|
We sure wish we could rave about this location but if the truth is told, it's a challenging place! The anchorages are
deep and often too rolly, the bureaucracy abundant, the food is marginal but cheap, the snorkling and diving only OK,
very little wind but lots of counter-current, widespread poverty and disease, the arid land is parched and stressed, and the list goes on.
We try to look at the interesting side. The people are mild, cheerful and friendly as well as helpful. The children are so beautiful but
often quite thin. Some of the landscape is dramatic with volcanos and dragons. The Rally we took from Australia to help with all the
paperwork and bribery of officials was so inefficient and unorganized that it was comical! There were way too many boats, over 140.
We wished we had checked around more and hired an agent as was our alternative.
|
Along with many other boats, we left the fleet and took off on a faster course that was
more southerly. Ahhh...the equator in Summer...hot, hot, hot and no rain for over 2 1/2 months. This makes a salty boat!
Still we found things to enjoy and the country is quite exotic with the influence of Christian, Moslem, Hindu and Buddist traditions.
We actually found the veggies to be quite good; mostly home grown but meat is almost unheard of. The fish is usually 6" or less since
they have over fished this area for thousands of years. The Seaworld Resort has been run by a foundation under Father Henry for
50 years, now, and has taught terrace agriculture to the locals as well as wiping out malaria and TB, in Flores.
We loved the Komoto Dragons and saw them more conveniently on Rinca next island from Komoto. Bali was an improvement!
|
