Among the five largest islands in the archiÂpelago, Sumatra is considered as one of the Indonesia’s new region with vast natural resources and tremendous potential tourist. Lampung, at the southern end, connecting Java by the Sunda Strait.
By : Nia S. Amira
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There are many ways headÂing to Lampung; you may catch the aircon bus from every bus terminal in JaÂkarta going to Sumatra and passing Lampung. Arriving at Merak harbor, you can board a longÂboat for one-and-a-half hour trip to Lampung. Along the way,you can enjoy the amazing view of the volÂcano, Krakatau, in Sunda Strait and feeling the fresh air as you depart Banten province. The boat stops at Bakauheni harbor in Lampung beÂfore proceeding to Tanjung Karang where you can spend the night at a nice resort.
The next day destination is Way Kanan, long enough to drive from Tanjung Karang so you have to leave the hotel earlier, at 5 am. Way KanÂan is a national park where you will find the beast, including elephants and rhinoceros and a wide variety of birds. A beautiful national park but rather difficult to explore if you donot have thecourage to board on a small 40 hp Yamaha boat, whilst beÂing watched by the river lizards, The beast can be seen on the banks of the river while others lurk in the river.
A three kilometer tour is guided by a young man who at the park and the journey takes 45 minutes and it is quite a challenge.
Way Kambas is the next trip, a famous area for its school for elephants. You may hear the wild elephants trumpet when your car passes through the forest, or you may experience an encounÂter with a herd of the giant animals. They will peer at you inside the car before they disappear into the junÂgle.
The great attraction at Way Kambas is riding elephant where the local elephant school adopt Thai “curriculumâ€, an unforgettable moÂment and it will take a great deal of courage!.
Take along your little foamy pilÂlow is recommended when you ride an elephant and to find the experiÂence more comfortable and relaxing. Normally, a mahout will accompany you on the same animal.
After giving his prod and few rules onhow to control the beast, the mahout allows you to ride alone throughout the rest of the tour that takes place on a coffee plantation.
Under the shade of a leafy BanÂyan tree stands a Hindu temple, simiÂlar to those found in Bali. The area is the home to some 40 Balinese families who preserve their indigenous tradition while they mingle with local and transmigrants from other islands.
Metro is a small town for the next stop, where you can have chicken soup for dinner. Go to the market and you will find famous ikat clothÂing typical from Lampun, known as Kain Tapis. It is traditionally made of woven fabrics, incorporating with natural dye and golden thread and is occasionally tied at the end with old colonial coins. The motifs are usually of the local flora but now the weavers use their own designs, which include Arabic calligraphy. The combination of floral motifs and well marked colÂors are brilÂliant.
LamÂpung is not just about boat tours, elÂephants ride or tapis. It also has remarkable tradiÂtional architectural style called Rumah Sesat. This stilled longÂhouse-type which can accommodate up to 25 families, is a gathering place for extended families in times of hardship.
Spend two nights away and you will, without a doubt, have a memorable time in LamÂpung.
