As a beach and sacred islands lover, I always excited in finding an islands with white/bright sandy beach and beautiful coral view for snorkeling and diving session. Maldives and Caribbean Islands are located in my list of most wanted island that I want to be there. Since money and occasion still be my biggest problem, I have to be more patient and find somewhere in my country that have similar view with these islands.Thanks’ god I lived in Indonesia, the biggest archipelagic country in the world. We have more than 13.600 islands spread in the equator line with length more that 1/16 this planet earth square. Thousand Islands, Wakatobi, Derawan, Raja Ampat, Sempu, Small Krakatoa, Belitung, Bali just a few of that big number of stunning beautiful Island in Indonesia.
This ied vacation, I come home to Padang – West Sumatera. I was born and growth in Padang. This is a coastal city which is facing the Indian Ocean at the west and walled by misty Bukit Barisan Mountain in the east, south and North of the city. By this demography, Padang blessed by Amazing mountain view at the east , some stunning bay and cove at the south and a straight long beach with average wave at the west and north.
For last three years, I often hear about a secret paradise island just close to my hometown city. It’s called Cubadak Island. For some reasons, I always skip this island in my itinerary when ied vacation in Padang. The rumor said that this island only permitted for foreigner, expensive because anything will charge by US Dollars.
This island is built and run by an Italian Guys, names Nanni and Frederica (his wife, also Italian) from an empty island to well served like today. This Island called Cubadak , minangnese languange fro Jack Fruit, because long time ago, this island was dominated by Jackfruit tree (folk story, but during my stay, I never seen any Jackfruit tree on the island..:)
After discussing with Dominique (Nanni’s friend, also help him to serve the guest), I plan to take a one day diving trip. It’s only cost me USD 145 for 3 times dive, include meal and equipment rental. I thought it’s a special price for local people..:), because it quite make sense and pretty cheap. But close to the D Day, I cancel the Diving Trip because I got some problem in my ears, light infection and my doctor forbid me for any water activity, especially diving. So, I just took one day tour (because I cannot stay overnight due to family schedule during ied celebration).
Cubadak located in Carocok Mandeh Bay, one hour drive from Padang. The trip is already stunning and you will serve by beautiful scenery along the road. The roadcondition is good with hot mix asphalt. At the Carocok harbor, we were picked by a small speed boat cross the blue sea water to the islands. It’s only 10 minutes, much shorter that I thought before.
And here we are, the legendary paradise and has been spoken by many traveler all over the world. Cubadak Paradiso Island. Sacred, Hidden, Natural, Simply Enjoyable, and Perfectly Stunning view. I just cannot close my eyes and wish time running slower so I could stay there longer.
The island is quite large, Nanni ( Italian Guy who build and run this resort) only run half side of this island and only use 30% on the area for cottage and other resort facilities. The rest of it is tropical rain forest with wild animal, such as monkey, lizard, bird, and etc. So, sounds of wild animal will easily sounded in every part of the island.
Although the coral is quite average, but various of fish very easy to find, just a few meters from the main beach. Some minutes by boat from the beach, there is a wreck ship and ready to be explore by diving. What a perfect above and under sea view..:)
The cottages face to east and the mainland of Sumatera, with still covered by wet tropical forest (national preservation forest). The lagoon itself more look like a lake than sea because surrounding by Small Islands and the bay. Some articles in internet said that this bay was formed from A Fire Mountain Explosion thousand hundred years ago.
After doing snorkeling, and walking around the beach, stay under the tree to avoid direct sun burn (for most Indonesian, we avoid sun light…lil bit different with western people who look for sun burn for getting tanned skin..:), we were served a big Fried Sea bus Fish and vegetables and Minang Sambal for lunch. What a lunch, perfetto
At 5 pm, I decide to get back to Padang. I said to Dominique (Nanni’s friend, also help him to serve the guest) that this an introduction visit. I wish to have a real visit, stay one or two night and really want to feel the peaceful paradise named Cubadak Island.
No Air Con, no Swimming Pool, no TV Shows, who need that..Mother Nature has serve it all
Notes:
– Land Trip from Padang to Carocok takes 1 hours 20 mnts drive
– If you take public bus, from down town, take “angkot” to teluk Bayur, and stop in “simpang teluk bayur”, continue by Bus to Painan dan said to the driver that you will stop at “Simpang Carocok”, just right after the Market of Tarusan. and then continue by ojek.
– Nanny will provide transportation from airport to seaport if you book two days stay or more
– Things todo ; anything that connected to nature, hiking, jungle trekking, bird watching, fishing, snorkeling, diving, or even just doing nothing..:)
