I want to diveeeee....

While enjoying winter and its never-ending snowy days here, my heart terribly misses my family and the warmth and endless beauty of my hometown. 

Okaaay..I know...
I have been complaining  about it lately. 
Sounds like a broken record...
But the weather has been very unfriendly these days, especially the freezing wind.

And sometimes, whenever I have some free time, I keep looking at my social media accounts. It make things worse..Like the more I see and look through my FB albums, the more I miss home. And whenever I look at my PC, I accidentally ended up checking my hard drive and open my underwater photos again and again :(.

What's happening to me? 

Clear blue sky, warm weather, turquoise water, salty air, great diving buddies...

jumping high in Bunaken with my diving buddies :)

Gosh I miss them all...

Especially our serene underwater world...like the one in Bunaken, Manado, North Sulawesi, as well in Lampung...

my underwater selfie ")...

I even miss its strange yet fascinating creatures, like this mimic octopus...

taken in Lembeh, Manado..

The scorpion fish...

the Frog fish...

the Pygmi seahorses...

And even this fuchsia corals...

And back home in Lampung, I certainly have a lot to miss...
From its eclectic clams to tiny lion fish...

Tanjung Putus, Lampung

From its purple anemones and corals, cute star fish, to Mr. Turtle...

taken in Tanjung Putus, Lampung..

my lovely purple at Batu Mandi, Lampung

Mr. T...taken in Tegal Island, Lampung

at Batu Mandi, Lampung...

I know I can definitely dive here in the US or the Caribbean as well, but I simply have to wait until the weather is much warmer. 

Well, It won't be that long, will it?

So I can swim along with nemo again...soon :)

Meanwhile....lemme get back to my hard drive collection...
Don't you miss warmer weather?

The underwater world of Tegal Island, Lampung...

Well, frankly speaking, I have posted several articles on diving sites in Lampung.

For me who doesn't have the luxury of traveling around the country anytime I want (PNS oooh PNS :(( ), going back home to Lampung and have a day or two diving with my club here is heaven! Especially since I got that 'red notice' instructing me and my family to move to the Big Apple for the next assignment. Always, the clock is ticking at the very last moments...

Anyway...I managed to dive just with my dive master near Tegal Island, Lampung. 

Check out more infos on Tegal Island in my previous posts , Reef Check at Tegal Island, Lampung, and  My Unforgettable Journey: Take My Breath Away. 
Well, apparently, not that many :) as most of them are in Tanjung Putus or Pahawang Islands, also in Lampung.

To reach Tegal Island, there are several choices that you can take. All the starting points stretched out along Hanura and Ketapang area in Pesawaran, Lampung. It takes around 40 minutes to go to this place from Bandar Lampung, the city center. It's not because it's far but mostly because there is only one road with two lanes for everything, trucks, public angkot or minivans, tons of motorcycles and cars. Here are the choices you have:

1. From Ringgung beach. You can rent the boat here and chances are you won't have any problems as many fishermen live in this area and they offer you the service to take a-day tour to Tegal island, back and forth :D. They will usually wait for you until you finish.

2. From Balai Benih Lampung. This is not really a public area but if you can contact the boat man beforehand and ask them to come and pick you up here, then it will be closer to go to Tegal island. I usually go to Tegal island with my diving group from here.

3. From Mutun beach. Mutun beach is a popular place, especially during weekends and holidays. The good thing is, you will always find a water taxi or a boat to rent from here. But then it will be a bit further from Tegal island and the boat ride will be slightly longer. Moreover, you will have to pay the entrance ticket and the parking for your car here. But it's still not that much. So, in case you change your mind and you just wanna stay on the beach instead of going to the island, then Mutun will be a good place.

The boat ride will take approximately 30 - 40 minutes from the three starting points I've mentioned above. Make sure you got your logistics ready yaaa...Do not expect to have cafes or restaurant to cater your appetite, so better bring your delicious lunch boxes, chips and munchies as well as plenty of water and fruits :).

So nooooow.....lemme now put some lovely (but now living me with the agony of missing diving in Lampung more and more terribly) photos I got from my last trip there. Oh ya, we did have 2 dives that day, approximately 1 hourish on each dive. Tell you what...it's not enough, hiks :)). As an amateur  underwater photographer, I really like to stay longer down there, if the oxygen permits of course :).

Now, now....Enjoooy...and don't forget to breath :)

Let me start with this crowded spot :)...where I found this cute skunk anemone fish trying to run away from me and my camera :D... 

Clear blue water...so peaceful..

And can you guess what it is? 

And lion fish...you'll find them abundant here...

isn't she pretty :)...but still dangerous yooo...

Another interesting creature you'll find here is nudi branch :)...let me introduce you to them...

so tiny tiny....

this one is bright orange....cute!

Nemo nemo nemo.....I guess, everybody is familiar with this cute yet territorial fish thanks to finding Nemo movies :D. Just like a kid, I can't hide my excitement meeting this cute striped creatures down there..

Meeting Mr. Turtle was indeed a bonus....although I have met them once on my maiden underwater voyage here in Tegal island as well :D... and believe me, they are really a swimmer! So fast ... dude, wait for meeee....

he's running away from meeee :D...

Then who like starfish? I do....there are plenty of them down here..with different colors, sizes and models :)

I always call it ikan batik :D...she's cute as well :D..

it' kima...the giant clam :D....

And purple is indeeeed everywhere....including down hereee :D...

They call it bintang seribu or thousand stars, literally...it's extremely dangerous..so touche pas! 

Cheeeers from me to you :)...

