In many ways, visiting the Anambas Islands is like going back in time several decades. This applies not only to the overwhelming serenity, the lack of highways and the laid-back pace of life that comes with an outpost like Anambas, but also to the way life on these islands tends to revolve a bit more around family, culture and traditional customs.

Some of the more far-flung island kampongs especially are still quite traditional in their way of life. Dwellings are mostly timber cottages, often the kelong type, i.e. erected on stilts over water. Electricity, if indeed accessible at all, is frequently provided by generator, typically through government schemes, albeit perhaps only during certain hours of the day.

When you visit one of these kampongs, you'll likely see chickens roam free, as these are a major source of protein for the villagers, along with fish of course. Each dawn, many of the menfolk go out in modest-sized wooden vessels, some motorized, some paddle-powered, to catch fish for the family meal. On productive days, some of the surplus catch may be sold at the morning market.

When not fishing, maintenance must be carried out, not only to the various fishing paraphernalia owned, but also to the home. Many villagers also grow vegetables, herbs and spices, which are tended to regularly.

Meanwhile, kampong kids tend to spend a lot of their time playing outdoors, after school hours and doing home work of course. Many kampongs are still off-grid altogether and may not have any internet to speak of, for example. Life is peaceful and happy.

It all makes for quite a charming backdrop, a bit of a throwback to the good old days, something you may want to immerse in for a few blissful hours. After all, traditional kampong life is hardly common these days. Mind you, even Anambas, and the kampongs in particular, can be seen to be gradually transitioning to more contemporary times. That's progress I guess.

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