Mirror Stone Cave and back home > Day 05 > Labuan Bajo 22 April - 26 April 2018

Wake up in the morning, We go swimming while enjoy the morning. 

Then eat breakfast and prepare to Check-Out.

my favourite breakfast, sunny egg side

Before go to Airport, we go to Mirror Stone Cave. Located only 4km from the city. From the car parking, we have to walk around 300 meters. 

Traditional Hut for Manggarai People, here's broken already

Batu Cermin Cave discovered in 1951 by the archaeologists as well as the Dutch pastor, Theodore Verhoven. Cave has an area over 19 hectares and 75 meters high. From research conducted Theodore Verhoven, Batu Cermin Cave is one of the cave under the sea which is then lifted to the surface. The sunlight that broke on the sidelines of the stone then reflected so give the impression of gloss on the stone (Mirror Cave). The reflection stone that later became the origin name of Batu Cermin Cave.

The stone in Batu Cermin Cave contains salt particles causing the stone sparkled when exposed to light. To watch the gleaming stone tourists need to go to a depth of 20 meters in a narrow area of the cave is 200 meters long.

Batu Cermin Cave also has stalactites and stalagmites, which even takes the entrance of the cave. Therefore, in a tour is limited only 10 participants with the tour time of 30 minutes. Then alternate with other visitors. At least the incoming sunlight made the air in the cave is quite humid. Besides the sparkling stalactites and stalagmites, Batu Cermin Cave also offers views of fossil corals, turtles, and tortoises that were in the cave wall. The fossil scenery looks very clearly. The fossil also contain salt particles which reinforce the opinion of Theodore Verhoven. Explore the fossil landscape gives visitors to learn the life in ancient times. Beside there are the other sightings of a white rock formations long and close to incoming sunlight. This is similar to the stone of Maria statue so that by Christians called Maria statue. Especially with the garnish sunlight coming around. Batu Cermin Cave is also enlivened by the presence of animals such as bats, spiders, and crickets.

Visit Batu Cermin Cave, the visitors must be consider not to touch the stones in the cave because they are still alive and able to continue to grow. If exposed to human hands, not only the growth stops, but also lose salt particles so it does not appear to sparkle again.

After explore the cave, we go back to parking lot and eat some coconut and coffee.

Then we go to restaurant near Airport, but unfortunately, the restaurant is overbook already. So we go to another place to eat.

Then we go to souvenir shop near airport to buy some souvenir. And go to airport to back to Magelang.

Good bye Labuan Bajo, maybe I will go there again with another group.
Thank you for Mr Akbar, Mr Robert, and Mr Untung who help me and my friends arrange our trip.
Nice to meet you all.

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Round Trip Ticket JOG-LBJ-JOG + 1 night at Labuan Bajo hotel: IDR 3.600.000/pax
(depart with LION, back with GARUDA)
Tour Package 8 Rooms Phinisi Boat by ITravelling.XYZ Mr Untung Sihombing: IDR 5.250.000/pax


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Total: IDR 8.850.000/pax

Padar Island ~ Rinca Island ~ Kelor Island, last day in Phinisi Boat > Day 04 > Labuan Bajo 22 April - 26 April 2018

As usual, everyone wake up at 4 o'clock. At 05:00, the boat start sailing from Komodo Island to Padar Island, our top highlight in this trip. The sailing took almost 3 hours.

Today is our last day on boat, we will go back to Labuan Bajo in the evening. So today is the last sunrise time.

We watch the sunrise while sailing. The guide said, if we lucky, we can see dolphin too. But too bad, there's no dolphin come out instead a whale. The captain suddenly sream something. Fortunately, I'm in the up-deck waiting for the dolphin to come out. And I can see something blow the water, and it's a whale.

this is the location where the whale appear.

Our small boat that always follow us everywhere we go XD

Finally, we arrive at Padar Island, the third largest island in Komodo National Park. This island accepted as UNESCO Heritage.

Time to trekking. The island has stairs already, so it's more easy to trekking. So many people in there in the morning. They hurriedly go to the peak before the sun shine so brightly at noon. 

Once you arrive at the photostop, you will see this magnificent view.

We only hiking until the 3/4 part. Some of our group, hike to the peak. From 3/4 part to the peak, there's no stairs, and the path is steep. The guide said, there's nothing to see from the peak.

From Padar Island, we go to Rinca Island, the 2nd largest island in Komodo National Park. We will see anothere Komodo Dragon in here. On our way to the Rinca Island, suddenly the group outside that playing card, scream "Dolphin.. Dolphin..". So we all come out, and it's really dolphin.

Seems like the dolphin play with us, our phinisi boat stop for a while, until the dolphin almost gone, then we continue our journey.