Well, don't blame me if I can't get enough of diving...wherever it is...
hope to see you all again soon :D...

WW: Dancing with Nemo :)

Just love to see and watch these beautiful creatures...
Nemo, the clown fish :)

Recorded during my diving trip in Tegal Island, Lampung, Indonesia, May 2014...

Join me on Wordless Wednesday...check the link down hereee

#MyItchyFeet: up close and personal dengan nemo di Pulau Tanjung Putus,Lampung

"Apaaaa....kapalnya habis buat besok?
"Kok bisa Ai...Ya udah, kita book yang besar aja deh"

Sepenggal percakapan saya dengan adik saya, Ai, di satu malam, mengawali perjalanan seru kami ke Tanjung Putus.

Ya, Tanjung Putus...Pulau Tanjung Putus to be exact..
Sepenggal surga kecil yang terhampar di bumi Lampung, Indonesia, kampungku tercinta..

Sudah pernah dengar kan.. Kalau belum, coba di google deh heheee... Or baca postinganku yang ini :)

Okeeeeh...

Setelah sebelumnya saya berbagi foto-foto tentang snorkeling di Pulau Lampung, now lemme introduce you further to this lovely island...

Dari namanya saja, kebayang ngg Tanjung Putus di mana? Pulau cantik ini memang terletak di salah satu sisi terluar teluk Lampung. Disebut putus karena memang sesudahnya tidak ada lagi pulau lain kecuali samudera biru yang melambai-melambai (dauuuun kali ;p )..

Well,  yang pasti, Tanjung Putus semakin populer saat ini karena banyak pecinta snorkeling atau pecinta pantai yang bersih yang datang kemari. Saya sendiri sempat 4 kali diving di sini...Sukaa banget dengan Pulau cantik ini yang masih relatif alami dan banyak nemonya alias clown fish :). Khusus untuk ini, Bo, my son, is the biggest fan :)...si lucu yang aslinya ngg bisa ditoel karena galak hehehe...

isn't it cuteee :D...

Ikan bendera juga banyaaak lhooo :D...ikan yang lumayan teritorial ini selalu menarik untuk difoto...kalau kita dekati, keliatan galaknya :D..

Setelah menempuh perjalanan kurang lebih 1 jam dari Tanjung Karang menuju Pelabuhan Ketapang, kami tiba di salah satu pelabuhan favorit dan paling ramai di Kabupaten Pesawaran Lampung ini. Berhubung saat kami ke sana sedang libur panjang, pelabuhan yang biasanya damai walaupun panas ini jadi hiruk pikuk dengan orang-orang yang ingin berlibur.

Untungnya, kami sudah mem-book kapal semalam sebelumnya..kalau tidak, walhasil bisa manyun rombongan keluarga besarku :). Dengan bandrol Rp 1.300.000,- kapal besar yang bisa memuat 25 orang itu pun mengangkut kami dan barang-barang logistik, mulai dari air minum, cemilan, makanan lengkap hingga bantal, buku, kain pantai, dan peralatan snorkeling, menuju Pulau Tanjung Putus.

getting ready...

Oya, jangan lupa yang mau snorkeling, kalau belum punya peralatan sendiri, bisa disewa di pelabuhan Ketapang ini..harga sewanya Rp 50.000,- untuk pelampung, masker dan snorkel. Pastikan alatnya diperiksa yaaa..namanya juga sewaan, ada yang bagu tapi ada juga yang sudah ngg begitu baik..

Tidak kurang dari 1 jam 20 menit perjalanan yang kami lalui dengan kapal traditional bermodal 2 motor tempel. Perjalanan yang lumayan lama, tapi menyenangkan karena sekalian reuni keluarga dan mata pun dimanja dengan cantiknya langit, laut, dan pulau di sepanjang Teluk lampung.

Anak-anak pun menikmati....lengkap dengan perlengkapan perang mereka di laut nanti, mulai dari pelampung, google, baju renang dan sunscreen.

Karena perjalanan lumayan lama, banyak juga yang bobo dulu :)...

Amiraaa pun sudah siaaap...

For me, it's heavenly..

islands along the way...

Setelah akhirnya tiba di Pulau Tanjung Putus, hampir semua langsuuuung nyebuuur :D...

Pantai berpasir halus dan air yang bening sukses mengundang kami semua untuk berasyik masyuk di dalamnya. Matahari yang tinggi menyengat tidak mengurangi semangat kami foto-foto (di dalam dan di atas air), sekedar berendam, dan berenang di pulau cantik ini. 

Lihat saja gayanya adikku Ajay dan sepupuku Elmo yang asyik bersnorkeling riaaa :D...

Bahkan adik iparku yang belum pernah snorkeling sama sekali terlihat menikmati pengalaman pertama snorkelingnya yang seruuuu...

rame-rameeee....

my hubby...

or my hubby, Udi, lil bro Ai, et cousin Indri who strolled around the beach to get another snorkeling spot...

 

And of course Bo...who lazily floated and got tanned here :))...

Snorkeling was indeed fuun fuuun fuuun as so many things to see and the water is perfectly clear!

D'you see that...clear turquoise water, powdery sand...

And here are more of my snorkeling photos for you to enjoy...all photos are taken by me :D...

si biru yaaag lucuuu..

pipe fish...so cuteeee...

seperti seragam penjara :D...

Ikan jarum yang berbaris rapi...

jajaran soft coral yang sehat...

kima yang lucuu...love the color!

All in all.....Our precious moments started from the minute we got into the boat until we returned to the jetty later that afternoon..

Tanjung Putus, hope to see you soon...