We were aware that there were three ways to get from Mataram, Lombok to Labuan Bajo, Flores: air, land or the sea. We ruled out the travel by sea (3 or 4 days on a live aboard or a fast boat which includes site seeing and sleeping on the boat) and did not want to fly and miss all of the sites and scenes along the way so we decided to explore taking the local bus that would leave Mataram at 3 pm, get on a ferry (while sleeping on the bus), continue on the same bus to a halfway point in Sumbawa island, transfer to a smaller vehicle and back on the ferry again to Labuan Bajo. The trip would take 24 plus hours. After visiting the bus station and the bus with little to no success to obtain enough information as to the logistics and since most of the trip would be at night we decided to go against our wishes and fly. Richard already mentioned that after some investigation we decided to use Garuda airlines over Lion Air and the many other smaller airlines.
The flight from Mataram to Labuan Bajo connects through Bali and with a short layover the trip was about 4 hours and very pleasant. Almost the entire time one could look down at the beautiful sea and the MANY islands, some very spectacular.
Our photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/JWEtF7nSiPg9b6UC2
As soon as we got off the plane, a young man with a bright smile (the driver from the hotel which, over the few days, we got to like a lot) met us right outside the airport and 10 minutes later we were at Komodo Boutique hotel, a relatively small and very simple place, and were greeted by another very friendly young hotel manager. We can not say enough about the hospitality that this hotel and its staff showed us. Like I said, it was simple and cheap but the service was five stars.
Flores is a big and wide island with a lot of diversity. Unlike Bali that is majority Hindu and Lombok, that is majority Muslim, Flores is a majority Christian island. Labuan Bajo (a beach community) is on the west of the island and a haven for tourists as it is the gateway to a lot of activities and a launching point for travel to other parts of Flores or other islands. There is construction everywhere. The main street is all dugout to put in the new sewer system under construction. It is lush and oh sooooo green. We were advised that the area is prone to Malaria so we decided to take the Malaria pills while in Flores. The other amazing attraction for us were the magnificent sunsets.
Our photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/XWCogro5B6efSbBX2
The main reason most people – including us- come to Flores and Labuan Bajo is to see the renowned Komodo dragons. As luck has it on our ride back to the hotel, the first night we were in LB, a young couple, who had just returned from the day long tour, including the Komodo Island, turned us on to Alba Cruises. The next morning, we booked our day trip with them and set out to explore the city.
Our day long trip, starting at 5:20 am to 6:30pm included visit to five main attractions launched from LB, Komodo Island, Padar islands, Manta Point, Taka Makassar and Kanaka island.
The boat, with 24 passengers was quiet comfortable and the crew/guides were great. Our first stop involved a ½ hour hike up a steep cliff and was well worth it. The view from the top is something out of the story books. You look down at three bays each with a different color sand (black, white and pink.) Once at the bottom I treated myself to the water from a fresh young coconut totally ready for the next adventure.
The next stop was our long awaited Komodo Island, home to the Komodo dragons. Here we met the forest rangers (local folks trained to keep the tourists and the dragons safe.) and set out for a 45-minute trek through the islands jungle like setting. Within 10 minutes we spotted our first, a female dragon and as we went along we saw a male (much larger than the female) and then three more (one sleeping under the deck of a building.) I have to admit that seeing these dragons and knowing that they date back to the time of the dinosaurs was a tremendous experience.
Komodo dragons: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/k/komodo-dragon/
Our photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/uFw4qdBewuiPWuzV2
Somewhere not far from Komodo Island is called the Manta Ray Point. This is a section of the sea where the manta rays come to clean their body from the various things that have adhered to their bodies. Everyone but me, a five year boy (which ended up being my deck buddy and guide spotting the manta rays) and another young lady, put on their mask and snorkel and jumped in the sea to see the Manta rays which as I understand is can be as large as 4 meters across. We (me and my five-year-old friend, did see a lot of the rays coming up to the surface.)
Our photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/LLPaLCLYKYNeQNW93
Taka Makassar is another amazing spot, a small pink beach right in the middle of the sea. The water surrounding the island is an amazing color and the sand is truly pink (crushed pink corrals.)
The last stop, the Kanaka island was a place to rest, get a cup of great tea and coffee and snorkels for the remainder of the day.
All in all, this was an unforgettable day, filled with much memories including meeting a sweet newlywed from Java, taking photos and sharing contact information.
Almost everyone we talked to said you have not eaten fish until you have one at the LB fish market, so finally we got go there, walk around the many stalls displaying all kind of fresh whole fish and select a vender. We were asked to sit at a long table with several local guys and few tourists. We selected our fish (we asked for one that is firm and mild) and waited for it to be grilled on an open fire and brought to us with a healthy portion of rice and small salad and oh yes, the hot sauce that they use on everything. The fish, about 2 pound was cooked to perfection and best I have ever had.
We had made a list of the must do in Flores and Hobbit cave was on the second item on this. The cave is a four-hour drive from LB so we hired a driver and left at 6pm for a day long journey. As luck had it we were able to visit the magnificent spider web rice fields and a traditional village (Ruteng Puu.) We happened to be in the village the day that a worldwide volunteer organization,Trash Hero, was there educating the community (especially the children) about trash control and environmental protection. We helped picking up a bit of trash and were interviewed by the organization. You can see the video which I shared on my Facebook page.
Hobbit Cave (Liang-Bua): http://florestourism.com/districts/liang-bua/
Spider Web Rice Fields (Lingko): http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3577203/Swirled-wide-web-beautiful-rice-fields-grown-look-like-crafted-spider-Indonesian-tradition.html
Ruteng Puu village: florestourism.com/districts/ruteng-puu/
After a late lunch (Ramen noodles and eggs) at our driver’s village and visit with his dad, family and we think all of the village children, we headed back to LB grateful for another wonderful day in one of the most hospitable countries we have visited so far.
Our photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/kZ0mq0YD6In0JJFW2
At the drivers village we had the oddest experience of the trip. Before lunch our driver came to Missy and asked for 100,000 R ($7.25) to give to his father. She said to him that if he wanted his father to have the money that the driver should give to him. She told me. Before we left the driver came to me with the same request, I gave him the money. Is this odd or what. I really don’t know what was going on. My thinking was that I would just reduce the drivers tip by that amount and that is what I did. If anyone has any thoughts I would appreciate hearing them.
“The earth is but one country” 