Garuda Indonesia Colours Magazine May 2018 | Page 110

108
Travel | Labuan Bajo
1
The vivid blue sky and
extremely humid air are
the first things most people
notice when arriving in Labuan
Bajo, with many first-time
visitors exclaiming,
“Oh, it’s warm here!”
1 One way to island-hop in and
around Labuan Bajo is on board a
phinisi boat cruise.
This small town, situated on the slopes
between the hills of the westernmost tip
of Flores, has changed a lot since I first
visited ten years ago. In that time, the
Komodo National Park has become world
famous, and visitors flock there from far and
wide. From its beginnings as a traditional
fishing village, Labuan Bajo is a growing
tourist destination.
However, outside the bustling town centre,
the surrounding villages remain plain and
simple. When Yohanes Feredus gives me a
ride on the back of his motorcycle to the
Munting Kajang neighbourhood, several
kilometres from the town centre, I come
upon a school housed in a temporary building.
“This school is tens of years old, but it is still
like this,” explains Yohanes. He has jo ined
Happy Hearts Indonesia, which recently
launched a social mission in Labuan Bajo.
With a programme of repairs for school
buildings, the organisation hopes that
tourists will join in and have a positive
impact on the local area.
In tune with Yohanes’ hopes is Mat, a boat
owner who patiently waits for visitors every
day before taking them to the islands around
Labuan Bajo. “One must always be optimistic
that the tourists will bring positive change.
Of course, this optimism must be
accompanied by good intentions and hard
work,” says Mat, who owns a number of
wooden boats. Early one morning, Mat
collects me and takes me to a small island.
“This is called Karawo Island. Beside it is
Kelor Island, which was popular before,”
he adds, as the boat enters a narrow, twisting
bay. We climb the hill on Karawo Island and
take in the captivating 360-degree view.
Some of the tiny islands are leased by the
government to be developed into resorts by
investors. If visitors to Komodo National
Park prefer not to spend time on the Flores
mainland, these resorts are an excellent
choice, especially for honeymooners or divers.
I explore some of the islands with resorts,
avoiding those that are already well-known,
such as Gili Lawa, Padar, Komodo and Rinca.
It’s island-hopping without having to sleep
on a boat. Moreover, I enjoy climbing the
hills and taking my time, watching the sun
rise and set. I discover Kanawa Island