Island Burung

The island is called Burung — "bird." And it makes sense the moment your boat rounds the southeast shore. There's a boulder there — not just a rock, but a three-storey slab of granite. From the water it genuinely looks like a bird's head, beak and all. The locals call it Garuda without hesitation — Indonesia's national emblem. Whether you see it or not is something you decide when you get close enough.

The water around the boulder is where you snorkel. The coral is dense and healthy, and at low tide you can spot clownfish just a few metres from shore, standing in water up to your knees. The south side of the island is completely different: shallow, still, white sand underfoot. No coral, no sea urchins. You just walk in and swim — no careful steps, no looking down.

Burung sits slightly off the standard island-hopping route from Tanjung Binga village on Belitung's north coast. Most boat drivers will add it for a small extra fee — fifteen minutes from the main circuit. That detour is also why it stays empty.