Babi Island

Bangka Belitung, a place that sometimes called Belitong or Billiton, in olden days is named of one kind of sea snail. This province is the place that used for made “Laskar Pelangi ” Film, and popular because of its beautiful nature. But Bangka Belitung still has another interesting places, one of them is Babi Island. Babi Island in English: Pig Island, located in Bangka Belitung Province, near Lengkuas Island. Babi Island also known as Kepayang Island, so when your boat arrive in Babi Island’ s beach, the name on the sign board is Kepayang Island. This island can be seen from Lengkuas Island, and Lengkuas Island can be seen from Babi Island and another small island around it. Actually, at the 17^th century, Belitung Island became one of trade route of merchants, Lengkuas Island – Bird Island – Babi Island.  From Lengkuas Island, Babi Island can be reached by foot when sea water decreases. From Babi Island also can be seen another island, like Burung Island (Bird island), where many kind bird will fly all around to greet you. Or an island full with granite, that became one of bismuth mine.

Most of the people more often go to Lengkuas Island, but actually, they also must visit Babi Island. Babi Island is not a big island, and this island is uninhabited Island, it vegetation is dominated by coconut trees. Babi Island is one of the most attractive diving spot in Belitung.

Nobody knows why did the island was named Babi (pig) Island. Maybe in olden days, there are pig farm there, although there are not pigs around this island now, but who knows? Character of Babi Island as same as another island around it, white sands, granite stones, grass, and coconut trees. The granite stones all around Babi Island are very big, some people say the name “Babi (Pig)” Island connected with this giant stones, which said like a pig. Another people connected the name with “Jin Babi” or “Limpai”, an evil spirit in the Belitung legend, a kind of pig that believed it size is very big. Some opinion said that the granite stones look like another shape, like whale, bird beak, or cakil (a giant who has big long under teeth). Its sea is calm, with little waves. In some side of the center the sea, there is big granite stones appear from the sea water. Its black color is contras with blue color of the sea and sky, where white clouds move slowly. Its reefs are not green or full color, most of them colored soft brown. The marine life consists mostly of corals, small reef fish. Sometimes in the beach can be found sea stars with much kind light colors. There are a sand bank that usually visited by many kind of bird when sea water decrease.

Sand-bank in Babi Island

In back side of this island, can be seen a light house of Lengkuas Island. Although this light house, that was made in 1882, begins to rust in many side, it still stand solid, it is an icon of Belitung Island.The most beautiful scenery when enjoy sunset and at the same moment with moonrise, and sunrise on the next day. 

In the evening, if you lucky, the sun will give orange color charmed away in the sky. Sometimes, in Babi Island there are “false sunset” on five o’ clock. You can stay in the coast at night, with tent, while fishing, and then roast a fish, while see a shining stars. That is really excellent experience. This is the place when you can enjoy sunrise and sunset everyday. Babi Island serve scenery like a painting, some people said that Babi Island look like a piece of paradise that threw by angel to the earth. You don’t need a skill of photography or very good camera, every picture that you take here must become nice picture.

Artistic granit stones

Because of this island uninhabited, and the nature still original, this island is very nice place to camping and adventure. For you who want to camping, you were suggested to bring your own logistic necessary and water, because of Babi Island is uninhabited island and there are not water source. You must prepare lighting tools, like flashlight, and fire wood to make fire. And also must attentive with wild animal that usually dominated this small island. On the stone on some spot around Babi Island there are black and slippery mosses and really high, so you must climb it carefully. In the some part of the sea, you must walk carefully; because of there are many “bulu babi”, that can hurt skin. Another things that should to be warn when you want to stay outdoor here is “agas”. Agas is a small animal that often bite people and put their egg on the skin that caused injury in the skin.

Todays, most of the trip in Belitung has a one unity route, Lengkuas Island – Burung Island –Pasir Island – kelayang Island – Babi Island. The trip to Babi Island can began from Jakarta, West Java Province to Pangkal Pinang, Bangka Belitung Province, by plane. Then from center of the city, you can access your transportation to Tanjung Kelayang or Tanjung Tinggi. Both of the dock are the most popular and nearest dock to Babi Island. The trip is followed by a motor boat, the only way to access Babi Island. The cost of boat rent is about 300.000 – 350.000 Rupiah per day. That is not including rent of a float and tools for snorkeling. If you don’t want to camp in this island, you must go back to Tanjung Kelayang or Tanjung Tinggi to stay in one of the hotels there, because in the Babi island there is not place to stay in.

Sunrise in Babi Island

That is the one more of hidden paradise in Indonesia, out of that; there are still many more attractive places in Indonesia. After read about Babi Island, what is your opinion? Babi Island is an interesting place, isn’t it? Are you interested to visit or enjoy your holiday in Babi Island?

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