Alcedo's Web Diary - Blog 56. 8 September. Komodo Dragons et al. 08.39.13S 119.42.79.E

Blog 56. 8 September. Komodo Dragons et al. 08.39.13S 119.42.79.E

Alcedo

David Batten

Wed 11 Sep 2019 01:32

A day spent exploring caves and taking the dinghy to the sand spit north of the Island. Too shallow to get to, but we passed a tiny island with at least 12 herons flying around it, lovely sight but sadly no camera to record it. Then coffee on Vaa Nui and a few boat jobs, including cleaning the underwater hull, which has joined the Indonesian custom of wearing a long, in this case green, ‘skirt’ around the water line and a garden of underwater life everywhere else. We are not the only boat with this problem, as there were a lot of jokes about needing a lawn mower amongst the anchored assembly. At least the local fish were super happy while we worked, a huge shoal of reef fish, possibly chromis, gathering round us and gobbling up the bits of coral worm that were released by the scrubbing. After gathering on the beach for barbecue and/or sundowners again, another fabulous sunset, but no green flags.

Sunset off the beach at Pulau Bahuluang

Then after breakfast start and an overnight sail. Another exciting watch for the Skipper’s wife, with a miraculous appearance of random lights on take over from the Ship’s Boy at 2.00am, one of which turned out to be an lighthouse, not on any charts. The rest melted into insignificance on the appearance of a fleet of fishing boats on our route with flashing lights. A detour towards the light house flasher and eventual dawn, with the islands between Flores and Sumbawa a welcome site in the early morning light.

Our first view of the islands in the Komodo National Park, with local boat at anchor

We decided to make the Komodo Dragon tour on Rinca our priority, so we anchored behind Cheetah, not seen since Debut, with Sky Blue Eyes, Flying Colours (not seen at all as late comer to the Rally), and La Pecadora, all on shore for a tour. We did ours at 06.30 next morning, best time and saw dragons, buffalo, deer and masses of monkeys. Also lots of beautiful honey eaters like the Australian Sun Bird, but no time for bird watching and you don’t want to hang around when the dragons are hungry first thing in the morning!

The pier off Rinca Island, Loh Buaya and access to the Ranger’s Office

The Komodo that lived by the Ranger’s stationw, definitely happy with tourist left overs

Young Komodo follow a group of monkeys with tongue tasting the air. Apparently they spend most of their time in the trees for the first 3 or 4 years as the adults, including their mother, are inclined to treat them as prey

One of the monkeys, definitely paying attention to where the Komodo dragon was heading

The buffaloes looked well in spite of the dry conditions

View from the highest point of the walk with the Ranger’s station on the right and the anchorage with Alcedo showing in the middle

Then on to Labuan Bajo for a market shop and dinner in the Puri Sari, the posh hotel we anchored off, where we enjoyed a noisy party with Polly and Ross (Vaa Nui), Sharon and Nick from Cheetah, not seen since Debut and John from Hecla, also not seen since Banda, Colin and Izzy from Endorphin and Paul and Andree from Tululah Ruby.

Tomorrow we plan to find a good snorkelling spot as it is supposed to be outstanding in the national park area.

Alcedo

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