| LOMBOK Mataram Transit-city and first city coming from Bali by ferry. From here you can go anyway in Lombok or take a bus straight through to Flores to visit the Komodo-dragons. ACCOMODATION : If you come from Bali with PERAMATRAVEL(the cheapest way by bus) you will stop at there office in Mataram. Next to the office there is a cheap hotel where you can spend the night, if you would have to do so. SUMBAWA If you go direct from Mataram to Flores you will drive through this island. The bus you pay will be until SAPE where you have to take the ferry to Flores. warning : on the way they will stop in a little restaurant where you can have an included meal. You will have to give your ticket ...ASK IT BACK!! The bus will only go to BIMA, from where you have to take a local bus to SAPE. Nobody will tell you about this and if you don't have your ticket, you will have to pay the trip from Bima to Sape. The ferry to LABUHANBAJO (there is NO stop on KOMODO) will take you about 9hours, leaving around 08.00am. FLORES Labuhanbajo Cute little harbour-village, where people hang out for a long time...if they can. From here you can visit the rare KOMODO-DRAGONS ACCOMODATION : Losmen MATAHARI is not expensive and has a beautiful view over the sea. Most people though go to GARDENIA(see book) which is also a nice place if they have room. KOMODO OR RINCA?? This is a choice you have to make for yourself.... You can see the dragons on both island but Rinca is nearer and only takes a 2hour trip while for Komodo you will sit 4hours in a boat. Also Komodo is more touristic and almost looks like a zoo (or so I heard.) THE PRICE FOR RINCA : The boat was about 25USD but the more people you are... You just have to ask around to get a group together. The entrance cost 4USD + 2USD for the guide(can't refuse this, it's included); This is about 6USD each. Than there is a little TAXamount for the whole group. For more links about the dragons, click here! Ende Moni Beautiful little villages in the mountains. From here you can visit the Keli Mutu Crater Lakes (or the 3 colour lakes). You can take a truck at 04.00am for about 2USD. And if you want to see it proper, you will miss the truck back and have a nice walk down. Just be careful as near villages dare to put signs with "SHORTCUT" while in fact it's a detour through they village where they try to sell you there stuff. Maumere (klik hier voor Nederlands) To leave from FLORES when you are in a hurry(or not)... * One of the possibilities is to go to the PELNIoffice in Maumere to see and ask about the boats. * A very quick way is to go to EAST-TIMOR, which has become a free independent state. It is a rich and so an expensive country and as it is not an official gateway, you will have to apply for a visa to re-enter Indonesia which will cost you a 35USD. * An easy way , but more expensive, is to take the FASTBOAT that will go to Bali and Surabaya,Java from where you have easier acces to transportation to get out quickly. |
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