Pangandaran, Post Tsunami Era

Sunrise, taken from East Cost Fish Market

It takes almost 8 hours drive from Jakarta before we reach this place, it’s indeed a long distance journey. That’s why we planned this journey very carefully, with several days research on “google earth” to get the route, and also get some feedbacks from “Jalansutra” miling list, and also several discussion with some friends that has to be there, so Here we go …………..

We take the same route to Garut, except we took the left side road heading Tasikmalaya City. Well this is the only way I knew so far, up to Rumah Makan “Asep Strawberry” that become our first stop to have early lunch, about 11.00 am. In fact, we miss this place very much, the place that has the best “Nasi liwet” we ever knew so far.

Restaurant Asep Strawberry - tanjakan Nagrek

After get some meal and rest, continue the journey further to final destination, Pangandaran, Lucky the road is in very good conditions, even after Banjar climbing on “Pengunungan Seribu” before we reach the destination.

Complete Attribute of Nasi Liwet

Pangandaran it self, after Tsunami tragedy two years ago is in good conditions, lot of hotels has renovated their property, so that we may stay in a good and clean place, even though there’s no stars hotels around.

Surprisingly, Pangandaran is very similar with Kuta or Seminyak in Bali, lot of souvenir stores, beach wear stores and …………. Bule’s company with local ‘escort-guide’ !!! Except, off course the beach has no white sands arounds.

Pangandaran has two beaches, east and west, Tsunami evidence still laying around in east beach, even there’s a large shipwreck that sitting in the middle of the yard caused by Tsunami. Accoding to locals, this place is one of the most heaviest damage place, the Tsunami waves is up to 7m high!

Laut Biru Hotel

We stayed in Laut Biru Hotel, according to several sources this is the best hotel in town, they just build just after the Tsunami two years ago, so it is still brand new hotel, with minimalist and large two king-size springbed that become a standard hotel equipment in this neighborhood.

For me, there’s not much to see, The beach is full with Fisherman boad, to crowded and lot of ATV rental around. It’s a pitty since they told me that the sunset is very nice.

Damn …….. I think I just miss the good scenary to shot! I don’t know why my passion to hunt some nice pictures is gone somehow, I just spent my rest of the day with Nathan in swimming pool. Perhaps I just to tired after 8 hours drive from Jakarta.

Moon over the sea

One thing interesting is “makan”, we went to what they called “Pasar Ikan” by becak, it is not really pasar ikan but more to “Seafood Center” or something like that. An area that has lot of “Seafood Place”, not fancy place, just a standard “makan place” to have fresh seafood, like the one you may find in Jimbaran – Bali, except this one you have to sit inside the restaurant rather than having dinner on the beach sands. The interresting part is that there was full moon appears on top of the sea level, so I take the opportunity to stop by and take some shots.

The dishes is typical, you may have Fish (Sea Bas our Groupper) , Pranws, Squid, Crabs, various of Clams, styr “kangkoong” or water spinach made with “padang sauce”, “black pepper sauce”, “oyster sauce” or just standard BBQ nothing more fancy here.

Since we do not know anything about who is the best in town, we just pick the most crowded place that time which is “Rumah Makan – Risma”. It’s simple, go in, pick your raw dishesh, choose your table and sit, wait until your dishes ready for next 30 minutes, and have your nice Seafood dinner.

Back to Hotel, there not much to do except having a deep sleep, But the things it different in the next morning, a short walk on the beach just before sunrise, I got several nice shoots with my one and only model - my wive!