LABUAN BAJO The Dragon Adventure Gate

Labuan Bajo is a beautiful little harbor at the western tip of Flores island, and is the entrance to the Komodo National Park, and other wonders of the island of Flores. At sunset, Labuan Bajo offers spectacular scenery, while small islands overlooking the harbor dramatic silhouette creates a magical effect, as bizarre as what, you have to come and see for yourself.



With the increasing number of tourists visiting Komodo and Flores, increasing five-star hotel. In Labuan Bajo you will find travel agencies, dive operators, motor boats, liveaboards to bring you the Komodo National Park, or go diving in the pristine waters. In Labuan Bajo you can also rent a car to take you to the interior of Flores, Kelimutu and Maumere.


Almost all places of interest in Labuan Bajo is located in the islands overlooking the harbor. Most are still empty, you can lie down on the sand while enjoying the sun shining your body, or try other activities such as sunbathing, diving or snorkeling.


Angel Island has beautiful beaches for sunbathing, snorkeling and diving. Kanawa Island and Kukusan-Kecil Island, is also interesting for snorkeling and diving activities. In addition, Serayu island also has white sand and beautiful coral.

Labuan Bajo has many hotels for the backpacker, also have expensive hotels and luxury. Currently, Bintang Flores Hotel, which is located on the beach Pede, is the best and most luxurious hotel in Labuan Bajo. This four-star hotel has a restaurant, bar, swimming pool, diving equipment shop, and internet facilities. The price level in U.S. dollars.

Transportation


TransNusa working with Aviastar operate flights twice daily from Denpasar (Bali) to Labuan Bajo, departing from Bali at 08.00 and arrive in Labuan Bajo 12.00pm. Flight takes about 1 hour.TransNusa also has 3 weekly flights from Bali to Maumere using Jet Ba3-146 with a capacity of 82 seats. Additionally TransNusa also fly from Bali to Ende and Kupang (Timor) to Ruteng on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, and Kupang (Timor) - to Labuan Bajo every day. TransNusa also serve Kupang - Larantuka.
While serving Merpati flight from Kupang to Maumere and Garuda Indonesia Jakarta-Kupang only serve.

Batu Cermin Cave
Located to the east of the port of Labuan Bajo about four kilometers from the city center there is Batu Cermin Cave sights. This cave has a forest where you can find long tailed monkeys and wild boar. Travel agency selling package tours to Stone Mirror as part of a tour of the town of Labuan Bajo program.

Batu Cermin (Stone Mirror), is actually a tunnel or a cave in the dark rock in Labuan Bajo. Sunlight into the cave through a hole in the wall and then bounced off a rock that seems to reflect little light to other areas in the cave like a mirror. That's why this place is called the stone mirror.

Traditional village of Compang Ruteng


Compang is a stone altar, which is usually found on the home page traditional Manggarai people. Compang is the center of a traditional ceremony Penti, which is a traditional ceremony that aims to thank God for a bountiful harvest. Buffalo and cow tied to the rags and then sacrificed.


Compang Ruteng and surrounding land, are at a higher position than the local residents. A banyan tree (Ficus Benjamina) which is locally known as Ruteng, formerly growing in the middle of the Compang. However, now that the tree is no longer there and replaced with trees dadap. In the east, there are two high-rise traditional houses with curved roofs sharply.
     
Compang Ruteng is located 3 kilometers from the town of Ruteng in Manggarai district, western part of Flores. You can travel overland from Labuan Bajo to Ruteng and next to Ende and Maumere. There are daily flights from Kupang (East Island) to Maumere and Ende. From Kupang, there are twice weekly flights to Ruteng. While to Labuan Bajo, there are daily flights from Bali. There are inter-island boat from Sape, on the east coast of Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara.


You can enter the custom house called drum house, to see structures, wood interiors, and equipment such as gongs, drums, and small shield used for traditional dances. When you first enter the home you will be welcomed as an official guest and there will be a series of rituals that you must follow. Local residents can only speak in Manggarai language and Indonesian.


Kelimutu Lake

Kelimutu National Park is the smallest national park of six national parks in Bali and Nusa Tenggara. However, his size is not so important when you see the natural beauty the park has to offer. Here there are three lakes are located on top of Mount Flores, the three lakes have the same name and popularly known as the Lake Flores. Each lake has the colors and their meanings. The third lake is believed to be the abode of spirits and is also believed to have a very powerful natural forces.

Flores is located in the village of Koanara, District Wolowaru. approximately 66 km from the town of Ende and 83 kilometers from Maumere. Moni is the closest city, situated at the foot of Mount Kelimutu. This small town is the gateway to Lake Flores. Distance between Moni and Kelimutu about 15 km.

You can use a motorcycle taxi, car, or public transportation to bring to the parking area before heading to the summit of Mount Kelimutu. There is a bus from Ende to Maumere Moni passing. Local people call it wood bus or oto kol. From there, you should be walks about 15 miles to the lake location.


Every day, available for flights from Denpasar and Kupang to Maumere. If you would like more information please go transport in Labuan Bajo or Flores.

Kelimutu surrounded by forest areas endemic flora that are rarely found in other parts of Flores. Besides pine trees, there are also casuarinas, red wood, and edelweiss. Pine forest thrives at the height of Mount Kelimutu. Another part of the mountain is dry with unstable land. Local people believe that Kelimutu is sacred and deploy their fertility to the soil.
Visitors can only walk around Lake Kelimutu but not all areas can be explored due to some dangerous areas and therefore restricted. If you want to go trekking then there is a path from Moni to Kelimutu is shorter than the car.
Moni distance of about 12 miles to the summit. Moni distance from the parking lot to the motor vehicle is 11 miles, visitors have to climb a mountain peak climbing through about 30 minutes.

There are several places that you can visit like Blue Stone Beach


Tips

Make sure you bring mosquito repellent lotion and anti-malarial drugs, as Labuan Bajo is a malaria endemic area. Bring your sunblock cream, hat, and sunglasses, because the air here is very hot during the dry season. However you can purchase this equipment in a supermarket in the town or from the hotel shop.

In Compang Ruteng if you want to see the interior of a traditional house, Tower House, in Ruteng Compang you can pay  IDR 10,000, 00  to the traditional home keeper.

Kelimutu usually shrouded by fog. You better visit in the early morning around 3:30 am in order to watch the sunrise charming atmosphere. This is the best atmosphere to watch the view of Lake Kelimutu.

The best time to visit Lake Flores is in July and August. Please book the hotel where you stay two months before the visit.

by Beni Wiranta