Today we arrived at Komodo Indonesia. The island is inhabited by 2800 dragons, timor deer, water buffalo, long tail macaques, palm civets, rinca rats, cockatoos, and 4,000 people, mostly fisherman. It is also home to the Komodo National Park which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Man and Biosphere Reserve. The dragon is thought to be the remnant of a once widespread order of monitor lizards. They can grow to 11 feet and over 300 pounds with sharp, sawlike teeth. They are carnivorous and cannibalistic, even eating their own young and or eggs. When born, hatchlings run up the trees to escape predators and live there for two-three years. There the only predator is the sea eagle.
We had a ranger, a guide and lookout with us at all times. We were treated to one dragon sighting almost immediately upon setting out for our 2 1/2 mile hike through the rainforest. The guide pointed orchids, lemon grass, flying lizards, snails, sea eagle nest, cockatoos, a variety of apple all before finding the next dragons. HOT and HUMID can not adequately describe the climate at 8:00 in the morning. Our walk went through forest and open areas in what has been the prettiest island so far. The prize was at the dry “watering hole” where we saw 4-5 more dragons sunning themselves. They ranged in size and age and we were particularly interested in the butterflies that landed and sunned as well. The dragons are vicious looking with their huge hooked claws and forked tongue which they use the same way as a snake. They can smell their food from 5 miles away, they can swim, and they are fast. The old saying, a bark worse than their bite does not apply, their bite in full of bacteria which kills the prey in a matter of days if the bite does not accomplish the kill on its own. A few of the dragons got up to move and we all took a step back. The guide gently told them to go down and they did. Who knew.
The Flores Sea is one of the most abundant sea life sanctuaries in the world. Over a thousand species of fish, manta rays, sea turtles, dolphins and whales can be found in the waters surrounds the islands.
Even here on remote Komodo the islanders set up shops for us to walk through on our way to the pier. Hawkers had t-shirts, hats, postcards, carved dragons and assorted other stuff. We got two little t-shirts and sought refuge on the tender.
Back to the ship to enjoy an afternoon of leisure, after washing some clothes. We had a nice lunch in the buffet restaurant. I don’t think we mentioned we have some Norovirus on board. The Captain gives us daily updates on the number of cases, so far they are low but the purell supply must be running out! Off to Bali.
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