We arrive at Rinca Island, the 2nd largest island in Komodo National Park. There's till Komodo Dragon in here. Rinca Island is less known than Komodo Island. Komodo in here, is more agresif and active. We even see a Komodo walk around and not just sleep. Before we come, there's news about Komodo attack and kill human. So we become more aware and careful. Just always do what rangers said, and you will be okay.

small Komodo

From Rinca island, we go to the last destination, Kelor Island. The island is so small, and only one hill. But the view is amazing. Even to climb there, it's very hard and steep.

the island only this big.

After crawl to the upstair, finally we arrive at the top. and it's really beautiful. So if you think that you can, you have to go to the top.

After take some photos, it's time to go down. This is the hardest part. I have to sit down and put down my leg one step by step.

candid by our guide

This is the last island in our sailing trip. Time to go back to Labuan Bajo. We made sayonara with the boat crew. They help us alot, cooking, help us while trekking and snorkeling. You can give some tips to them for your grateful.

They even made us evening snack before arrive at the port. 

Last evening snack

Arrive at Labuan Bajo, the boat park in their usual place. And As usual, we go back using small boat with our luggage. Then we go eat dinner at Samalona Restaurant.

I don't know why this time their food is really delicious. Maybe because less people that eat here. So they can focus on cooking. This is why their restaurant is really famous.

Then we go back to our hotel, Laprima Labuan Bajo Hotel to rest. After take a bath, me, Lenny, Meme Jie and Tin Ayi, decided to try the nearest cafe, Made in Italy. Heard that this cafe is really famous.

Made In Italy

Price $$$$$

Interior 5/5

Food 4/5

The dessert price is IDR 75.000.

Then we go back to hotel to sleep.

Good Night

=======================================================

Round Trip Ticket JOG-LBJ-JOG + 1 night at Labuan Bajo hotel: IDR 3.600.000/pax

(depart with LION, back with GARUDA)

Tour Package 8 Rooms Phinisi Boat by ITravelling.XYZ Mr Untung Sihombing: IDR 5.250.000/pax

=======================================================

Total: IDR 8.850.000/pax

Taka Makasar ~ Manta Point ~ Pink Beach ~ Komodo Island > Day 03 > Labuan Bajo 22 April - 26 April 2018

I think a lot of people can't sleep in new place, especially in the boat. Most of the people already woke up at 4 o'clock. Too many voice and it makes me wake up too.

But we can see the sunrise because of it.

Morning at Gili Lawa Darat Island

Then we start sailing at 07:00. First destination is Taka Makassar, an unform island. This place is nice. Because the island is what you called Gosong. Not too big, but good enough with their white sand. You can also snorkeling around here, but I prefer to play in the swallow water. 

After play with water and snorkeling, we sailing again to Manta Point. But too bad, because the wave is too strong, the Manta didn't come out to the surface. So we continue to Pink Beach. The beach is really pink. Even sometimes, we can't see it clearly, but it's pink. The pink color is from the red coral that available in that island. A lot of people, try to take the pink sand home, so the beach almost not pink anymore.

The water is very clear. We snorkling around there. There're so many fish and beautiful coral in there.

To spend time, we are trekking in the small hill in Pink Beach. Because we didn't bring our footwear, a lot of people who hurt their foot because the path is too hot. So don't forget to bring slippers or dive shoes when you go to the beach.

Then we go back to our ship and sailing to Komodo Island. We will see the main character in this trip, Komodo Dragon. 

Komodo Island, is one of island in Komodo National Park which was declared a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1991. Komodo National Park also has been selected as one of the New 7 Wonders Nature. The komodo only live here and another island name Rinca. The island was declared as nature reserve.

We will trekking the short course, and be guided by 3 rangers. 

The rangers told us, not to make a sudden move, and don't run. Just walk like usual and don't be noisy.

the flora in this island

Komodo's cave for their egg.

We saw about 10 komodos in there. And there is more than 1.000 in this island.

Then we buy some souvenir and drink coconut.

IDR 30.000/pcs

Then we go back to our ship. The chef give us some snack

The boat is sailing to Kampung Komodo / Komodo Village, which people who live at Komodo Island stay. And we walk around and buy some honey.

We will stay near the Kampung Komodo / Komodo Village because we need to buy some water. They said, something wrong with the water cube, so the water has gone. We saw sunset near Komodo Village.

Something is smell delicious. Our chef is cooking.

the kitchen

our Dinner

We have hard activity in this trip, but the food here is delicious. Nothing can compare with other restaurant XD.

Today's sky is not too clear. It's cloudy.

the star today, it's cloudy.

=======================================================

Round Trip Ticket JOG-LBJ-JOG + 1 night at Labuan Bajo hotel: IDR 3.600.000/pax

(depart with LION, back with GARUDA)

Tour Package 8 Rooms Phinisi Boat by ITravelling.XYZ Mr Untung Sihombing: IDR 5.250.000/pax

=======================================================

Total: IDR 8.850.000/pax