Garuda Indonesia Colours Magazine May 2018 | Page 111

Travel | Labuan Bajo
Overall, it is thought that there could be more than
50 islands scattered around Labuan Bajo, including
those in the Komodo National Park protected area,
home to the world-famous Komodo dragons.
1 2 Stay fit while enjoying the pristine
scenery with activities like canoeing or
jogging around the island.
5 Senses – Taste
KOMPIANG CAKE
is a good spot for an easy hill climb as well as some
relaxing snorkelling off the coast above the long
coral carpet: encounters with turtles are common.
Around 30 minutes by speedboat to the west of
Kanawa is Sebayur Island, which also has an
excellent resort and a sprinkling of healthy-
looking coral. I cannot forget the delicious
tamarind juice I tasted there, a drink I had never
found before at any hotel or resort. By night,
schools of baby sharks mill around at the edge
of the beach near the resort’s pier. To the north,
the island has a steeper topography, but there
is still somewhere to stay up there, the perfect
hideaway for those who seek solitude. I enjoy
a night at the XP Pirates Camp, climbing the
steep hill twice for the sake of the beautiful
view. Mikel, the operations manager, advises me
to swim to the edge of the coral reef, where I am
rewarded with the sight of blue-nosed oil rays.
While the nearest island resort to Labuan Bajo is
Bidadari Island, I unfortunately find it difficult to
contact the staff there, so instead sail north to Seraya
Kecil Island. If you want somewhere a bit out of
the way, this is the spot for you. There has been
accommodation on this island for more than a decade,
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but it has become better known since the resort has
been renovated. After climbing the hill, I enjoy a
relaxing soak in the pool while waiting for twilight.
Overall, it is thought that there could be more
than 50 islands scattered around Labuan Bajo,
including those in the Komodo National Park
protected area, home to the world-famous
Komodo dragons. More than a century after
Lieutenant Jacques Karel Henri van Steyn van
Hensbroek first photographed one of these rare
giant lizards in 1910, followed by publication of the
images by Pieter Ouwens, these islands have still
not been fully explored. It may be partly because
they are protected by swift ocean currents – or
simply because their appeal has yet to spread.
There is also the fact that some sand islands
simply disappear back into the blue. Mat once
took me to Sembilan Island, where a pool full of
blue-tailed jellyfish swam unharmed. A few
months later, the island had gone.
I am curious about spending a night on one
of the smaller inhabited islands; Mat points out
Kukusan, Papagaran, Pungu Kecil and Mesa
islands as possible spots. On Mesa, he says, the
houses are so densely packed that it looks like
they are floating on the sea.
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The Manggarai area,
where Labuan Bajo is situated,
is known for this sweet snack
originally introduced by Chinese
merchants. It resembles a
steamed bun, with a hard, sticky
texture. The top of the cake
is sprinkled with sesame seeds,
which the local people refer
to as longa.
Sebagai bagian dari
Manggarai, Labuan Bajo pun
lekat dengan kue kompiang
yang sejatinya diperkenalkan
oleh saudagar Tionghoa.
Berbentuk bulat mirip bakpao
dengan tekstur yang keras dan
legit. Bagian atas kue ditaburi
wijen, yang oleh penduduk
setempat disebut longa.
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