Photo Courtesy of Cheesenclick Photography
“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas
With every Christmas card I write
May your days be merry and bright
And may all your Christmases be white”
– White Christmas by Irving Berlin
It’s probably everyone’s dream on this side of the world to experience a white Christmas. Just imagining being rolling around in snow, a picturesque landscape of white frost in front of me is enough to give me the shivers. Oh yeah, a white Christmas usually means layers and layers of fleece turtlenecks, faux fur coats, heat-packs, mufflers, scarves, gloves, extra baggage and the list goes on. You win some, you lose some.
But what if, I told you, you can experience a white Christmas WITHOUT the cold? And WITHOUT flying halfway across the world?
Introducing to you: Kaolin Lake located in the Bangka Belitung Islands, Indonesia.
It is an all-white panorama with mystical light-blue waters. However, Kaolin Lake is not a natural lake. It was originally used for mining kaolin (a type of clay found in nature), but later stopped and abandoned. After the mining activities ceased, the land that has been dredged and filled with rain water became a beautiful artificial lake. Unlike its popular (stinky) neighbour, Kawah Putih (Lake Crater White) in Ciwidey, Kaolin Lake has no trace of sulphur at all, so no need for masks, rest easy and breathe it alllll in. You can also swim in its clear light-blue waters which has the perfect temperature for a dip. Most locals also boast that the waters makes one’s skin softer and smoother, but that is for you and I to prove.
It’s not clear and light-blue all year round and the best time to go is when it’s bright and sunny. During rainy season, the waters turn murky and get darker in colour the perfect time to visit Belitung is during April – August when it’s dry. Pretty sure with such jaw-dropping backdrops, you could fool your friends into thinking you’re up in the Alps for Christmas. So who’s up for a warm white Christmas?
Getting there from Singapore
1. Fly to Jakarta First
From Jakarta, take a direct flight to Tanjung Pandan (Belitung) via Sriwijaya Air or Garuda Indonesia.
2. Take a Ferry to Batam
Take a ferry to Batam Centre harbour.
Duration: 45 min – 1 hr
Cost: From $29
Operators: BatamFast Ferry, SINDO Ferry, Majestic Fast Ferry
Take a cab to Batam Airport and take a flight from Batam to Tanjung Pandan (Belitung) via Lion Air.
Location:
Perawas, Tanjung Pandan, Belitung Regency,
Bangka Belitung Islands, Indonesia
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