KOMODO (ISLAND), INDONESIA—IMPRESSIONS

∙ WHAT WE DID/SAW/EXPERIENCED
∙ Time in port: 6 hours
          ∙ This morning began with a cruise through the beautiful local Indonesian islands, followed by an unpleasant encounter which reminded me how grateful I am for my friends at home.  I got my hair French-braided (the spa can cure any unpleasantness) and headed out for our day on the island!  (Violetta even put fresh flowers in my hair – too cute!)
          ∙ The ship anchored in Slawi Bay, and anyone who wanted to get off the ship had to purchase a Holland America shore excursion.  The Komodo dragons are dangerous, and the groups had to be carefully coordinated and escorted by guides and park rangers.  There was to be no “wandering about” at this particular location.
          ∙ The “tender” boat dropped us at a small pier, where we met our tour guide and park ranger (one led, and the other “brought up the rear”, so to speak).  As I neared the dock, I realized that I had forgotten my camera and would have to go back, until a very nice couple offered to let us use their extra one.  I returned it later, with a a bottle of wine . . . a small token for restoring my faith in people!)  It is these “moments”, like the guy who let me ride in the truck at Easter Island, the couple who gave us a lift from the Moorea pier and then showed us around the island, and the hotel clerk in New Zealand who called 24 hotels, trying to find us a room for the night, that have kept me going on this trip . . . in spite of everything else.
          ∙ Once offshore, we were escorted on foot for a short walking tour of Komodo National Park, in search of the "Komodo dragon".  We did, indeed, encounter a few of the ominous-looking creatures, one of whom reacted to me bending down for a photo by moving deliberately in my direction.  The guide “butted” it with a stick, and we were all told to stand behind him – we gladly complied!  It was God-awful humid, but since my hair was in a French braid, I did just fine.  I saw many shipmates sweating like never before.  The ground was a bit muddy from some recent rains, and the island had a general swampy feel to it – but it was oh so green and gorgeous.
 
∙ THOUGHTS/IMPRESSIONS
          ∙ It was quite a thrill to encounter the monitor lizards, as they moved about their tropical home!
          ∙ My only regret was that we didn’t get to stay longer!  The park offers a medium and a long hike, but the HAL tour was a short one (1.5 km, 1 hour), due to the age of most of its guests.  If you want to do this for yourself, I suggest the medium-length one (unless you prefer a very short or very long one, of course).  One “special” guest got to take a longer tour . . . lucky him!  A lot of that goes on around here – depending on who you know, tip, etc. (a privileged few get better food, drinks, tours, tables at Pinnacle, internet access, and even access to the Captain and bridge).  But we have the best room stewards ever, and that’s enough for me – well, that and the spa, and another detour off the ship to see Bali!
          ∙ Up next:  Lombok and Bali, Indonesia (Lombok is a planned stop; we divert there, once again – exchanging 4 days at sea for 2 days in Bali and 2 extra days in Hong Kong, instead) . . .