GOASIAPLUS October 2018

TRAVEL
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ANAMBAS ISLANDS:
THE MALDIVES OF
INDONESIA
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ANAMBAS ISLANDS ARE NAMED ASIA’S BEST
TROPICAL ISLAND PARADISE BY CNN IN
2012. IT IS LOCATED 150 NAUTICAL MILES
NORTHEAST OF BATAM ISLAND IN THE
NORTH NATUNA SEA BETWEEN PENINSULAR
MALAYSIA AND BORNEO.
Text FRANCIS YIP • Photos FRANCIS YIP, HISHAM TALIB
& WISATA ANAMBAS
If we talk about holidaying in Indonesia, the first
destination on the checklist is most likely Bali
island. But did you know within the Riau Islands
province of Indonesia is a lesser known island
regency boasting 255 equally fascinating island gems?
“If the picture perfect sapphire waters, pristine
beaches with pearly white sands and rainbow corals
remind tourists of Maldives, then Anambas Islands
are the Maldives of Indonesia,” says Zainul Idris
Yunus, the Executive Economic Affairs Consulate
General of Republic of Indonesia in Johor Bahru.
The islands regency has only 26 occupied islands
while 229 islands are still untouched, waiting to be
discovered. And I was fortunate to be invited by the
Indonesian Government for a 5-day trip to explore
these island gems.
FANTASY ISLANDS
Built above the sea, Anambas Resort Water Villa has
a private balcony where I can feed the fishes in the
waters. It is located in Tanjung Tebu, Terempa town
of Siantan Island which is part of Anambas Islands.
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