This is Indonesia

Kepulauan Seribu is part of north Jakarta. But, according to the community in general, Kepulauan Seribu is very far because they are too separated by the ocean. To reach the nearest island just like an Angel Island, we often have to travel 1.5 hour if not using spead boat. Which are in fact very long distance a minute. In patterns of thought actually more like this that keeps us from the perspective of the union. I started to understand the concept of the land when I visited to Kepulauan Seribu. The concept put forward by Ir. Djuanda about Indonesia as a country maritime. The sea unites us, not separate us. Then I have a desire to expand mindset that the sea as unifying this nation to the community.

The desire began when on 12 september 2013, I got a chance to be the one of tour guide for “Wawasan Kebangsaan Pemuda-Pemudi di Kepulauan Seribu” conference. The conference is intended to prevent the threat of Kepulauan Seribu as the tourism objects are not sustainable, and environmental pollution. The objective of this seminar is to restore the character of society to be more care of the island in his territory.

Kepulauan Seribu (The Thausand Island) since 2000’s, was famous by underwater tour. Pramuka Island, is the place will became as conference has 1,5 long trip by speed boat from Ancol, North Jakarta. When I arrived at Pramuka Island, I treated an amazing Indonesian marine wealth view with friendliness society. Behind that beauty, has complicated problem on the people. They usualy drape their economy to be a fisherman, but now they switch to become a tour guide, ‘cause they though not enough to suffice their needs. If they loan their boat for travelers and be a tour guide, they get double income. Then, they build homestays, restaurants, and places of entertainment but they ignored the environment actually not suitable to relocate so many building.

From this issue, community and I were invited to become a speaker. I try to dialogue with the people, my attention was focused on youths which they choose to leave school education to become a tour guide. From this socialization, I invite them to be aware this condition because their island has been exploited. With so many traveler who visited to their island has made them to forget the responsibility to keep preservation of environment.

This event actually organized for youth people from various different islands like Tidung, Onrust, Kelor, Bidadari, Semak Daun and Pari. So that they are aware about their substance as native people to save ecosystem in their island. I tried to explain that the Tidung Island, Kelor Island, Onrust Island, now are the most favorite islands for visitor. But how if the traveler found other islands are more beautiful by the preservation of nature? this island absolutely was left. Maybe people the island will return to a profession originally as a fisherman. But if environmental sustainability is not manageable it will influence the outcome of their catch.

The effect of environment which not protected is garbage is dumped into the sea. Necessarily, let traveler come to the island with the original form island without changed for meeting the needs of travelers. Such as the fundamental of success tourism on a region, by show the original form island and defferences, travelers will come without bored. By this conference, we got high respons. They started to think how to invite people in their island to restore the natural environment again. I am pleased to help the youths to change their mindset. I lead dialogue, I receive questions, responses. I finally indirectly affect them to provide concrete examples.

I am proud to be able to explain about Indonesia which has a variety of nautical tourism. It should be an occasion for the society islands to promote our maritime culture, not only introduce beauty, but the unique of the society culture. Get the learning about how human we should treat our natural. I am very proud to have the opportunity to exchange opinions and knowledge, especially with the community in Tidung island. This experience that changed my mindset until now which as the young generation. Not supposed to think only and silence, but to change the nation for the sake of progress by renewing the thought of native societies, especially in areas of tourism as an entrance directly meeting diverse culture in indonesia.