Flores Island, farewell to you

Jakarta - Denpasar I went through the bus destination Sumbawa which departs from Terminal afternoon Pulogadung, and can seat in the smoking area near the toilet, beraama with two other passengers, Mr. Usman and Mas Roni. They were both so amazed when I hear about this trip. Similarly, the backup driver who was assigned to a rest in the narrow space behind our seats. They thought I was someone who would throw away most of the money and throw them out the way the streets. I just smile just to hear their response. Day and night trapped in the same cramped quarters, we've made as a family, look after each other.

This slow road trip, make my time more and more narrow. If no time is infinite, not only I had a long road trip up to Sumba. But I do not have that much time. Obligations in real life waiting for the next 6 days. So I decided to get off the bus in Denpasar. Giving up money that soar ongkosku it floated away. I try my fortune at Ngurah Rai (Denpasar), look for tickets canceled at times late.

Often a journey of the soul becomes more mature and introspective, be more empathetic. This I feel when met with a sis-sis with her bags look so worried, it's almost in tears. Apparently he was stranded at this airport since yesterday, have not got a ticket to return to his hometown in Maumere to visit his mother who was ill.

Moved by pity, I took him to both looking for tickets. In Indonesia airline ticket Air Transport box, there is a ticket destination of Labuan Bajo empty because passengers do not appear until the end of the check in time, 5 minutes longer. I could have insisted on taking the ticket to yourself, because I'm not asking and trying to get it? But I could not bear to see her Ma'am is my new friend, so I Relax this ticket to him and I will leave the next day .... Hhhhhhh ... .. yes please, never mind ....!

So I bring one suitcase and walk you through the gates of the Ma'am, I say "good-bye and good until the goal, so may his mother a speedy recovery back". I'm left alone amid the hustle and bustle of the airport. I have to find a place to stay tonight, was very necessary shower. Good-hearted person I met on the way out the airport, gave me a free ride when I was carrying a backpack walking in the sun Bali. Thank you so much ..... Bli :)


This afternoon I started on the ground penjelajahanku Flores. Fish market in the west seemed deserted. On the west pier, it appears some boats moored. Clear blue sea with a little choppy. Several buildings on the west coast shop looks empty. Thatched roofed gazebo is also empty. There are only two boys who were playing marbles near one of the gazebo. They watched me as I approached. Flores his eyes a dark but bright stare curiously. Chatter accompanied me roam in Labuan Bajo.

Boys are bigger, Ata name, the new 4th grade, and the other named Refer, Grade 3 SD. Their school is different. We quickly became close, talking about everything with each accent. Sometimes difficult to catch the words they uttered in his accent thick Flores. Ata happy to tell you, about he who champion sprinter in her school, about he who must help her parents earn a living in times of difficult, the time when the west wind blows, and his father could not go to sea for months. He and his father collected trash bottles washed up on shore Binongko and other beaches, old bottles that they sell, the money used to buy rice. He also told me, he said the money earned will be more if he and his father managed to collect scrap metal from iron-old pier near the beach Waicucu. But the iron-scrap metal must be painstakingly transported / carried off on foot up the hill from the beach a distance Waicucu pretty much up to this city.

He told me cheerfully, occasionally overlaid by Refer. I was touched to hear that. My heart is sad to imagine a small boy carrying metal rods up and down the hill in the scorching afternoon. We continue to exchange stories, I was on the ground Java and Jakarta's hustle and bustle of the city, they are about the everyday life of the unassuming. We joked and laughed together.

They were very enthusiastic to show me a very beautiful beach Binongko he said. So I invited them to take me there. Armed with a bottle of drinking water for each and a few packets of biscuits, we started our little expedition to the beach Binongko. The three of us trooped to walk up the hill. And then jumped happily on otto who happens to pass in the direction we were headed. And stops at the end of a dirt road, there is no one there. Grove looked everywhere. Urukan land to create new roads appear on the right. And on the left is the beach Binongko they promised beautiful. Hmmmm ....'s White sand beaches, but a lot of trash carried by ocean currents and stranded there.

There is a wooden pier that stretches out to sea. Tip of the fishing boat docks seem 2 was moored. Refer Ata and shows how to catch small fish from a small river which empties into the clear water of this beach. We were too busy herding the fish to be caught up in a sack battered that we found. Cheered when it managed to catch some small fish. Refer put it into bottles. He said when he was lucky they usually get a lot of fish like this. These fish and then they burned and they had eaten with boiled rice or sweet corn which they brought from home.

Satisfied playing around, we headed to the pier, close to several people who were cool to fishing. Apparently these young men are the second crew of fishing vessels at the corner. He said they were from Sulawesi and already two months stranded in Labuan Bajo, can not go to sea because of ice plant that is over there was not operating due to lack of funds. So they use these days to repair the ship. Fishing for the side dish is their other daily activities. Easily once they get the fish. Squid bait fish. Fish that didapt pretty big. Like other people who talked with me, they are also amazed with this journey. They even thought I was one of the television crew jalan-jalan/petualangan program is famous for. I just mesem-mesem just heard this comment. Old father was owner and captain joining our chat. He even invited me to come to his home in Bira (Sulawesi).

