Sempu Island : East Java's Wild Frontier

The southern coastline of East Java has the splendid beaches Goa Cina and Bajul Mati, but the offshore island of Sempu (pronounced sem-poo) is totally unique. The irregularly shaped island lies opposite the picturesque fishing village of Sendangbiru, the province's most important fishing village. A channel roughly 0.5 kilometers wide runs from southwest to northeast between the mainland and the island.

When I finally arrived in Sendangbiru close to noontime, the last of the fishermen's catch unloaded earlier that morning was being sold at the fish market. Boats were still available to make the crossing over to Sempu, but since there are no guesthouses, I was told that I may have to spend the night on one of the island's beaches.