Bangka Belitung is a province in Indonesia located in the north of South Sumatera (the province has been splitted in 2001). This province consist of 2 big islands, Bangka and Belitung. The name of Belitung has been spreaded through out these years because of Laskar Pelangi Movie that showed us how beautiful Belitung is. But Bangka do has its own beauty too. We planned to spend our last weekend in the first month of this year in this world's tin producing centre, Bangka.

You can take a flight from the capital city of Indonesia, Jakarta (CGK) directly to Bangka (PGK) only for 70 minutes. In this case we are coming from Palembang (PLG), the capital city of South Sumatera, so it was closer and take a little time, 40 minutes. We took the first flight of the day, cause if you start the day earlier then you will enjoy the day longer. We departed at 6.10 a.m from Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport and arrived at 6.50 a.m in Depati Amir Airport. And the journey start here, pals!

Most of the destination we choosed located in Sungai Liat. It took 1 and half hours to go there. You only need to pay IDR5000 as the entrance fee of this place . Before get to the beach, you will pass through de locomotief, an instagenic place to get selfie and wefie with artistic and antique atmosphere that full of wood and small umbrella in the air. There was also gallery and Garuda Museum but you have to pay more. You can see the turtle conservation in the small pool located in this place, the house of hundred turtles babies. And in the end, we get to the Tong Aci Beach with the soft and white sand. The magic start here, you will see the beautiful light blue of the sea.

This one is exclusive beach in Sungai Liat. The beach located in the area of a resort and you have to pay higher, IDR25000. But money doesnt count anything when you see the view. With the big granite stones along the line of the beach with different shape, form, and size and also few coconut tree to add the exotic sense of this tropic zone. These big stones is the specific matter of beach that located in Bangka and Belitung. Beautiful scenery will come to your eyes constantly! Enjoy the summer breeze all day long! Parai means paradise, the name given by our first President. People said that this beach is like hidden paradise as one of the most iconic beach in Bangka. The beach has been managed by a green resort here with complete facilities. 

We came to these destination at the same time. What I mean is, if you are struggle enough to feel the air of the beach, you can walk along the side of the beach and you can touch two destination because they are contiguous. We stopped in Tikus Emas Beach and turn back to left side, walking along, till Tanjung Pesona Beach. Exotic is the main word to describe these. The torque blue contrast with the granite stone and also the soft white sand is a great combination. There is no entrance fee. We just have to pay for the parking area, around IDR5000.

Near Tikus Emas Beach, at the right side of the road, there was a big pagoda at the peak of the hill. Puri Tri Agung explained Tri Dharma in Buddhism. To reach the top, we climbed up the stairs. At the top, you can photographed two background, the pagoda and the beach below completed by the reflection of the sky above. People said, this destination symbolized that Bangka not only have nature as tourist destination but also religy. Again, we just paid for the parking area.

We drove from Sungai Liat to Pangkal Pinang and touched down to Tapak Setan Beach. It was early evening at that time. This beach was not as those beach before, it has grey-white sand that spread out in the vast area with the small crab coming out from the small hole in the sand. The stone not to tall but has a wide form and flatter, so we could climb on it. The color of the stone is different from the common beach in Bangka. It has grey color. From the eagle eye, you can see the stone formed big foot step, so it was called Tapak Setan.

It's cullinary time, guys! Bangka is a small island surrounded by sea so it was definitely fresh seafood available. The construction made like a big ship design with the wind breezing from the Pasir Padi beach and live music playing around. But sure for this moment, we have to pay more to satisfy our belly and tasted really good. 

Time is up for beach destination. In the second day, we wouldn't stopped by the beach anymore. Kaolin lake is our first destination of the day. It took 1 and half hours to go there from pangkal pinang. Along the road after you get out from the city center, we can see beach in our left side. Worth to enjoy!

Given the name Kaolin because it has been formed by kaolin mining activity in this area. It proved that Bangka sure has known as its mining sources. Kaolin or china clay is rocks that are rich of kaolinite, a clay mineral with chemical composition Al2Si2O5(OH)4. It was used to be the ingredients of cosmetics, paper, food, and toothpaste. But, there is others said this lake became more beutiful than the other kaolin lale because it was former tin mining area.

The white hill surround the lake and the basic was filled by rain drops then sprout out the light blue color from mineral resulting to be glamorous scenery. This destination is similar with Kawah Putih in Ciwidey, West Java. Moreover, there was no sulfuric air you would smell. Because it wasn't a crater formed by vulcanic acitivities. So marvelous! I am sure you won't see the destination like this in Indonesia except in Belitung but it was smaller. This show you how wonderful Indonesia is.

Need a cool air after the hot atmosphere from the beach and lake? Here we come to agrotourism, full of trees and plants everywhere. Located near Pantai Pasir Padi, BBG become one of tourist destination in Bangka you must visit. We don't need to pay for entering the location, the fee only for the vehicle. 

Casuarina trees stand in a row were welcoming you while you enter this location. The path will guide you to the end where the cow farm located. BBG also provided almost 14  fishpond with different kind of fish. Near the exit gate, don't forget to buy fresh milk from the farm we saw before. So refreshing! 

Bangka will be an alternative even a first choice for traveller who doesn't have much money and want to enjoy nature in glamorous and exotic way. As explained, most of the tourist destination didn't have entrance fee. But because of the lack of public transportation, it will be easy for us to take a rent car for two days including the driver as a guide. Don't forget to satisfy your desire with seafood here! So, when wil you come to visit Bangka and feel the magic and see how wonderful Indonesia is? 

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