Kei Kecil Island - Maluku - Indonesia

Kei Kecil Island, Maluku – Indonesia

It never ceases to fascinate how many paths and directions one takes while traveling.

One checks, reads, weighs options, and turns the Internet upside down just to find out what, how, and where to go. When traveling alone and not frequently staying at a great hostel with many other travelers. For several days, I pondered what my next destination should be. Halmahera Island or perhaps Tidore. For the latter, I realized that it is likely more a reflection of Ternate.

Halmahera, on the other hand, is a four-armed green island with opportunities to climb two volcanoes and go snorkeling. I would just need to take the ferry, a one-hour ride, to Sofifi and from there four hours by shared taxi. Near the city of Tobelo, there were two accommodations to consider. One was the Kuba Kuba Resort and the other was the METI Cottage on a small offshore island. Both seemed hip, but I just didn’t feel right about either of them. Additionally, it seemed one would have to return to Ternate from there, as all information about continuing the journey from Tobelo led me to nowhere.

So for the first time on this trip, I turned my Lonely Planet upside down and landed on the page about Kei Kecil. It was said to be dreamy and remote. Two factors that instantly appealed to me. I once again stirred up the dust of the Internet and eventually clicked and made payment via PayPal.

Afterward, I rubbed my eyes. When the details became clear, I shook my head. It read 1.15h flight from Ternate – Manado, 7.55h layover, 1.30h flight from Manado – Makassar, 8.45h layover, 2h flight from Makassar – Ambon, 4h layover, and 1.15h flight from Ambon – Langgur. What the heck was I thinking? I thought nothing of it, just clicked.

But since I am always blessed while traveling and the journey is the goal, I took only good things from it. In Manado, I left the airport and strolled to a nearby golf course I just found on Google Maps, amidst the greenery, dotted with charming open huts around a carp pond, a place to relax with a restaurant that should take good care of me. Both with delicious fruit juices and a truly delicious baked carp.

In Makassar, I simply went to sleep, to the airport hotel, and in Ambon I sank comfortably into a chair for about 3 hours. 26 hours after departing from Ternate, I thus reached Kei Kecil Island. And guess what? It was raining!

The taxi driver immediately promised: Only here, at Ngor Bloat Beach, does the sun shine. He was right. With clear weather and sunshine, I found myself all of a sudden in a dreamy world. The beach, a mere 30 m from my bungalow, or better yet, house, which could easily accommodate four people, was extraordinarily beautiful. Ultra-white sand and a mirror-like sea, framed by green palm trees, a blue sky, and a dazzling yellow sun. Once again, a piece of world to endure, yes, to enjoy, and as so often, to marvel at.

The following four days were simply explained. Delicious breakfast, excursions by motorbike, hanging out at the beach, for lunch the world’s most delicious Soto Ayam from around the corner, cooling off or warming up in the sea – one is not so sure, walking along the beach, hammock acrobatics, and every evening a tasty fish for dinner.

Two stories come to mind. I ran along my beautiful beach and felt like having a coconut, asked a few locals here, and marveled a minute later as the gentleman with the machete made his way to the nearest palm top. It cracked three times and shortly thereafter I found myself sitting on the beach with three fresh coconuts.

The second story, no less funny, if not even interesting, was when my motorbike reached a bridge that was no longer functional after a 100 km island tour, as a large part was missing, indeed had collapsed. Great laughter, no problem was indicated to me. So I had to be immortalized in a few photos before following the two girls and the lady. We walked back 2 km to reach a small boat. Instantly, four men lifted my motorbike onto it and instructed me to sit on it – on the scooter, of course. It swayed heavily; I almost lost it. A quick adjustment was made, and the crossing began. During that time, I did not move a millimeter. Imagine what would have happened otherwise?

Interestingly, only very few travelers make it to the island, although it is definitely worth recommending.