Friday, May 16, 2008

East Nusa Tenggara

Maumere
Maumere. A port town on the northeastern coast of Flores is a good place to stopover on the way to Ende or to Larantuka. It is well connected by air with Kupang, Denpasar and Ujung Pandang, and is noted for its good beaches. The bay of Maumere is considered the best diving spot in Flores, a paradise for divers, underwater photo¬graphers, and anyone interested in marine biology. Ledalero museum on the outskirts of Maumere has an interesting collection of ethnological objects from the region. Visitors are welcome but advance arrangements should be made. Ledalero is also home to a major Catholic Seminary where many Florinese priests are trained.


Semau Island
Semau Island. Thirty minutes by boat from Kupang, this untainted island paradise is well worth a stopover. The surrounding crystal-clear waters offer exceptional snorkeling and swimming. Bamboo bungalows are available on the white sandy beach, and you can barbeque your freshly-caught dinner while enjoying a spectacular sunset.


Mt. Kelimutu
Mt. Kelimutu. East Nusa Tenggara’s most-visited natural wonder and one of Indonesia’a most mysterious and dramatic sights, is found on top of this mountain, some 66 km from Ende, or 83 km from Maumere. The spectacular view of its three crater lakes, each with a distinct color, is not only a major tourist attraction, but the stuff of myth and legends. The lakes have continuously changed their colors over the years: today the largest is light turquoise, the next olive green and the third black. The local people believe that the souls of young people go to the first when they die, the old to the second, and the black lake is reserved for thieves and murderers.


Komodo Island
Komodo Island. A small island of 280 square km, Komodo is located between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores. It is famous for its giant pre-historic lizards, considered the last of their kind remaining in the world today. Called “ora” by the local people, Komodo “dragon” (Varanus Komodoensis) is actually a giant monitor lizard. Growing up to 3 to 4 meters in length, its ancestors roamed the earth up to about half a million years ago. The only human population on the island is at the fishing village called Komodo who suppiment their income breeding goats which are used to feed the li¬zards. The Komodo is protected by law and although they are considered harmless, it is advisable to keep them at a distance. Komodo Island is now a nature reserve, home to a number of rare bird species, deer, and wild pigs, which are prey to the lizards as well. This island can be reached by boat from Labuan Bajo.


Nemberela Beach
Nemberela Beach is the most beautiful beach and ideal for surfing. Surfers from all over the world come here to try the rough surf from June to October. It is located at the South West part of Rote Island.


Labuanbajo
Labuanbajo A little fishing town at the extreme western part of Flores, this town serves as a jumping-off point for the trip to Komodo Island. It is a beautiful area for water skiing; wind Surfing, fishing, and many other marine activities.



Dragons of The East
A komodos may reach up to 3 meters in lenght and weight 150kgs. These descendents of dinosaurs may lay up to 30 eggs at a time.


Legacy of the Prehistoric?
Indonesia is the native home of the largest lizard in the world, komodo dragon.



In Pursuit of Komodo Dragons in Komodo Island
Located between Sumbawa and Flores island, Komodo National Park was founded as a conservation for komodo dragons. Six years after the establishment in 1980, UNESCO declared that this park is a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve. more

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