Update: Since writing this article Sirandah has been developed. Now you will find a little more than an old hut and trees.. there is an entire resort!
Recently, we decided to go on a spontaneous camping trip to Sirandah Island, just off the coast of Bungus, an hours drive south of Padang.
It was early evening by the time we and our friends left Padang, back on our motorbikes again; this time loaded up with tents, cooking equipment and, of course, the hammock. Our small company traveled through the dark, arriving in Bungus in time to meet a ‘friend of a friend’ who was willing to take us to the island in the dark on his small boat.
Sailing along the coast at night was magical. The looming hills which dotted the shore in the distance and the occasional island along our route were lit up by a brightly shining moon, and framed by a million twinkling stars. Every once in a while, a small fish would leap up above the waves for a split second, only to clumsily disappear back into the deep. At one point, the engine cut out briefly and a hushed calm came over the boat. The gentle lapping of the waves and distant calls from the shore were all that could be heard as we bobbed back and forth in the dark…
Sure enough, the engine was started up again and we were quickly on our way once more. Our time on the boat ended far too quickly and we found ourselves landed on a sandy beach. Despite the bright moon, it was difficult to make out our surroundings in the dark and we fumbled around a little setting up the tents and lighting a fire. By midnight we had everything organized and I decided it was time to call it a day and try to get some sleep. I drifted off listening to the guys quietly talking, laughing and singing around the campfire. We were all woken briefly in the night when rain began to fall, it was so heavy that some of our company were forced to move their tents to the shelter of a large wooden hut which has been built for that purpose.
I woke up to a glorious morning. The sky was clear and the sun shining brightly. White powdery sand covered the beach and the sea was a clear blue. Peeling back the door of the tent was like opening a present.
We spent a relaxed and peaceful two days on the island, swimming, cooking, fishing and collecting an impressive amount of ‘stuff’ from the shore for our fish tank at home in Padang. It is possible to walk around the entire island in less than an hour, and it is home to a number of large lizards – about a meter in length – which will come to the campsite if it is very quiet to look for food, but apart from that, you’re more likely to see their footprints in the sand than catch a glimpse of them.
There is water for bathing on the island, however, it has to be drawn up from a well situated behind the clubhouse style hut at the campsite. Pouring water over my head from the old plastic tub that I had used to draw it from the well, and looking around at the fern scattered clearing in which I was standing one morning, I found myself wondering how many times I will end up having to wash in such circumstances. It dawned on me that a year ago, living in the UK and working a 9-5 office job, I could never have even imagined that situation. -Let alone expect that it would become part of my ‘normal’ life.
The trip back to Padang was during the day, and the scenery from the boat was stunning. We returned with a sense of peace and calm; my sleep was deep that night!
If you find yourself in the area, and with basic camping equipment (although everything you need can actually be rented for a small cost from Bungus, or bought for a reasonable one in Padang…), we recommend a trip to Sirandah. Don’t forget to take everything you need (and even a little more) with you; it is a desert island, after all!
Incidentally, we have teamed up with a good friend to be able to offer island trips from Bungus. We provide everything from food and tents to snorkeling equipment, underwater photos and even a banana boat if required. You can find out more about our trips here. We look forward to hearing from you!
Jen is an English girl who found herself in Sumatra one day and never went back. A wife, mother, traveler and book worm, she has lived in Padang long enough to speak the language and unearth plenty of useful hints and tips for the weary traveler…
