$40 Island Paradise? -Nicole Chatham 6th period

The article that I read this week talked about the Indonesian Island of Maratua and it's beautiful qualities. This island is off the coast of Borneo, however many will find that getting to the island is not a simple task. To get to the island one has to take two domestic flights, a two and a a half hour car ride, and a two and a half hour trip by a small boat.  However, upon reaching the destination of the island many travelers find enthusiasm not only for the beauty that this intimate island holds, but also the extremely affordable price to stay at the Maratua Guesthouse hotel for only $40 a night! The days at the island are filled with many different activities like snorkeling adventures in front of the Guesthouse to swimming with sting-free jellyfish! This "untouched paradise" truly offers a wonderful stay for those who make the journey!

Analysis- This article really made me want to go out and travel after reading it! It's amazing to think about how many beautiful places there are on the Earth and then how many beautiful places there are that haven't been discovered yet. I can relate this article back in US history to when the American colonists and Spanish conquistadors were first coming to discover and explore the New World. Not only was the land exciting and new to them (like in this article), but the journey to get to the New World offered plenty of challenges of it's own. While challenges stood in the way of the colonists and conquistadors, they surely wouldn't stop in their quest for land and all the benefits that went along with it. It's amazing how ambition and the desire to travel and explore has changed history so much!

Link to the Article