A stellar boat trip through this UNESCO heritage listed Komodo National Park is an experience none of us will forget in a hurry.
These are a few snippets of our life at sea…
…
We fought hard to secure a private charter, sacrificing the space and comfort of a larger boat, for the priceless luxury of dictating the where, how and what of our trip. I’m sure I speak for all 6 of us when I say it was a brilliant compromise. We loved our little boat, we had a ball together and we lucked out with a brilliant father + son team who seemed to know just what we needed at the right time. The nature of the Komodo National Park is resplendent, in parts. As long as we were away from the crowds and the rubbish-strewn beaches of the most popular islands, we loved this archipelago.
Far too many people and not enough conservation work being done. On one overnight anchor spot, we were even approached by a guy paddling on a kayak selling pearl necklaces and souvenirs. It totally cracked us up! Yet luckily, the national park covers an area (both land and water) of 1,800 square kilometres. Finding a corner of heaven, a ridiculously beautiful uninhabited island, and peace and quiet, is superbly easy.
The worst part of the trip was watching what is supposed to be a majestic dragon, the largest lizard on our planet, trying to crawl over an abundance of rubbish on the beach of Komodo Island. The best? Everything else. The fun, the snorkelling, the coral reefs, the hikes, the myriad of colourful fish, the sun and even the rain. The beauty, out here, is staggering…as is man’s encroachment on nature. The ying and yang of our planet, all here in one unforgettable place.
What made this trip all the more special, above all else, was that it was shared with good friends. Thank you to Jonas, Ellen, Arjen, Liliya and especially Chris, my love, for making this a most memorable birthday.
xxx
Settling in aboard the Amalia
Liliya and I swiftly found our favourite cruising spot
Docking on Rinca Island
The mighty Komodo Dragon!
Rinca Island is home to about 2,900, but spotting them in the wild at this time of year (mating season) is very difficult. But there are always a couple who hang around the ranger station, no doubt fed to keep them from disappearing in the bushes
Cloudy morning…perfect for a hike
The views from the peak of Rinca are gorgeous
Chris loving his dragon!
Back on our boat, everyone finds their fave spot
On board entertainment…balancing on one foot in rough seas
Ellen & Jonas…probably contemplating how to turn their Land Rover ‘Foxy’ into an amphibious vehicle!
Arjen and Liliya chillaxing
A shipwright by trade, my Chris is as at home on a boat as he is on 2 wheels…or 4
Our floating laundry
Playing rock, paper, scissors for the last piece of fried banana. It became a recurring theme (both the bananas and the game) :)))
Gorgeous sunset alongside mangroves chock-full of flying foxes
The Komodo Dragon chase continues
My picture-perfect beach dragon on Komodo Island
The brutal reality of the beach on Komodo Island. Littered with plastic.
Still, an incredible creature to encounter
That’ll be our dinner!
Back on the sea…my favourite part
After a difficult snorkel on Manta Point, we spot this idyllic little paradise. So off we went…
Sunset spotting
What, no political angle? You’re going soft!
Great photos and story, Laura. Enjoy!
Hey Steve!! Trust you to notice :)))
I’ll have about 6 months worth of rambles to share…just as soon as I actually exit the country, as I have been so wisely advised to do.
Speaking of which…
“This message will self-destruct in 10, 9, 8, 7….”
Thanks mate. We’ll be catching you soon!