soothes the soul. While island hopping in the archipelago, nothing can compare to the luck of encountering the majestic ocean giant, a blue whale, which is one of the largest mammals on earth, with a length that can exceed 33 meters. This encounter reminds us of the wonders of nature and how extraordinary life is beneath the surface.

From the Aso Island, we shifted to Rangit Island. One of the islands I have been eagerly waiting for in the archipelago, many of these islands are unique and charming, consisting of two adjacent islands, Rangit Besar Island and Rangit Kecil Island. Okay, GS. So now we are on Rangit Kecil Island. Here, there are Rangit Besar and Rangit Kecil. Originally, they were connected, but due to the Nias earthquake, they split into two. This area is actually shallow, so we can cross to Rangit Besar. Later, we will go up to Meruarnya to see the view from the top of Rangit Island, which is part of the cluster of islands. In Aceh Singkil, it not only offers stunning sea views from Merangit, but we can also enjoy the beautiful sea panorama from the top of the lighthouse, clearly seeing the presence of Rit Besar Island, Panjang Island, Maleo Island, Balai Island, Palomba Island, and several other small islands. The beauty of Rangit Island is truly captivating, making every step of the journey in the archipelago more impressive. The last spot we visited was Malelo Island, one of the few islands in the archipelago. This island is very small, just a tiny part of the size of the archipelago. On Malelo Island,

The moment at Pulau Malelo truly provided a beautiful and unforgettable conclusion to our journey in the many islands. Thank you in advance, take care, be ready, don't forget to eat. The western tip of Sumatra serves as the opening of our adventure to Bentala Kelana, Aceh, which was full of impressions. This journey introduced us to kind people who showed us how magnificent and rich Rawa Singkil is, providing many benefits to life in its surroundings, from the beauty of nature to the richness of its ecosystem. Rawa Singkil demonstrated to us the importance of nature conservation. Our adventure continued as we discovered the Hidden Paradise in the cluster of many islands. Each island with its uniqueness and charm added beautiful stories to our journey, from white sandy beaches to stunning coral reefs. The many islands offer unforgettable experiences. This journey is not just about exploring beauty, but also about discovering every corner of Aceh. Thank you for joining us on our journey. See you in the next adventure.

KELANA BENTALA -Eps. 14 Bertemu Mamalia Terbesar Dunia di ACEH SINGKIL! Pulau Banyak & Rawa Singkil

Arsal Bahtiar

Discovering the Tropical Paradise of Indonesia

Indonesia, with its 17,000 islands, offers a world-class potential for exploration with beautiful beaches and lush forests, including the Raw tropical forest in Aceh.

The journey of Kelana Bentala from Aceh includes exploring the coastline, camping opportunities, and experiencing the natural beauty of the Sumatran rainforest.

The adventure also involves encountering historical sites, navigating through challenging roads, and experiencing the hospitality of the local people before resting in Gunung Meriah District, Aceh Singkil.

The journey through Aceh Singkil includes a stop at a waterfall, a visit to Triswan's parents, and an exploration of the area's tourism.

Triswan's family leads a simple life after retiring from the oil palm company, choosing to farm vegetables.

The area is characterized by regular floods, with the local community adapting to life on the water, using boats for transportation and considering floods as a part of their daily lives, especially affecting the children's education.

The Singkil Swamp is a vital part of the local community's livelihood, offering boat tours and a unique drinking water source.

The area is rich in biodiversity, including orangutans, sun bears, and crocodiles, and is a crucial part of the Gunung Leuser National Park.

The swamp provides a serene and memorable experience for visitors, with its beautiful nature and stunning sunsets.

Exploring the Enchanting Pulau Banyak Islands

Arrival at the parking lot greeted by children going to study the Quran, evoking joyful childhood memories.

The journey to Pulau Banyak, Indonesia's beautiful island cluster, using a traditional boat with stunning panoramic views.

Pulau Balai, the gateway to the Banyak Islands, offers white sandy beaches, clear blue waters, and untouched natural beauty, serving as a perfect place for peace and tranquility.

Exploring the Hidden Paradise of Pulau Banyak

The main destination, Pulau Panjang, offers a unique and attractive coastal community life, with tourism facilities and a quick speedboat ride from Pulau Balai.

Nago Resort, with its mini tropical island beauty, provides a calming and unforgettable experience, perfect for paddleboarding and relaxation.

Aso Island's stunning tropical views and amazing underwater beauty make it an ideal place for snorkeling and diving, offering a soul-soothing hidden paradise experience.

Exploring the Enchanting Islands of Rangit and Malelo

The Rangit Island in Aceh Singkil, consisting of Rangit Besar and Rangit Kecil, offers stunning sea views and a captivating natural beauty, with the two islands being separated by the Nias earthquake.

The journey also includes a visit to Malelo Island, which provides a beautiful and unforgettable conclusion with its unique charm in the archipelago.

The adventure in the cluster of islands highlights the richness of the ecosystem and the beauty of nature, emphasizing the importance of nature conservation in Rawa Singkil.