[TRAVEL REVIEW] KOMODO SAILING TRIP #2 THE BEST PART!!

After a loooong hour on the boat (thank's God I had super great sleep), we arrived at Komodo Archipelago yay! Our first destination of course, Gili Laba, one of the beautiful island with super beautiful hills which we can see the beaufitul Komodo archipelago from its peak. To reach the top, we should climb the hills for about 30 minutes (without stop). The track was easier than the one at Gili Kambing since there's such a natural stairs which I assumed made by someone's who's been here before.

NOW LET'S DO.....PHOTO TOURING!! 

Here's the drooling photos of Gili Laba and Komodo archipelago. Heaven! 

Group photoooos!

After Gili Laba, we proceeded to Pink Beach! This beach has become the world’s most-talked beach since the sand is red (some said it’s pink). Actually, the sand colour is red made from the coral rubble a long history ago, but it is appear pink when the sun is shining brighter. The perfect time to enjoy the pink beach is actually in the afternoon til the sun is set since the red sand will release its best colour. Even though we came when the sun was right above our head, it still gave us the perfect view ever! And of course this time my skin was getting soooooo tanning! *sorry Agnez Mo, I have more natural tan than you hahaha

In this Pink Beach we also did snorkeling, and you know the underwater beauty around the beach is PARADISE!. Many colourful corals and fishes surrounded me. I even found purple corals which I never seen in other islands before! Now I know why many people said that Komodo National Park biodiversity is the second best after Raja Ampat. You even do not need to dive to see such beautiful corals. Super heaven! And oh yeah, Komodo underwater is also well-known for its swift current, so you must be careful when snorkeling or diving under the current. The current was also made us had diffuclties in taking underwater photo huhuhu....

The red sand! 

Gosh! Look at my tan skin hahaha!

The most awaited moments in this trip (amongst those mad beautiful beaches) is to see the komodo a.k.a the Dragons in their original habitat. Before I told you little story about the Dragons, let me show you the one and only most horrible creatures yet the biggest lizard in the world from our beloved country *drum roll, THE DRAGONS!  

The dragons in Loh Liang Walking Trails

  The dragons in Loh Buaya Walking Trails

The dragons’ habitat in Indonesia spread in several islands in Nusa Tenggara, mostly in Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Dasami and Gili Motang. As the most near-extinction animals, the government built the Komodo National Park (KNP) to preserve them located in two places, Loh Liang and Loh Buaya (Rinca Island). The population of dragons in Loh Liang and Loh Buaya is increasing every year and now there are about ±2,500 dragons in each island. The dragons’ ability to see in daylight is up to 300 m, but they can not see in the dark. They also has a sense of smell that can smell blood or carcass up to 9.5 km. The dragons won’t directly attack their quarry, they trick is to make the quarry closer to them and they immediately attack them, biting with their poisonous saliva. That’s why people claimed them as one of the most dangerous predator alive and that also made us should keep the distance when captured them. 

To see the dragons both in Loh Buaya and Loh Liang we should take a walking trail. There are 4 kind of walking trails, i.e. short trek, medium trek, long trek and adventure trek. Each trek have its estimated walking time around 1 hour to 1 day walking. The walking tour will be companied by the Ranger, the KNP's staff who are good in dealing with the dragons. 

The another best things when you visit Loh Buaya walking trails, you can see (and of course take a photo) the beautiful hills and savanna surrounded the Komodo National Park. It is again savanna of Africa look alike!

A luxury boat in front of Loh Buaya's dock

View inside the Loh Buaya walking trails

 In front of Komodo National Park board at Loh Liang walking trails

my levitation style hahaha

Below pictures was taken when we visited Komodo village about 2KM from Loh Liang. Here we did the charity for the children. We gave books and toys for them. Surprisingly, they were very enthusiast in welcoming outsider like us eventhough the condition of the school is so terrible. I should be lucky with my life now. Can't imagine that the children should live in remote areas without having access to buy new books or toys.

  typical Komodo village's traditional house  

Our sailing trip finally ended in Bidadari Island, a small island near Labuan Bajo, about 3 hours sailing from Loh Buaya. We did snorkeling here and of course taking lot and lots of photos!

Phiuuuh this is the very first long post I’ve ever made. Wait…wait…it’s not even finished yet…I gotta tell you the last thing I found when we spend our last night before heading to Jakarta. We spent our night at Labuan Bajo, a small town located in the western end of Flores, East Nusa Tenggara and the launching point for trips to Komodo or Rinca Island. Here we spent our early evening at a resto & bar named Paradise Bar. There’s nothing special with the food here, but when the sun is going to set, you will find this place is soooo special. In their seafront outdoor area, you can directly see the breathtaking sunset view with the Labuan Bajo harbour beautify the background. Oh God, thanks to brought me to this little heaven. I really don’t wanna go hooooomee *wipingtears

That’s my entire journey during the Komodo Sailing Trip. Never had such memorable trip before with beautiful islands and beaches, super mad and friendly new friends, fantastic stargazing time during our boat stay a night in Komodo Island, and of course finally I have a courage to say to other people that INDONESIA IS DAMN BEAUTIFUL! Do not compare it with Maldives or other countries until you see it with your own eyes. So, pack your bag and travel Indonesia!  

Notes :

·      This trip arranged by @IdTraveler led by Kang Indra Patriasandi for 5D4N, usually start at Thursday night with thee meeting point in Sengggi Lombok and end on Tuesday morning in Bali

·      The cost including charge for boat rent, picking car from Senggigi to Labuan Lombok; hostel in Senggigi (meeting point) and Labuan Bajo (ending point); meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) during the trip; free T-shirt; snorkelling gears; ticket to Komodo National Park; airplane ticket from Labuan Bajo to Bali; local guide

·      Not including airplane ticket from your city to the meeting point in Lombok and from Bali to your city and snacks during sailing.

·      For me, the costs are cheaper than any other travel services since it is started from Lombok and we visited more islands than the others did.

·      Contact Kang Indra at +628112230124

Tips:

·      This is of course a backpacking trip. So, prepare yourself to live 5 days in a boat. Do not expect luxurious services unless you pay more than IDR7 million only for the boat like the ‘bules’ did

·      The boat is very proper for backpackers. There are mattress, pillow and blanket. Bring your jacket since the wind during the night is very freezing

·   Bring as many snacks as possible. Sometimes the trip leader asks us to share snacks, it costs around IDR100,000 per person for 5 nights (we buy the snacks before heading the boat). Very worthy since you must be thirsty and hungry after snorkelling and hiking

·    Bring sunblock and after sunblock. The sun is shining soooo brighter and will burn your skin! Trust me I never got burned but now I did!

·     Bring Ipod, Mp3 or whatsoever, the sound of boat machine will accompany you during your sleep hehehe

·      Bring your own snorkel gears including fins since the gears on the boat is not good in quality

·    During walking trail in Komodo Island, please stay in group and stay quiet, the dragons might suddenly chased you if you do sudden movement near them

·    Menstruating woman should stay near the Rangers since the dragons can smell the blood as far as 9-12 miles.

·      Last but not least bring your fabulous bikinis baby!