Doberai Private Island

The long-awaited trip to Raja Ampat began with illness and dark rain clouds, which somewhat clouded our first impression of paradise. But as soon as we arrived at the resort, we were catapulted into another world - a true dream destination with shimmering turquoise water and lovely natural stilt bungalows. Exhausted from a 30-hour journey, our joy was dampened when we entered the bungalow, which didn’t quite look as we had imagined. At this point, a big thank you to Dylan for his uncomplicated and courteous response to our request. The resort impresses with its intimate atmosphere, very good service, few bungalows and therefore limited number of guests, which we like personally, three varied and delicious meals and, last but not least, its central location to the best dive sites. You can reach almost all of them in a maximum of 45 minutes boatride. The food was extremely varied and offered dishes from all regions of Indonesia, including vegetarian options. I enjoyed trying the different local dishes, whereas others were happy with all the other dishes on offer due to the spiciness. Thanks to the chefs for their culinary skills and the “sweet” desserts! And yes - Katembe - no diet! hahaha The team surprised me with a wonderful table decoration and a birthday cake, plus a serenade from the team + guests and a little surprise in the bungalow - all of which made my birthday in Raja Ampat extra special. Thanks to everyone from the bottom of my heart! Thanks also to Ridan, who so lovingly provided me with ginger tea during my illness. With lemon and honey :) We saw everything our hearts desired on the dives. As an angelfish fan, I couldn’t get enough of the many different species, the size of the fish compared to other dive sites in SOA is enormous, not to mention the incredible abundance of fish, shoals and masses of damselfish, fusiliers, snappers, bannerfish, barracudas, mackerel,... napoleons, giant sweetlips, turtles, octopods, manta rays, sharks,... Raja Ampat got it all and gave us all. Thanks to the dive guides who showed us the most beautiful dive spots in the short time we had left, thanks for the MANTAS!!!! Thanks also to the guys for the beautiful, entertaining and safe boat trips, even if I really would have liked a side wall when it rained! And last but not least, thanks to the many invisible hands that made it so easy to feel at home. Standard bungalow: The beds are comfortable, not too hard and equipped with good mosquito nets. Our bungalow was equipped with 4 beds (2x2 single beds next to each other). The bathroom is functionally furnished with a small shelf and a beautiful large shell as a washbasin. The shower is cold water half sweet/half salty. The floor of the bungalows is covered with wide wooden panels, some of the gaps allow a view of the sea below. The bungalow can be closed off from the sea with bamboo doors. A filled water dispenser is available and filled every day. Two sun beds on the spacious terrace. Deluxe bungalow: A large double bed (queen-size) stands generously in the room, very comfortable and equipped with a good mosquito net. There is a clothes rack with hangers as well as tables with a bench and seating. The bathroom is nicely done, the walls are paneled, the washbasin also has a large shell as a washbasin, a large mirror with lighting, glass partition between the shower and toilet. Overall, the bathroom here is not as draughty as in the standard bungalow. The floor here is sealed. The bungalow has a lockable glass front. The glass water dispenser is filled every day. Two sun beds and a lounge hammock on the spacious terrace. Despite these many positive aspects, there was one small inconvenience for us. During the first week in the rainy period, the beds were quite clammy, which combined with illness, cold water and lack of sun was a little uncomfortable. The limited power supply from 5pm to midnight encourages you to enjoy your time offline. Diving, snorkeling, kayaking, playing volleyball, board games, reading, looking out to sea, taking photos, lazing around and looking forward to the next meal.... Overall, we enjoyed our two weeks at the resort and are grateful for the unforgettable experiences we had here. The Katembe team and the beauty of the surroundings have won our hearts and we are glad we were able to be here. Hopefully see you again!