So when I last wrote to you I'd only been to one Indonesian island (Java - for those of you who weren't paying attention - the most populous island in the world, fact fans - if we're gonna geek about about populous island facts [and we are] Indonesia has ten in the Top 40; well I found that impressive anyway) and now I have (technically) been to five. In order of populousness here are the other four:
Padar
Gee whizz this island is pretty with its peaks and its three different coloured beaches and that photo that everybody takes. What noone seems to mention is that as you go behind it the sea goes nuts. I think it's where two currents meet: it's hard to explain, you'll have to go and see for yourself.
Gee whizz this island is pretty with its peaks and its three different coloured beaches and that photo that everybody takes. What noone seems to mention is that as you go behind it the sea goes nuts. I think it's where two currents meet: it's hard to explain, you'll have to go and see for yourself.
Komodo
With the benefit of hindsight my expectations for Komodo were ridiculous. I thought it would be a bit like looking for land iguanas in the Galapagos, where big lizards were out doing their lizard thing. It wasn't. Turns out komodo dragons don't like the sun so they spend their days in as shady a place as they can find, ie. where you can't see them.
With the benefit of hindsight my expectations for Komodo were ridiculous. I thought it would be a bit like looking for land iguanas in the Galapagos, where big lizards were out doing their lizard thing. It wasn't. Turns out komodo dragons don't like the sun so they spend their days in as shady a place as they can find, ie. where you can't see them.
Nearly all of the dragons we saw were semi-tame, living under the rangers houses which didn't seem all that natural, especially when the rangers started poking them for the tourist selfie. I've not been to Colchester Zoo recently but I suspect that you'll get a better komodo dragon experience there.
I managed to get my big Komodo animal kicks by swimming with manta rays and that was cool as. They are very big. And kinda floppy.
Flores
To say I've seen Flores is a bit like going to Pogradec and saying you've seen Albania (that was a self-indulgent reference even for me). I've been staying in Labuan Bajo for the last few days, a fishing village-cum-tourist centre on the western nose of the island. I've seen virtually nothing of one of the prettiest islands in the world. Which might just become a feature of this list...
To say I've seen Flores is a bit like going to Pogradec and saying you've seen Albania (that was a self-indulgent reference even for me). I've been staying in Labuan Bajo for the last few days, a fishing village-cum-tourist centre on the western nose of the island. I've seen virtually nothing of one of the prettiest islands in the world. Which might just become a feature of this list...
Bali
And this is even more tenuous. I changed planes in Bali. Didn't leave the airport. Having barely seen any westerners for the first week being in Bali airport was a bit of a reality jolt. We were due to go back to Bali but this volcano thing still hasn't made up its mind...
And this is even more tenuous. I changed planes in Bali. Didn't leave the airport. Having barely seen any westerners for the first week being in Bali airport was a bit of a reality jolt. We were due to go back to Bali but this volcano thing still hasn't made up its mind...
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