Following is a short overview of our trip.
The Bali Strait, dividing the islands of Java and Bali, is probably one of the busiest sea routes in the Indonesian archipelago as dozens of ferry services carry thousands of passengers and cargo on their daily trips across the strait.
Geographically, scientists believe the islands of Java and Bali were once part of a united tectonic plate, called the Sunda Shelf, and were separated during the Ice Age. Connecting the two islands, Java and Bali, has become very important in economic, social and cultural terms. The tiny island of Bali relies economically on the flow of goods and commodities from Java, while people in Java see Bali as an island of opportunity to market their products, to expand their businesses and to seek jobs. Bali is also seen as a popular tourist destination for people in the western part of Indonesia and crossing the Bali Strait is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to enter the island of paradise.
Two major ferry ports were built, one in Ketapang in Banyuwangi, East Java, and the other in Gilimanuk, Jembrana, western Bali, around 100 kilometers west of Denpasar. Gilimanuk ferry port operates 30 ferries serving the Gilimanuk- Ketapang route 24-hours a day.
It takes around one hour to reach Ketapang if the weather is favorable and the waves are normal height. However, the Bali Strait is notorious for its powerful and unpredictable undercurrents. Heavy sea traffic, especially during the holiday season, along the strait can cause problems.
But while you are on board the ferry, the stunning sea views and the large variety of entertainment will cheer you up during the one-hour trip. On one corner of the ferry, a masseur is ready to give you a therapeutic massage for your tired body. A line of kiosks offers various food and drinks for passengers. Some street musicians entertain passengers with campur sari (a mix of traditional Javanese music and pop).
Tickets are inexpensive. You only pay Rp 6,000 per adult and Rp 5,000 per child for a one way trip. So if you have lost the taste for flying, or would like a different experience for your trip to Java, taking a ferry across the Bali Strait may be worth a try and provide you with a memorable experience. And if you have some coins left, throw them in the water when you see children swimming around the ferry.
