Labuanbajo for one night only we had arranged from Australia for a driver to pick us up next morning and commence the Flores overland trip. We were about to become one of the 'Trans Flores Set'. What a joy it was, Flores exceeded all our expectations.
We watched the sunset from the hillside in Labuanbajo and also gazed on our boat docked with her sister boat down in the harbour, it felt odd leaving the boat as one becomes kind of bonded with passengers etc.
 |
| Labuanbajo- 2 Perama boats docked at end of jetty |
 |
| Another sunset-Labuanbajo |
Next town was Ruteng, where we found accommodation at the Kongregasi Santa Maria Convent. So clean and quiet. We felt a bit naughty drinking the duty free rum with coke from plastic water bottles in the room while we could here the singing and prayers from the chapel which was about 5 metres from our room. One night was enough here. This town was a great place clean & busy. At one time we saw a beautiful ginger horse race through town with it's bare back rider. Only set back here was hearing that our Merpati flight from Maumere to Denpassar had been cancelled. Being busy season and towards the end of Ramandan it was not possible to get a flight on the same route for three weeks. After much assistance from local PT Cakrawaka Tour & Travel we got tickets flying via Makassar then onto Denpassar. The cave of Liang Bua (hobbit cave) was interesting and well worth the visit this archaeologic site. The road out to Liang Bua was all pretty forrest and villages.
 |
| Never ending magnificent scenery and winding road |
The drive to Bajawa was 6hrs of endless gorgeous valleys and mountain roads. On the way to Bajawa we bought a small bottle of Arak from a roadside distillery. Unfortunately we never did get to drink any as Paul accidentally boiled it up (thinking it was water) for our early morning for coffee. Down the drain with that, it left the bathroom smelling a bit.
 |
| Arak distillery |
 |
| Arak distillery Ruteng-Bajawa |
Two nights in beautiful Bajawa. Bajawa's temperature is cool and crisp in the evenings & mornings. Nice food here & views of the Gunung Inerie from every street. We were captivated with the personable village head at Bela village who made us so welcome and had a joke or two to tell. Judging from the visitor's book not many tourists come to this village. We bought some pens and exercise books at the next market we came across for our driver to drop off next time he passes through Bela for the school children here.
 |
| Bela village |
 |
Bela we could have hung around here for ages
|
Another use for the immersion boiler was to take cold off the water for a quick wash in the morning...following the boiling of Arak.....
Next on the road to Moni 7 hrs and lots to see on the way.
