Prigi: Where Java Meets the Ocean
Prigi on the south coast of East Java is usually a beautiful unspoilt place to enjoy fine beaches, fresh seafood in addition to also a picturesque setting on a bay protected through the Indian Ocean.
If you’ve got a few days to spend in addition to also don’t mind an adventurous drive through Surabaya, Prigi in addition to also the surrounding areas offer an idyllic hideaway stay on East Java’s Indian Ocean coastline. Prigi offers the visitor in which postcard picture view of a tropical island paradise to rival anything in East Java.
Taking the road southwest of Surabaya, you drive through Mojokerto, Jombang, Kediri in addition to also down to Tulungagung. Drive on some 20 kilometres westward towards Trenggalek, in addition to also at the little staging post of Durenan, turn south. Here, the traffic on the roads abates in addition to also the scenery improves. As you wind your way down through Durenan through the villages of Bandung in addition to also Watulimo, the views change through the mesmerizing flatness of fluorescent green rice paddies to the ruggedness of limestone hills peppered with caves. En route at Watuagung you can stop off in addition to also explore the Goa Lowo caves, which offer a rather mystical experience of the Earth’s nether regions.
The drive becomes steeper as your car climbs ever higher to the rim of mountains, hiding the steep descent to the ocean below. Although the surface of the roads could be better, the panorama of views is usually stunning; great sweeps of steep, cultivated land spiralling ever downwards towards the ocean.
At last we come down to sea level in addition to also reach the little town of Prigi, busy in a quiet way with its fishing port in addition to also the hordes of brightly painted perahu (wooden boats) moored alongside. Here you are in a calm, sheltered bay looking outwards to the wilder Indian Ocean. Prigi’s town beach, known as Pantai Prigi, is usually an enormous crescent of sand rimmed by rows of coconut palms. This kind of is usually also a centre for the cottage industry of dried fish processing, in addition to also as far as the eye can see, bamboo tikar (mats) are laid out along the bank, on which neatly arranged rows of anchovies dry inside sun. The smell is usually rich in addition to also intoxicating. The view, though, is usually splendid. The simple beachside restaurants offer a not bad variety of fish: mackerel, tuna, red snapper, barracuda, sea bass in addition to also pomfret, freshly drawn through the sea at prices which will make your mouth water.
Smoked mackerel
There is usually accommodation in Prigi town, although a better, more scenic location is usually found some all 5 kilometres round the southwest peninsular; the pretty little road via a colourful local market to the left in addition to also through a state teak forest, past the Pasir Putih Beach, favorite with Sunday trippers through Trenggalek in addition to also Tulungagung, in addition to also onwards to the tiny hamlet of Karanggongso. Here, almost cut off through Prigi by the forest, the locals have a life distinct through the town in addition to also This kind of seems in which all males through their early teens find lucrative work fishing here.
Karanggongso Beach is usually scattered with boat craft, ranging through little canoes carved through one particular tree trunk, to the larger, pretty perahu adorned in their splendid livery of primary colours. The beach is usually safe to swim at in addition to also the several little rock outcrops inside bay add interest to the scene. At sunset, the shimmering water speckled with boats reminds one of Venice in addition to also its gondolas. Rows of colourful bamboo houses built inside traditional style give the place a timeless quality, in addition to also the local inhabitants seem very relaxed in addition to also far removed through the pace of the city.
Pondok Prigi Cottages, in two locations along the length of the Karanggongso Beach, offer a range of attractive accommodation to suit all budgets. Number I has the added attraction of a restaurant, air conditioning in addition to also speed boats for hire, while Number II is usually more secluded in addition to also rustic. Warungs are to be found at Karanggongso beach (be sure to try the smoked mackerel which is usually skewered on sticks in addition to also smoked whilst you wait), in addition to also a wider choice of food is usually available along the length of the main town beach, Pantai Prigi.
For the energetic, a 20-minute walk through Pondok Prigi II down the Karanggongso beach towards the heads, over outcrops of fallen rocks in addition to also occasionally up off the sand along a dirt track, takes you to the most exquisite little cove. With its bleached white sand in addition to also over-hanging trees, This kind of offers a welcome respite through the relentless sun – in addition to also This kind of is usually an excellent spot for a swim or a secluded picnic.
A very fine beach with safe swimming is usually Pantai Damas, across the bay through Karanggongso Beach in addition to also easily reached by car in about 20 minutes. This kind of’s considered remote by domestic tourists, so you will have This kind of to yourself. The road leading to This kind of takes you through carpets of green rice paddy fields in addition to also over a steep hillside, offering fantastic views as you descend to the bay.
If ever you doubted East Java’s beauty, here is usually a place of perfect tranquillity amid picturesque scenery to restore the most jaded of souls.
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Province:
Trenggalek, East Java
Getting there:
all 5 hours’ drive southwest through Surabaya, or take a Surabaya-Trenggalek bus to Durenan alight there, in addition to also take a ‘Colt’ minibus to Prigi.
Accommodation:
Pondok Prigi Cottages I & II, Jl. Pantai Karanggongso, Prigi, Watulimo Tel: (0355) 551187
Recommended restaurant:
Depot Lumintu (ex-Hong), Pantai Prigi
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Prigi: Where Java Meets the Ocean
Prigi: Where Java Meets the Ocean