Riung

Indonesia

Riung is a lovely little fishing village on the northeastern coast of Flores, care is needed navigating this area, there are numerous coral reefs, make sure you give Pulau Pata Island a wide berth. Our vessel Sedna was anchored a short distance from the jetty.

We jumped in our dinghy and made our way over to the jetty which was in need of some repairs, and met some locals, many of whom were indulging in beetle nuts.

Ruing houses near the shore are bamboo; the local store was brick and concrete with a tiled floor.

Riung residents attend to their cows, painting them in their colours. If you have time to spare, we highly recommend taking a trip inland to Bajawa to visit a traditional village. Although the drive may be long with plenty of bumps and potholes, and by the time you get there, you will rattle, it is definitely worth it. You can kick back and enjoy the beautiful countryside scenery. Don’t miss this opportunity to immerse yourself in the local culture and experience a different side of the area.

You can also explore 17 Islands National Park and enjoy swimming, snorkelling and a stroll on the beautiful white beaches. We spent one day at Nunsa Rutong Island; it has lovely white sand and good snorkelling. It was a truly unique experience, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to visit such a charming and peaceful place.