Morotai island, Maluku, Indonesia

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

Morotai island Regency, also known as Morotai island, is one of the regencies in Indonesia's North Maluku Province. Morotai island Regency is a new regency that was inaugurated by the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2008.

Morotai Island has good tourism potential, with a land and sea area of 4,301.53 square kilometers. The island, which is also known as the "Pearl of the Pacific Lips", is also included in the list of 10 leading national tourism destinations, with ± 80 locations for marine tourism objects and historical tourism. Talking about Morotai Island is incomplete if you don't know one of the satellite islands around it. There is an idiom that has developed among travelers which read, "Don't tell me you've been to Morotai if you haven't set foot in that paradise." When I had the opportunity to visit Morotai Island, I was also interested in proving this expression. That afternoon, by renting a motorboat belonging to a fisherman, I was accompanied by several friends to sail the sea as far as 5 miles from Daruba, the capital of Morotai Island Regency.  The motorboat that we were on was moving towards the west of Morotai Island.  Shortly after, a stretch of small islands seemed to emerge from the ocean, like pearls coming out of their shells.

It was only about 30 minutes later that one of the best pearls or slices of heaven from Morotai that was much talked about appeared before us. It is Dodola Island, a slice of heaven on earth at the tip of North Maluku. Soft white sand greeted our arrival.  The breeze that enters through the cracks of the sea pines tempts every visitor to immediately relax. The rustle of the waves also adds to the harmony of the beauty of the Dodola beach.  A luxurious, natural atmosphere, suitable as a release from the hustle and bustle of life in the city.

Dodola Island has a unique character.  The island itself actually consists of two small islands, Dodola Besar with an area of ​​948,283 square meters and Dodola Kecil with an area of ​​121,653 square meters. These two islands are separated by the sea at a distance of about 500 meters, similar to a couple in a long-distance relationship (LDR).

Surprisingly, if the seawater recedes from the afternoon until the evening, the two islands will be linked by a white sand bridge that visitors can cross. It only takes less than 10 minutes by foot from Big Dodola to Small Dodola.  The pattern of sand strokes formed by the waves also adds to the value of the beauty of the natural bridge. Apart from being a place to just bask in the sun, Dodola Island is also suitable as a location for snorkeling and diving.  The gradation of white sand color that blends with the blue sea always manages to tempt visitors' hearts to jump into the water.

Dodola is also well-known for its enthralling panoramic potential by the sea. It is noted that there are at least 13 diving and snorkeling points that can be explored by underwater sports lovers.  There, divers will meet many wrecks, jeeps, fighter planes, the remains of the allied forces that sank during World War II in the Pacific Ocean. There are at least five locations, namely Wawama, Totodaku, Mira, Buhobuho, and the sea between Dodola and Kelerai.

The distance is quite far from residential areas, making Dodola a hidden paradise.  Fishermen usually use Dodola Island as a place to rest for a while on the sidelines of fishing activities.

For visitors who want to spend the night, the local Tourism Office has now provided cottages that can be rented for IDR 400-600 thousand per night.  The huts for visitors were built in Dodola Besar, while in Dodola Kecil there was no human touch. Many local residents and foreign tourists choose to spend their weekends on Dodola Island. For transportation matters, apart from being able to rent a fishing boat, visitors can also rent a speedboat from Daruba Harbor, at a price of IDR 500 thousand to IDR 1 million, relatively negotiable.

That day, Dodola was still empty of visitors. There were only our group and a few officers guarding the island. If you are also interested in spending the night and setting up a tent on Dodola Island, there is a canteen that has opened to fulfill food needs but only sells snacks. I suggest preparing enough logistics while in Daruba, the capital of Morotai Island. Don't forget to save your phone and camera batteries because the beauty of Dodola Island is present throughout the day.


Dodola in History

On September 15, 1944, allied forces under the leadership of General Douglas Macarthur landed on the island of Morotai. The strategic location on the Pacific sea lip makes Morotai the consolidation center of the United States VII Division Forces. General MacArthur was believed to have taken care of the Japanese occupation of America from 1945 to 1955. One of the big missions was to conquer Japan through the Philippines and the Dutch East Indies. At that moment, General MacArthur had chosen Zum Zum Island, one of the Morotai satellite islands - which was also no less beautiful - to be used as a defense base for the allied forces in the Pacific. Later, in the present, the island was incorporated into the General MacArthur monument to commemorate the Great General's existence and role as a military leader. As a location involved in the Pacific War, Morotai was full of 'garbage' for the rest of the war. Residents around me often find bullets, bottles, amphibious vehicles, and airplanes, both on land and at sea. The discoveries of the last war were partly collected and included in the Morotai World War II Museum.

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