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BY: DEIDRA & DAVE AVENDASORA  Day 1: depart Jakarta. Drive 3-4 hours depending on traffic to Banten province. Arrive Villa Joglo Sambolo in Sambolo district of Cerita. Spend the afternoon at Villa. The backyard is flat and grassy, so bring frisbee or yard games like badminton or bocce ball. Or spend the afternoon on the back porch, hammock, or lounge chairs, sipping endless free coconuts while watching the ocean waves come in. Or perhaps you'll want to enjoy the swing while watching the sunset over the ocean.  Day 2: get up very early and take a boat to Anak Krakatoa at first light. Hike Krakatoa. Bring along breakfast or snack to eat atop the active volcano, watching the crater billow smoke. Easy hike up is the sand path. The beautiful but rugged path leads through eroded "canyons" of volcanic sandstone, which is suitable for physically fit, adventurous types (you may need to scramble over ridge tops or hoist yourself up a level of crumbly sandstone. Volcanic rock is sharp). Option: Snorkel the reef near Krakatoa. It's a small, average reef that was impacted by the December 2018 eruption. Return to Villa.  Day 3: Drive to the trailhead of the hike to Putri Cerita waterfall. The Villa caretaker can arrange guides (Rp 250k per guide + Rp 20k for park entrance fee per pax). Hike 2.5 km up hilly path with some flat areas. The path is composed of dirt (muddy if recent rain) and rocks. There are a few areas with steep drop-offs, though the steepest have guard rails. At a few points, you may need to cross rivulets of water that go over the trail. At about 2.5 km, there are huts for resting, rustic squat toilets, and warungs. The warungs were closed when we went be we heard they are open on weekends when it is busy. When we didn't see any other hikers on Friday, the guides will provide life jackets at this point.  Make sure to choose a life jacket that fits snugly and properly closes as an ill-fitting life jacket will make ascending the waterfall more challenging. Change from your trail shoes to water shoes or Tevas and begin hiking in a stream bed. As you hike, the canyon walls will become narrower until you are in a slot canyon. Hike in the stream for about 100 meters until you reach a 1-meter tall waterfall. Optional to remove your shoes and any packs you may have as you will begin swimming at this point. You may want to leave on your water shoes or Tevas if they have good traction. To get up the waterfall, you will need to grasp a rope and pull yourself swimming through the water against the strong current. You will scramble up the stones of the waterfall with the guides helping to pull you up. Expect to get a face full of water by the effort is worth it as above the waterfall, you'll be swimming in a very narrow, winding canyon with beautiful swirling orange-colored walls until you reach a waterfall. Spend some time letting the current float you down the canyon, then use the rope to leisurely pull yourself to the waterfall to do it again. When you're ready, return the way you came and jump off the 1-meter tall waterfall into the pool below. Pick up your gear and hike back to the huts. Rest a bit, then hike the 2.5 km trail back to the trailhead. (Allow 3-4 hours for round trip). Option to take motorcycles to reduce some of the hiking. Hike recommended for teenagers and older; should be physically fit with an adventurous spirit. Afternoon relaxing at Villa.  Day 4: ask villa staff to help arrange jet ski. (Rp 800k for 1 hour with jet ski delivered to the villa seashore). Or go to popular Cerita Beach to rent a jet ski for 30 minutes, ride on a banana boat, or simply play in the sand and surf.  Day 5: Enjoy a relaxed morning at Villa. Depart at noon return to Jakarta. Villa had two air-conditioned bedrooms with queen beds and mosquito netting. One bedroom is en-suite. The other bathroom is shared with the rest of the home. The Villa staff will cook all Indonesian meals, shop for you for a fee, and do dishes and straighten up. There are limited grocery and restaurant options, and they mainly cater to Indonesian tastes, so you may wish to pack your own food. The Villa has a fridge, cooktop, blender, electric kettle, pots and pans, plates, glasses, and cutlery. No microwave. Staff can prepare a seafood bbq upon request.  Other possible activities: go fishing, take a boat to explore other islands about 2 hours away, go on other hikes in the area.
Pros: beautiful Joglo style villa with beautiful woodwork and decor, daybed in the main area could be used for extra sleeping space, high chair, two warm water showers plus one outdoor shower, free use of boogie board, privacy from neighbors, variety of decorative plants in the yard. Cons: some traffic noise as Villa is off the main street. It wasn't bothersome Thursday-Saturday, but on Sunday it was rather noisy. Oceanview, and technically you can play in the water, but there is no shore, and the ocean floor has a fair amount of rocky coral. Joglo Sambolo Villa : https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/107973?guests=1&adults=1&s=13&unique_share_id=4510aa80-e853-49e6-932d-9040c450e526 |
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