In 2010, I had a memorable trips with my International friends from Solo City (Surakarta) to Bali. Our group was so multicultural, consisted of many nationalities, from Indonesia, Thailand, Uganda, Suriname, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Ukraine, Romania, Italy, Estonia, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, Cambodia, and Madagascar. This morning, I just miss that moment, that's why I want to write something to bring back my memory in Bali with them. One of places that we love most in Bali is Turtle Island and this is the story...
After we enjoyed the sunrise in Sanur Beach Bali, we moved to another "water area", yups another beach named Tanjung Benoa. It is located in Kuta Selatan, Badung, the southern part of Bali. Kuta beach is known for its sunset and Sanur beach for its sunrise, meanwhile Tanjung Benoa beach is very popular with its water sports/games like jet ski, banana boat, para sailing, flying fish, snorkeling, scuba diving, glass bottom (watching the fishes from the glass bottom of boat), wake board, and rolling donut.  Another interesting activity in Tanjung Benoa is visiting the turtle island, the small in island in Tanjung Benoa. Indonesian people call it as Pulau Penyu. For going to turtle island, you need to rent a boat. At the moment, each of us (10 people) has to  pay IDR 50,000 (around US$ 5) to rent a boat.
Taking a boat to turtle island is another interesting experience. Seeing the abundant water in the middle of the beach area is so refreshing. From the boat, you can also see many small fishes swimming around. After around 15 minutes, "say welcome!", you arrive in turtle island. Get ready to meet your new friends, the group of turtles :)Â Baby turtles until giant turtles can be found there.
In turtle island, you will get into "Mooncot Sari", a place for preservation and breeding for turtles. It is also like the "zoo" for tourists to see various kinds of turtles, snakes, birds, and bats. For entering Mooncot Sari, you do not need to pay. However, there is a box of donation for tourists if they want to support the preservation of turtles here. Here, you can sink into the pond of turtles, touch, and take photos with turtles. However, don't make too much movement or noise to avoid those turtles to be stressful.
Tourists can buy merchandise as well. The wooden turtle accessories can be the choice to buy along with many kinds of handicrafts. Even you can find the pants to sell here :)
Interested in exploring Bali by visiting turtle island? May these photos encourage you more to go there as top option to see when you travel in Bali and be a friend for those turtles :) !!!
