Memories of Wonderful Indonesia
Mesmerizing Labuan Bajo
Perhaps it was the call of the sea to our soul that I flew down from Kolkata to Changi International Airport, Singapore and from there on to Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar, Bali sometime on 20 May, this year. The very next day I had to rush to take the early morning flight from Denpasar and after 1½ hours journey reached Labuan Bajo –Komodo Airport by Lion Air Group. Labuan Bajo is incidentally the capital of West Manggarai Regency in Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara Province of Indonesia and forms a significant tourist getaway in faraway Flores Island.
Labuan Bajo -Komodo Airport
We travelled around 5 km from the airport to head to the hotel- the three-star property of Luwansa Beach Resort nestling in the quiet town of Labuan Bajo where I had put up at Kanawa Villa that overlooks Flores Sea.
Luwansa Beach Resort
We were in a mood to explore Labuan Bajo and a quick 15-minutes drive made us reach Batu Cermin or mirror rock caves. Believed to be 50,000 years old, Batu Cermin, nearly 4 km from the hub of the town is a steep 200 metres trek from the entrance gate that is lined with a thick canopy of trees on both sides. We had to climb through numerous rugged terrain and reached the massive rock cave dotted with calcium deposits forming stalactites and stalagmites.
The entrance at Batu Cermin
The cave rises high up and a huge beehive can be seen on the outer wall. To enter the cave, one has to gear up with a torch and a helmet since it is completely dark inside and visitors have to bend down through rocks at the entrance. Once the five-minute ordeal inside the cave is over, visitors can heave a sigh of relief.
Beehive formation on cave walls
Fossil remains on outer wall of cave
Mirror rock cave
Since I have a phobia for darkness, I preferred to come back after just entering the cave. There are fossil remains on the exterior walls of the caves. The cave is open from 7 am to 5 pm on all days and tourists have to shell out 20,000 IDR to have a glimpse.
After resting in the afternoon hours, we wanted to spend the sizzling evening at Paradise Bar and Restaurant on Beach Road.
Paradise Bar & Restaurant
Watching the magical sunset on Flores Sea in the twilight hours and laden with juicy delights and gorging on mashed banana wedges, a typical Indonesian snack item was a memorable moment. We marvelled at the last rays of the sun going down the horizon on Flores Sea in a riot of colours that is beyond description.
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