The day was getting late, I'm worried about both my little buddy, maybe both of their parents searched. So we rushed our little desist exspedisi today. Marched back up the steep hill that can simply this. This time there is no passing otto. Remained cheerful way home with stories about playing Ata racing downhill this bike and it's time one of their friends bike brake relieved until he crashed into a wooden fence on the side of the road. Typical game boys. We parted near the house of Ata because sure enough he had sought his mother had been. We promise to meet again after sunset to eat grilled fish together in a stall tent near the dock.

The Komodo Rinca Both Houses

Early in the morning I and his French tourists I met in otto of Labuan Bajo airport, has been prepared on the pier of Labuan Bajo, pick and choose which we will rent a boat to take us to the island of Rinca. My eyes fixed on the slender boats bearing the Senopati in the stomach. Its size is smaller than other boats. Paint is still smooth and clean, like new boat. Because I'm the only person Indonesia among us, so I'm dealing with the owner of the boat named Seno to negotiate the price. We agree with the prices for the route Rp400rb Lab. Bajo - P. Rinca - P. Angels - L. Bajo.

Sea breeze in the morning was cool in the face. On the left, brown hills bordering the sea of ??Flores. On the right, some of the same hilly islands scattered brown look. The green color is only adorn the bottom of the hills, just dibagiannya the affected water. Fishing village with wooden houses high-poster looks at some of the beach in groups. Suddenly a dolphin leap my surprise that was almost nodding off. A very nice bonus attraction after boating for about 1 hour.

Rinca Island in the dock (Loh Crocodile), has many tourist boats are moored didermaga. Komodo dragons, greeted us with a wary, hiding amongst the mangrove clumps. Conservation around the office hall, dragons, dragons seemed engrossed lazed. Anyone under the office building, under a tree, and that most are under construction under the kitchen, waiting for free food rations,

A guide we are still young (a disciple of Tourism School of Labuan Bajo who was an apprentice), armed with a wooden stick whose tip branching, led us to explore the birthplace of the dragons. At the beginning of exploration, found many large sized dragons, and the parent dragons guard the middle of the nest for her eggs. According to our guide, the parent dragons will make some false holes to fool predators who preyed on the eggs.

In the former area of ??the river that dries it appears some wild buffaloes was busy wallowing in mud pools. Buffalo seemed relaxed when he was in the nest predators. Apparently the buffalo had been memorized by the daily habits of predators. Morning to afternoon as it is now usually dragons have started lounging, avoiding the heat of the sun began to sting. Komodo usually find prey in the morning and afternoon. For the last buffalo were usually beaten some dragons tail until the meat runs out no trace.

On a hilltop island of Rinca, exceptional views towards the sea plastered stunningly beautiful eyes. Small boats seem distant there. Brown hills bordering the beautiful blue sea. Bright blue sky and thin clouds that decorate the entire land umbrella Flores. Not many dragons around here because of the heat of the sun. We did visit a little too late, the dragons are apparently at nap ^ _ ^

Two Things Unexpected in Bajawa

This afternoon, heavy rain suddenly flushed Labuan Bajo, such as welcoming the passengers on the boat from Sape Pelni had just docked at the pier. The passengers rushed seturunnya running for shelter them from the ship. Ende city car majors elves that I was traveling, in the blink of an already full with passengers. At 5 mobilpun depart.

Trans-Flores road snaking become slippery due to rain. Smooth asphalt road, on the left is a cliff overlooking the sea of ??brown and green land distant. My body tired from trekking and snorkeling activities this afternoon immediately fell asleep, woke up at all times to seek for a more comfortable sitting position.

About 10 pm we were almost at the Ruteng. Bone biting cold air. At a bend suddenly our car breaking down. The driver and keneknya effort to repair the damage, it did not bring results. The car still did not want to live. Finally, our passengers will be looked for another car to the drop down to Ruteng. Some cost money refunded, but the amount is not sufficient. I already paid for the purpose Bajawa united with the other passengers that aims to Ende. The car driver instead of looking at business opportunities from this incident and our offer to charter a car up to Ende. I am only going to Bajawa asked to pay half of those who will to Ende. Oh well, what may make, I do not want to stay in Ruteng, Bajawa I want to get up early to save on accommodation costs.

But what can I say, I was up at 2 am Bajawa. Confusion own to find lodgings which are all closed, despite being repeatedly knocked on the door. Amid this confusion, all of a sudden a motorist stopped his bike and there was a question in English addressed to me "Are you just arrived?" He asked. Spontaneously I answered in English anyway "Yes I'm just arrived ..." Then I realized why should speak English? I'm an Indonesian, he also. So then I explained my situation in Bahasa Indonesian. Apparently Mr. Arnold, the name of the motorcyclist, thought I was a tourist from Japan ^ _ ^

Mr. Arnold kindly accompanied me to find lodgings, knock on every door of the inn closed. Mr. Arnold even offered to drive me to visit Bena village the next day.

The air is cold mengigilkan Bajawa city of bones, especially the bathwater. Still wanted to curl up in a thick blanket, but at 7 am I had to be prepared to go to the village of Bena.

