PELANG BEACH

WHY BALI ?
         Planning your next vacation, you may put Bali at the top of your list of places to visit. Nobody can deny that this island is a most exciting place to visit, as far as traveling goes in Indonesia. There is only one dragback in this area of foreign tourists you will feel like a perfect stranger.
For a start, when you arrive at Ngurah Rai Airport, you will see hotel salesmen waiting-but nor for you. Approaching every foreigner, they will give their warmest welcome offering  him or her their services. But they won't even look at you. Next you will find that the price lists of hotels are in US dollars with some of them having conversion rates from dollars to yen. The rupiah seems to be an unheard-of currency.

WHY NOT PELANG BEACH ?

        Why go to Bali at all if all you want is a white sandy beach with clear water? Indonesia has an endless chain of tourist resorts. If you're not too obsessed with luxury. Pelang beach could be an alternative. Besides its beautiful beaches, Pelang also has a natural waterfall and an unexplored cave. Saying that a place has a Kuta, a Niagara, and a Karangbolong in one package could be a bit of an exaggeration. But come on! Where in the world can you find a beautiful beach, a natural water fountain, and an unexplored cave within a radius of three hundred meters? Where else can you possibly stand under a soothing natural water fountain right after stepping out of a swim in the sea? Only at Pelang can you spend your leisure time lying on the white sand, listening to the lyrical melody of the sea without being interrupted by curious beach bums, masseurs, or souvenir vendor. And to think you still have the option of exploring a cave.


WHY PELANG IS SO NICE
        Situated in the district of Panggung in East Java province some three hundred kilometers from Surabaya. Pelang is a nice place to visit, especially for young people in search of an exciting experience. This place is so quiet that you can hear the voices of swallows between the rhythm of the waves, so unlike like noise at Kuta Beach! There are no restaurants (meaning no ever present waiters), and no hotels (meaning no inferior room service) around Pelang. If you want to spend the night on the beach, you have to bring your own tent, sleeping bag and food. To get things done smoothly, it is advisable to hire a local person with a motorcycle. He can cater to your every need, from buying and cooking fresh fish, to washing the pots and pans afterwards.
(The last time we went there, the people we hired made the best barbecued shrimp and sambal we have ever had). If you feel insecure about being alone at night (although there is no reason to be), you can ask the motorbike guy to stay around.

GETTING THERE
          To reach this wonderful place, you can drive there in your own car, or take a bus. There are no air-conditioned hotel rooms there, but this shouldn't bother you because the weather there is not very hot. From Trenggalek it takes about an hour's ride to get to Pelang-provided the bus is in good condition.
Along the hilly way to Pelang you will enjoy the changing scenery. Of interest is the configuration of the hills. From a distance one of them looks just like a giant pole towering among the others. You'd think that you'd never be able to get close to this hill But when you get to Dongko, the highest spot on the route, the hill will be right beside you, like a pin that has been put in place by Mother Nature to keep the earth stable.

A GIFT FROM MOTHER NATURE
          Once you arrive in Pelang, please remember not to pollute the environment. The beach, the cave and the waterfall should always be there to be enjoyed for generations to come as a priceless gift from Mother Nature.