GOASIAPLUS October 2016

Indonesia
Bucket List
GET HIGH ON
THAT COFFEE
HOLIDAY
If you look hard enough, there are resorts built
among lush coffee plantations. Take the tour,
taste the product and even get yourself a spa
experience using coffee grinds. Now these
resorts give a whole new meaning to ‘waking
up to the smell of coffee’.
WRITTEN BY AISHAH AZALI · PHOTOS BY MESASTILA &
MUNDUK MODING RESORT
Sangalaki Island
Derawan Archipelago, East Kalimantan
From small critters comes
bigger sea life at Sangalaki
Island, a close second to
Raja Ampat when it comes to
beauty and diversity. Divers
swim to see stunning marine
creatures like barracudas,
stingrays, giant squids and the
rare manta alfredi which only
exists in Derawan.
It can be said that Sangalaki is
the manta expressway filled
with manta rays swimming
up and down the channels
especially at the Manta Parada
dive spot. Take a swim on the
wild side at Jellyfish Lake at
the nearby Kakaban Island
that is the home to four
species of endemic jellyfish.
Because they live in a lake
away from predators like
barracudas, these creatures
have lost their ability to sting,
making it safe for humans to
go swimming among them.
The journey to Sangalaki
Island is the most tedious of
all dive sites, a whopping 8-9
hours from Jakarta. Travellers
need to fly to Sepinggan
Airport in Balikpapan from
Jakarta and then take another
domestic flight to Tanjung
Redeb. The adventure
continues via speed boat
through the Segah River to
Sangalaki.
Divers swim to
see stunning
marine creatures
like barracudas,
stingrays, giant
squids and the
rare manta
alfredi
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MesaStila Resort
Central Java, Indonesia
Waking up to the smell coffee is relaxing but waking
up next to a coffee plantation elevates that to
holistic proportions. MesaStila has a plantation villa
situated on their gorgeous grounds, a paradise for
coffee lovers. While you are there, take a tour and
watch first hand the harvesting process of making
coffee. After the touring and the drinking, don’t
forget to top it off with a spa session using their
very own coffee scrub.
www.mesahotelsandresorts.com
Munduk Moding Plantation
Nature Resort & Spa
Bali, Indonesia
Located in the lush hills of Munduk overlooking
the Java sea, lies a secluded resort set in the
Munduk Moding plantation. Their ‘sky suites’ are
equipped with sprawling terraces with breathtaking
views and designed with natural local furniture
synonymous with Indonesian decor. Their spa
pavilion is in the heart of the coffee plantation
where seasoned therapist treat you to a Balinese
massage experience.
www.mundukhotels.com
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