The village is situated in the village of Bena Tiworiu, District Aimere, Ngada. Situated right in the middle of the island of Flores, at the foot of Mount Iinire, approximately 13 miles towards the south of the City Bajawa (Ngada capital). The road to get there conditions are good but narrow, passing through the township population of Flores. Some people seem hooded typical sarong Flores thick to withstand the cold. Sometimes we passed coffee plantations Flores, who unfortunately was not fruitful.

During this one-hour trip very enjoyable. Iineire looked even more towering mountain. The peak that looks barren arid. And behind the bend of the hill village of Bena appeared with its traditional houses are unique, a roofed wooden houses on stilts made of weeds, which stood lined up facing each flanking an open area called "kisanatha".

The village was shaped like a boat. It is said that according to the saga story hereditary, that the ancestors of the village of Bena residents came by boat and stranded in this place. Eventually the sea water receded, and the carcass into a stone boat. And above boat wreck area is the village was founded. In the courtyard flanked by rows of traditional houses custom buildings are shaped like an umbrella called "ngadhu" as a symbol of the male and "bagha" in the form of building a miniature house as a symbol of women. And there Megalit stones. According to legend, the stones were taken from Megalit Aimere beach by a resident named special Dhake Bena, former bear the palm of his hand when the stones are still made an impression on the surface of the stone. Ten stone steps as the entrance to the village symbolizes the ten original family clans who inhabit this village when it was founded the first time, about 450 years ago.

Now there are about 45 custom homes, and today is no longer possible to build new homes in this area. Until forced new homes should be built outside the area in order to maintain the authenticity of Kampong Bena. Some women Bena appear on the front porch, trying to peddle homemade ikat to tourists. The woven fabric was thick and heavy, the average base color black patterned traditional Bena. I also had time to help bridge the communication two French tourists who tried to bargain the price of woven fabric. I myself bought a piece of woven cloth gloves as a souvenir for my mother. There also are peddling dry vanilla also picked from the garden itself. The main livelihood of villagers Bena is indeed farming, such as vanilla and coffee commodity.

Bena residents are very earthy and very friendly. With their distinctive accent told me about his village, about a satellite dish antenna installed in the home missionary who was behind the village, about how difficult climb to the top of the towering Mount Iineire it in order to attend Mass, about their vanilla plants destroyed by pests, and about the party of the customary annual cost of routine held every late December to early January. Her children looked embarrassed when he received the "snack town" which I handed to them and I feel very guilty for having made one child cry not get L



Enjoying Coffee Flores

Mountain National Park in Ende, Flores is the next destination. Moni village at the foot of Mount Flores became the starting point of a trip to the lake three distinctive colors that have invited the curiosity of researchers.

At dawn I was getting ready to ride motorcycles Kelimutu with the booked last night, the tariff Rp.70.000 pp. Some foreign tourists also seemed to be getting ready to go by car charter. The cold mountain air to penetrate the layer jacket that I wear. Nose and my cheeks frozen. The road snaking up the mountain belt. The stars in the sky was a beautiful sunny morning without clouds. From the heights seemed twinkling lights in the village of Moni and Village Kanohara.

Motorcycles must be extra careful when crossing one of the rivers flooded roads. Postal Area Tourism levy Kelimutu seems still closed, officers rushed to unlock the post and charged levy of Rp.11.000.

With the company of a hot drink vendor (coffee and tea) I started trekking trip at dawn, along the path made of concrete walls. Along the way I chatted with Mr. Coffee Vendor, Mr. Ahmad name. His friend Mr. Ahmad, a fellow peddler coffee also turned out to be one of the main traditional elders in the village of Konohara. He berserita about a poor village, also on the administration of ritual ceremonies to be held sometime in mid October. The determination date is not easy, having to go through a procession.

When asked about the typical food in his village, he said sheepishly boiled sweet potatoes and corn on the cob as their daily food. In addition to selling warm drinks, he also sells distinctive ikat Ende s type is different from ikat in Kampung Bena. With a heavy heart I refuse to buy cloth tenunnya, the reason is of course because of dwindling budget that L

About 20 minutes later we reached the first lake is light green. The smell of sulfur does not seem so oppressive, unlike in the crater of volcanoes that exist on the island of Java. The security fence encircling the lip of the crater lake to maintain the safety of the visitors. Here also there is a stretch of plantations tehh. We continued the journey up the concrete stairs to the viewing post.



The view from the viewing post is very liberal. Can see the three lakes that color when it is light green, dark green and black. A vast expanse of tea plantations and hills faintly visible in the distance. The sun is just rising menyemburatkan golden ivory. Weather is very sunny morning, there was no fog that blocks the view. At certain moments, the fog could wrap up the meeting area is this beautiful scenery can not be enjoyed to perfection.

Visitors who are mostly foreign tourists coming increasingly crowded. I was the only domestic tourists at that time. Then there are local guides who come from Bali and from Maumere, who accompany foreign tourists. They were so amazed to me, a woman Sunda were traveling alone in the Flores mainland is J

Adventures roam the mainland of Flores had to be resolved, for now. Will go on again the other day, to read another chapter of the archipelago.

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