Flores is maybe best known for the Komodo National park.
The Indonesian island that the Portuguese gave the name Flores is probably best known for the Komodo dragon. The indigenous Indonesians call the island Nusa Nipa, meaning “Dragon island”. The Komodo National Park is an island, commonly referred to as Komodo Island. I spent my last nights in Indonesia in Labuan Bajo, a small fishing town on the west side of Flores Island.
Labuan Bajo
To get to Flores, I had to skip a couple of islands on the way and do something I try to avoid when travelling, to use internal flights. But, since the Komodo dragon is so rare, and I wanted to see it, I made this decision. I arrived on the island of Flores, and the airport was quite close to the city centre, so I used the opportunity to walk the distance to my accommodation. Already now, I could see that this island seemed poorer than Bali. I had booked a room in what they called Hill villas—a charming little bungalow.
Palau Padar
To get out to the islands and the Komodo National Park, the easiest way was to book a day trip from Labuan Bajo. I was picked up early in the morning and heading for the harbour. I think we were about 30 on the boat. But there were several organisers to choose from. The first stop was Palau Padar, a small island with a fascinating shape that became visible upon reaching the top. It was pretty crowded here, and I became quite sweaty by the time I reached the summit. But it was all worth it.
The Pink Beach
After this fantastic view of the islands, it was time to head for the Pink Beach. The pink hue is created by the combination of white sand and red coral fragments that have been broken into tiny pieces by the waves. The beach was so clean, and the water was warm and appealing.
Komodo Island
Finally, we were approaching Komodo Island, the destination for which I had gone to Flores in the first place. It is particularly notable as the habitat of the Komodo dragon, the largest lizard on Earth, which is named after the island. In 1991, Komodo Island was included in the Komodo National Park, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Komodo has a population of approximately 2000, spread across the island and in the main Komodo village. The island’s present-day residents are descendants of former convicts who were exiled to the Komodo Islands.
The Komodo dragon
The Komodo dragon is a large reptile of the monitor lizard family. It is the largest extant species of lizard, with males growing to a maximum length of 3 meters and weighing up to 150 kilograms. It is essential to go in groups to look for the dragons. They try to hide out in the wilder parts of the island, away from humans. They can attack people, but it does not happen often. It is essential to make your moves around them calmly.
I think we saw three dragons on our journey around the island. This was the one most photogenic, since he was not hiding in some grass or bushes. He hardly moved at all in the maybe ten minutes we were surrounding him. They could easily be distracted by people who swing or shake something in their hands. It was fascinating to see them in their natural habitat, rather than in a zoo.
Manta Point
On the way back to Paøau Padar, we stopped by Manta Point. In the middle of the sea, there is a white sand bank that is so shallow that the boats stop, and we could jump out, walk, and of course, swim. This is an ideal spot for diving. The water was so warm and clear that even I couldn’t resist taking a swim here, but it was crowded. What I also experienced was that most of the guys on my boats were asian and especially Chinese, and so few of them could swim.
Conclusion
This concluded my 6 weeks in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. It is the first time since I was in my twenties that I have been on a journey of this length. I was a little worried before I started if it would wear me out, but it went very smoothly. No significant issues or problems. No stomach problems of any kind. All the hotels, accommodations, and transfers over longer distances were booked in advance by me. I enjoy the challenge of travel, so some of my trips are entirely self-planned. At other times, I join a group and follow the crowd.
If you missed some of my earlier posts.
Indonesia
