To the Heights of the Sunda Shelf

Flying over the Anambas Islands is a lovely sight. Island after island dots the sea with azure blue reefs blending into rainforest mountain peaks. Only 24 of these 238 islands are inhabited – a hidden world in the midst of the bustling South China Sea. 

These islands are what is left of the drowned continent of Southeast Asia known as Sundaland. Most of this ancient land became the South China Sea about 8,000 years ago during the last ice age.  As ocean seawater levels rose, fertile valleys became an expansive continental shelf and forest hillsides became reefs and lagoons.  Only some of the higher mountains still peak through the sea as the islands now known as Anambas.

As the ocean claimed the continent and submerged the lowlands, people were forced to flee in all directions.  Those who lived near mountains could have moved upwards, but those living in the valleys and far from the mountains were flooded. Thus, these people gathered themselves (animals and possessions included) and became sea nomads, adrift in search of higher land. Many think that the people from this ancient civilization spread north to the Asian continent, south to Australia, west to Africa and the Middle East, and east to Polynesia. These were “sea people” of ancient times: people that traveled the sea bringing their language, crops such as rice, their dogs and other animals, and know-how that has influenced the world as we know it today.

What is most striking is to consider that the technological buzzing world of Singapore is just 150 nautical miles away.  Tankers steam through the sea just to the North and South; yet these islands are quiet, mostly untouched and very beautiful. It is a perfect destination for sailors who are in search of a quiet holiday with its protected lagoons, white sand beaches and coral reefs.

Terempah, the main city of Anambas, is a colorful, bustling city with ample supplies.  Its people are gentle and friendly – happy to see its watery gateway opening up to visitors. There is a hotel located at Tanjung Tebu, just around the corner from Terempah, on the waters edge in a sheltered bay.  There you find excellent meals, hot showers and a peaceful atmosphere with large rooms and balconies extending over the water.

We had first arrived the Anambas Islands by vessel in 2006 and visited several of its remote islands. Intrigued to learn more, we accepted Francis Lee’s proposal to return there in 2008 to consider implementing a long-term marine conservation program. To our great joy, we have learned that the people of Anambas embrace this idea and within the year, we will return again to start commence the program. Our first project will focus on setting up a protected area for endangered sea turtles that frequent the Anambas Islands to nest on its white sand beaches.

Tanjung Tebu Resort

To contact the hotel in Tanjung Tebu, please email anambas@gmail.com.