Pulau Weh
Written: Nov 02 '99
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Product Rating:
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Pros: unspoiled tropical paradise
Cons: hard to reach, no creature comforts
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| adum's Full Review: Sumatra |
The island of Weh, off the very Northernmost tip of Sumatra, provides the quintessential tropical paradise experience. I'll warn you straight off: it's not for the weak or the faint of heart. If you need such cushy conveniences as private bathrooms, hot showers, or electricity, then don't even think about Pulau Weh. (And forget about airports and air-con.) But if the idea of an unspoiled, secluded, palm tree-covered white sand island, with a coral reef that makes Australia's Great Barrier Reef look like Lake Michigan, sounds attractive, then you just might like Pulau Weh.
The island is relatively small, only a few miles across. The accommodation consists of small bamboo huts outfitted with a mattress and an oil lamp. Nestled in the interior rainforest hides one of the most perfectly beautiful waterfalls I've ever seen. (No road there -- you need to hike.) Most travellers stick to the beach, however, and with good reason.
A typical day: woken up at dawn by a monkey jumping up and down on my roof. I'd usually go out for a pre-breakfast snorkel -- the water being only a few meters from my hut. Truly incredible coral, it beat the pants off anything I've seen in Thailand, Australia, Malaysia, etc. Washed off at the well, then breakfast and lying in the sun for a while, hanging out with other travellers. After lunch, some kind of activity: a boat trip, scuba diving, a cruise around the island, a trip to the waterfall, or maybe checking out the WWII guns and bunkers. At night, the beach would convene for a big communal dinner, followed by drinking and locals playing their guitars.
It's the kind of place where you slip into a groove, and time loses its meaning.
On a side note, Pulau Weh is one of the best places in the world to swim with whale sharks, as they migrate right past the island. People often come here expressly for this purpose.
Getting to this island is a challenge in itself, and this barrier serves to keep the place relatively untouched. The way most people do it starts at Medan. From there, an overnight bus trip to Banda Aceh. A bus across the city to the port. A ferry over to Pulau Weh (a couple hours.) Once on the island, a bemo (taxi) must be chartered to get to the far side where the hotels lie. Total cost per person for above route: about ten bucks. Tiring as hell.
Expect to spend around five to ten bucks a day, more if you're diving.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
adum
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Member: Adam Miller
Location: San Francisco, CA
Reviews written: 3
Trusted by: 0 members
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