BUNGIN, a Growing Island

Bungin, an island that lies about 70 kilometres west of Sumbawa is the most densely populated island in the world and the only island that keeps growing bigger and bigger in Indonesia :) Bungin may be too small, so Wikipedia picked Java as the first winner of most densely populated island competition. But I’m sure Bungin is muuuch tighter to live in. I’m glad I had a chance to stay a day and a night.

It was by a coincidence. One of blesses during my East Java-Sumbawa trip was that I met Opan, my very accommodating “guide”, a friend of friend of my friend. Never met him yet before, unexpectedly I got not just a 10 days stay in his parent warm �" welcoming house but also this chance to experience a short life in Bungin. it included a challenging experience of Nyulu, stabbing crap or fish or any sea creatures with long spear; actually I caught nothing but watched and screamed! *you know how I love animals* :p

You may check Andari (director) and Opan’s (cameraman) work about Bungin; the Crescent Moon Over the Sea, http://cmosdoc. multiply.com/ a movie that won JIFFEST Script Development Competition 2006.

Other articles about bungin:
http://www.indonesialogue.com/planning-a-trip/an-ever-growing-island-bungin-island-west-nusa-tenggara.html --> tells interesting facts that I witnessed them my self, such as the paper eating goat (if I can add, the goat that behave like a dog, so mingle to human) and the way this island is getting bigger by coral rocks formation built by residents.