We departed from Ruing and had a smooth motor sail to our next destination, Gili Boda, also known as Sabibi Island. It is located 20 miles from Labuan Bajo anchorage, and we found it a delightful stopover. We enjoyed some great snorkelling just a short swim away and even diving off the yacht. Later in the day, monkeys would visit the beach to search for food, which was quite an entertaining sight.
Our following stop was at Puri Sari Beach Hotel in Labuan Bajo. We anchored outside the resort hotel and stayed there for the next four days. The hotel’s sandy beach provided a convenient landing spot for our dinghy. We had a lovely welcome dinner at the hotel and cherished the beautiful sunsets, especially while enjoying sundowners with our friends from the rally.
We had four days to explore the area and were eager to visit the nearby caves and Komodo Island. Our first destination was the Batu Cermin Cave, nestled within towering limestone rocks. We were given helmets before entering the relatively small cave to ensure our safety during the tour. Overall, it was an exceptional experience we highly recommend to anyone visiting the area.
We saw the famous Komodo Dragons in Komodo National Park the following day. The national park was established in 1980 to protect the world’s giant lizard, the Komodo Dragon. The region has close to 30 islands, making it an ideal spot for divers and beach lovers. One of the unique beaches in the area is the pink beach, which gets its colour from microscopic red organisms called foraminifera that live in the coral reefs and get washed up on the beach. Our tour included the top sights in Komodo, such as Padar Island, Pink Beach, and the Komodo Dragon Safari. We found the prices quite reasonable compared to similar tours in Labuan Bajo. Upon arrival on the island, we were met by numerous market sellers offering authentic pearls and other jewellery. Their persistence in selling their wares could be overwhelming at times.
We were initially apprehensive upon seeing the Komodo Dragons, as they have 60 serrated teeth similar to those of sharks and can rip the flesh off the bone in a single bite. Their venom is also as potent as that of Australian snakes. Our guide informed us that they were not gentle giants and that we should move quickly if they smelled blood. The Komodos can run in short bursts of up to 20 km/hr and use their tail as a weapon by flicking them around like a whip. They can kill a deer with a single swipe and then pounce for the kill. They can also stalk and attack their prey, then wait for them to succumb to the venom. The venom is secreted into their mouth and around their gums when they squeeze their jaw. A venom gland injects venom through hollow fangs into the skin and blood of whatever is bitten. You can also track their movements by their poop. Despite our initial fears, we had a fantastic day learning about Komodo Dragons. Before returning to Labuan Bajo, we had lunch and a swim at the pink beach, and the water was stunning. On our way back, we even spotted a Manta Ray, and our skipper did his best to search for marine life. It was an awesome day!