Dragons and Flying Foxes
Trip Start
Aug 01, 2010
1
62
92
Trip End
Apr 30, 2011
Bali, Indonesia
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Kuta is a party town full of pizza, beer and young people from all over the world - many of them Australian as it was Australia Day. Me, I spent most of the time at the pool.
As we were staying for 4 nights, 14 of us had opted to take a side trip to the Komodo Island to visit the dragons. The trip include a return flight, visit to the National Park, snorkeling and a night on the boat.
The flight took us over the South Seas dotted with volcanic islands.After arrival at the airport a quick transfer by bus to the harbour on West Flores to a small boat which was to transport us to the Komodo Islands. After a stop to buy beer we put out to sea. The accommodation was in couchette type bucks - I opted for the top bunk as it was pretty short.
The Komodo Islands are all National Park and very well organised, after a short boat trip we arrived at the park where we were taken by a ranger on a 2 hour, very hot, hike through the island. We saw dragons almost immediately as we arrived because they have a set of (lazily) dragons which hang about the rangers kitchen looking for easy food. It was a good picture opportunity.
We saw 12 dragons in all on the walk as well as water buffalo.
We retired to the boat for lunch - great sea food. Once recovered from the hot hike and lunch we anchored in a cluster of islands for snorkling and a bit of South Sea Isalnd beachcombing - oh what a life!
The suprise of the day came at sunset - the seemingly deserted mangrove infested island suddenly came alive with streams of fruit bats heading away from the roost site looking for supper. There were thousands of them - amazing!
They gave a great show while the sun went down in the sea wonderfully atmospheric pictures - hard to do it justice.
Another great seafood banquet for supper and a few beers on the roof of the boat rounded off one of the best days on the trip and that is certainly saying something...
It was extremely hot a stuffy in the bunks so I got up at about 4 - and went and sat on the roof - where I managed to locate the Southern Cross for the first time. After doozing for a bit - I was able to watch the bats come back home as the sun came up - they left enmasse but they staggled home like any bunch of late night party goers.
(This entry has just been finished - a bit late I know!)
Comments
Hi Alison, I have been following your blog pretty steadily. I am green with envy for for your fantastic trip. You look so well and thin!!!! altho' i'm sure it's not all plain sailing. As you will understand it has not been great these last few months but Betty was so pleased to get your note! I look forward to the Oz experience. Fondest greetings Anne and Skip xxxxxxxxxxx
Is that a dragon in front of the sign at Komodo? X