No LOD mission is complete without a ride on a turboprop aeroplane. Monday finally arrived when we got out of Bali to head over to Labuan Bajo on Flores. From Flores, it would be a simple 4 hour boatride to get to Rinca and Komodo... Land of the Dragons.
As we were on an afternoon flight, we would only get on the Tuesday morning boat, so we had to spend a night in Labuan Bajo. The town is literally a one street town. And they've 'improved' it by making the street one-way. So if for example, one wanted to drive to the docks from the hotel, one would need to take a 20min circuitous road around the town to get there. Though the docks are only a 5min walk, albeit in the wrong direction.
We were put up in the 'best' hotel in town. The hotel where all the civil servants and businessmen stayed. It was nothing more than a rudimentary room with a bucket of water for a shower and a small occilating fan for ventilation. I did think that compared to the other 'hotels' around town, this would have been my choice either way. It was the only 'hotel' that was in a gated compound with full time security. The gates were even closed and locked at night. And the room only cost 175k rupiah (strangely, if one wanted air-conditioning, the room cost DOUBLE)
Once we settled in, our fixer brought us to 'Paradise' Restaurant. The restaurant is famous for one thing. It has the best view in town of the sunset over the Flores sea. It was a spectacular sunset.
Time for bed... Off to dragonland in the morning.
As we were on an afternoon flight, we would only get on the Tuesday morning boat, so we had to spend a night in Labuan Bajo. The town is literally a one street town. And they've 'improved' it by making the street one-way. So if for example, one wanted to drive to the docks from the hotel, one would need to take a 20min circuitous road around the town to get there. Though the docks are only a 5min walk, albeit in the wrong direction.
We were put up in the 'best' hotel in town. The hotel where all the civil servants and businessmen stayed. It was nothing more than a rudimentary room with a bucket of water for a shower and a small occilating fan for ventilation. I did think that compared to the other 'hotels' around town, this would have been my choice either way. It was the only 'hotel' that was in a gated compound with full time security. The gates were even closed and locked at night. And the room only cost 175k rupiah (strangely, if one wanted air-conditioning, the room cost DOUBLE)
Once we settled in, our fixer brought us to 'Paradise' Restaurant. The restaurant is famous for one thing. It has the best view in town of the sunset over the Flores sea. It was a spectacular sunset.
Time for bed... Off to dragonland in the morning.
Dragon Airport
Nothing says LOD mission more than a turboprop plane.
Rickey with our fixer heading to get the final details confirmed.
There was a GAP.
Labuan Bajo Town
A sure sign that the tourist industry is picking up... Pizza, cooked in a wood fired oven...
Nothing like pretentious food to show that one has arrived.
Obviously I was more interested in the catch of the day.
Supposedly, most of Flores is Catholic. I couldn't find a church though... We need Ripken to sniff that out.
I saw the lady frying this and I just had to have some. It was delicious. Freshly fried banana fritters.
This guy was making little chicken balls fried with egg, Tako style. He had a loyal following of ALL the kids in town. He was literally being swarmed by little kids who would buy 2 sticks, dip them in those containers of chilli and eat it hot.
Case in point...
Paradise Bar and Restaurant.
The view of the harbour from 'Paradise'
Fisherman on his way home.
I honestly could not decide which picture was the best... So I posted 4 of my favourites
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