…AND MANTAS AND TURTLES TOO!
Komodo National Park. Located in the region of East Nusa Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara Barat), it is home to the legendary Komodo Dragons. Ever since I was young, I have been obsessed with learning more about our natural environment and when David Attenborough introduced me to these incredible animals so many years ago…I just had to see them. Moreover, the first thing I did when I learnt I would be spending a year in Indonesia was organise a dive course as I had heard the area had some spectacular dive sites (instead of learning the language…or anything else about Indonesia).
It was certainly not in vain.
This week was a week living up to any dream- whether born from childish or adult ambitions.
From sunsets that make you revisit your understanding of the colours yellow, pink and orange to fish whose form will leave you bewildered- the boundless blue of the sea separating these two worlds promise peace and tranquility for the adventurer.
Day 1
Labuan Bajo- coastal city of Flores. My first full dive was with the diving company Dive Komodo. Being a beginner, I was happy to find a company that was going to the more sheltered dive spots where the currents wouldn’t be a huge issue.
Going underwater exceeded all my expectations. If I never go diving again it was worth it to be able to dive in one of the most beautiful places on earth. On the first dive alone, I saw over 10 sea turtles…a few more that 2 or 3 metres long (but they can get much larger!). The variety of fish was overwhelming…and nudibranchs such an incredible scene! What really drew my breath away (a dangerous metaphor underwater) were the sights of mantas gracefully careering over our heads. I had never seen them before, and to see them so close was incredible!
UNDERWATER
This pretty much sums up my thoughts…
CREEPY CRITTERS OF THE DEEP
With thanks to our dive guide, Rian, here are some photos from our dives!
LIVEABOARD
My next adventure was a 3 day 2 night on a liveaboard cruise- 3 days of cruising the national park, snorkelling and swimming! I slept under the stars on the deck, swam with (more) turtles, sharks and manta rays and slept on a private(ish) pirate(ish) island.
So maybe I had the time of my life?
PADAR ISLAND
A highlight for picturesque photos. We arrived towards evening and once landing on the island we started climbing higher…
And higher…
Until…
Can you see all three coloured beaches? Black, white and pink?
SUNSET
SUNRISE
I RECOMMEND A DECENT UNDERWATER CAMERA
These are from my own small waterproof camera while snorkelling. They didn’t turn out well but there is no way they could fully show just how colourful the reefs of the National Park are. It is one of the best diving and snorkelling areas in the world, and only when seeing it for yourself can you see why!
KOMODO ISLAND
After waking up in the shadow of Padar Island, we cruised over to Komodo Island, where there be dragons. They may not breathe fire or have wings, and we may not be beyond the edge of the map but it was awesome to see these creature up close and in person.
We went in the morning- the best time to see them and barely 10 minutes on the island we saw a tiny (what many would still consider a large lizard…) baby dragon enjoying a stroll on the beach and another near the entry office.
It simply isn’t an adventure worth telling if there aren’t any dragons.
Assorted photos of prey.
BUT ROADS GO EVER ON
In this case it was a boat and it took us around the corner to Pink Beach, so named because crushed up coral give the sand a pink hue.
PENYU
Turtle!
TAKA MAKASSAR
Mini Maldives- a sandbar where we could swim. Tropical ocean water and only blue skies in sight…it is a place where only you and the colour blue exist.
PULAU SEBAYUR BESAR
I stayed here two nights- one with the tour and one alone. Having yourself completely secluded without internet brings so much peace, even after the experience has ended.
MANTA RAYS
Some shots of the manta rays we saw while snorkelling! Graceful giants, these pictures do no justice. The final day was the manta cleaning station, where we saw 5 at once! While these are much smaller than their oceanic counterparts, I was still impressed.
SUNSET OVER PIRATE CAMP…
STORMY SEAS AHEAD
The way back to Labuan Bajo after 4 glorious days…
PRIVATE PARADISE ISLAND 2
I had to take every opportunity I could take to relax on an amazing beach…for my own sake.
The final day before heading back to Jakarta and reality was another day spent lounging in the sun, enjoying rum cocktails, snorkelling, and just generally living out every instagram fantasy ever.
#ME
FINAL (AND FAVOURITE) SUNSET
Time to say goodbye to Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park! This was the view from the hostel I stayed in on the final night (when I also visited the single club in the city- Paradise. Where there are backpackers there be Bintang).
This was the most relaxing and enjoyable week of my life. I had been having trouble with the stress of living abroad and feeling overwhelmed. Being here forced me to relax and breathe (an action assisted by the fact I could actually breathe the air without it polluting my lungs).
This is an underrated paradise which threatens to turn towards overstretched if not managed correctly. Being here puts new heart into striving to make sure that we have such natural beauty now and in the future. Knowing that it exists is enough for now, but knowing that I may be able to visit again one day would mean the world.
roads go ever on 