A convoluted route today to get to Derawan Island off the east coast of Borneo.
We started with a two and a half hour drive on a very poor and windy road which followed the river to the port of Tanjung Batu. The trip was made worse by travelling in a tiny putt-putt car that couldn't hold all of our luggage in the boot, and had trouble making it up hills. On arrival at the port we hopped into a speed boat for a much smoother half hour trip to Derawan.
The boat dropped us right at the steps leading up to our over water villa, now that's door to door service! Lunch was waiting for us and we settled in and made arrangements with our hosts at Derawan Dive Lodge for our next few days of diving and snorkeling.
M went to explore the island, managing to get all the way around in about half an hour. It wasn't busy season so the cobbled streets were quiet, with few other tourists around, most of them being Indonesian. There were no cars, the main mode of transportation was motorbike, and there were shops full of electric bikes ready to hire.
Further on the houses and shops were replaced by empty beaches and run down resorts. Presumably things get busier later in the year but for now it was all quiet and empty.
Just before dinner we took a walk up through the centre of the island, past families who smiled at us and kids who waved at us. Some of the small restaurants were getting food ready for later, with fish on display and in the process of being grilled over an open flame.
Dinner back at the lodge was plates of chicken, rice, fish, vegetables and fruit - a bit too much for us so we asked that they try not to over cater for us next time.
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