Hunting Komodo by Camera

This was the name of the Perama tour I went on for 5 days (tour 1 is 3 days west to east and 2 is 2 days east to west). So the main purpose of the trip was to take photos of Komodo Dragons, but it was so much more than that. Highly recommended, despite the relatively high cost for Indonesian standards, and being sick the second half of the trip.

Sat 22 August

Drove through Lombok and saw how pottery was made, and a boat being built the same type we were going on.
Onto the boat, lunch on board and in the afternoon we arrived at Perama Resort, a small island where we snorkelled, some played beach volleyball and sunbathed.
In the evening dinner on the island, and the crew playing guitar and singing and showing people a dance.

Back onto the boat at 9pm and as it continued through the night we slept, or tried to sleep.
I paid extra for cabin, as deck was full, but that did mean I got a mattress, and some drinks and snacks every day. Unfortunately the first night my cabin was very smokey(from the engine) but was much better the other nights. Still hard to sleep though, boat moves a bit, engine is loud, vibrates and makes the floor hot. Still, I had it better than deck most nights I’m sure.

Sun 23 August

Arrived at Satonda Island (above Sumbawa) where we hiked up a hill for a view and swam in the large saltwater lake.

Then to Kilo Beach on Sumbawa for snorkeling and a beautiful sunset, then back on the boat to arrive at Komodo Island in the morning.

Mon 24 August

Woke up in time for the sunset, which as told was spectacular and seeing all the small islands around Komodo at sunrise was beautiful. This is a very dry part of Indonesia, looks much more like Australia.
At Komodo Island a ranger took us for a 4km walk to spot the dragons and other wildlife.

We saw a few deer, birds, a wild pig, a spider, and oh! there goes a small komodo dragon over the path. I saw a flash of it but most didn’t. The ranger started chasing it so we all followed him through the bush for 10 minutes but we lost it. It’s mating season, and apparently they don’t show themselves much at this time of year…
There was a good chance there’d be some at the restaurant though. They say they don’t feed them but they come to the food smell. I don’t believe them…but oh well. Shark Bay is a World Heritage Site too, and they feed the dolphins there too, though it’s controlled.

And yes, there they were at the restaurant. Three lazing in the shade, and one large one and a smaller on walking around near the bush. Remind me a lot of crocodiles. Apparently they can move fast like them too (18km/h). Big difference is that komodo dragons have lots of bacteria in there mouths which is deadly. Apparently it takes a week for a large victim (like a buffalo) to die from a wound.

Saw a turtle when leaving Komodo Island:

Continue to Red Beach. The sand is pinkish, because it has bits of red coral in between the sand. Snorkelled again here.

Started getting a headache that wouldn’t go away this afternoon, thought it was dehydration from the walk on Komodo Island, but see other post, was getting very sick!
Arrive in Labuan Bajo, Flores. Only have about 3 hours here, and the town is just another town so I spent about 1.5hours in an internet cafe. Bye Flores! I’ll be back one day to visit properly!
Dinner and farewell party on board for those that are leaving in Flores. And oh, all these new people invading *our* boat, hehe. Even a whole German family. They were worried it would be a loud karaoke party every night till midnight, but I told them most nights lots of people crashed around 9pm and I was usually up the latest, 10.30!

Slept while boat docked in the harbour but was a very, very bad night for me(see other post)

Tues 25 August
Visited Rinca Island to see more Komodo Dragons but I stayed near the office and cafe and did see some there luckily. Too weak to walk further.

Back on the boat I slept the whole day and missed Gili Laba, though I could hear fellow passengers jumping off the boat into the water

Wed 26 August
Arrived at Moyo Island and found out the other sick people were going to see the nurse there in the small village. Missed the waterfall, it was a 30 minute walk and I was feeling a bit better but thought that’d be too much.
Keramat Island – felt well enough to go to the island, thought I could read in the shade, unfortunately I couldn’t find any shade. Did have a pleasant 15 minute walk around the island though.

Arrive back in Lombok and somehow start feeling more nauseous again, and the bustrip back to the west coast.
Through luck and my new friend Marta I have a good (and cheap!) room at Hotel Elen in Senggigi, but have a very, very bad night again.

Thurs 27 August
Dragged myself to the medical clinic at Senggigi Beach Hotel because I feared I’d end up on an IV drip if I didn’t stop vomiting *everything* including water.
Took medication, slept most of the day, felt a lot better in the afternoon, called home, check email, slept more.

p.s. Komodo Dragons are very cool, but do smell a lot, ha!