Meet the Occupants of Drini Beach

Posted by deka

September 22, 2008

Drini Beach yogyakarta

Photo Credit: Deka~Discover-Indonesia.com

Observing people’s activities is interesting especially the activity that we don’t know before like the local people’s activity of Drini beach. Drini beach is about 10 kilometers to the east of Baron beach, Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta. Mostly, the occupation of them is fisherman. Of course they catch fishes for living. Depart from the beach at the night and dock the boat on early morning. Sometimes they have to sail for days only to earn for living. However, they sometimes can’t sail. So, what they do when they don’t sail?

Drini Beach yogyakarta

Photo Credit: Deka~Discover-Indonesia.com

Fixing their boat or broken equipment is a must for fishermen when they don’t sail. But if they don’t sail they get no income. To rely on the tourism aspect is not helping their life much. So, the locals of Drini beach collect sea weeds, small beautiful fish and sea urchin at the shore. They sell them to brokers who buy them in low prices. Doing that won’t make them millionaire, but they can live, simple living, not a luxurious living. Their hard life and intense struggle can fulfill everyday need and even send their children to school. For the matter of good food for children, they usually give some fishes they caught in order for the children to get good nutrient.

Some of the fishermen don’t have their own boat. They rent the boat from the “Juragan”, the owner of the rental. Sharing the catch is how they pay the rent fee. At least, the fishermen get only 30% - 40% of the result. Since the government helps them with boats, they don’t depend on the Juragan.

Drini Beach yogyakarta