Maratua beckons tourists seeking low-key alternative to Bali

MARATUA, Indonesia -- After several hours on a crowded speedboat, a swath of lush green breaks up the serene monotony of sky and sea as the island of Maratua, off the east coast of Borneo, draws near.

Part of Indonesia's Derawan islands chain, this isolated hook-shaped atoll, known for its coral reefs and rich marine life, can be reached only by an arduous combination of air and boat travel that takes up to two days from Jakarta or the Indonesian resort island of Bali.