Flores island: the unforgettable trip experience and can’t find a anywhere else
Flores Island is lying east of Bali in East Nusa Tenggara. It is about 2 hours flight from Denpasar - Bali by Fokker 27 of Merpati Airlines. Flores is the volcanic island and has unique and spectacular attractions. Mount Kelimutu has become a favorite destination, with its three crater lakes of different colors. It is one of the largest island on East Nusa Tenggara province. It stretches between the east longitudes of 118 and 125 , and between the latitudes of 8 and 11 south.
Centuries earlier, Portuguese explores discovered it as the jewels in the neckless of Indonesia Islands and gave the island its lyrical name “Cabo das Flora” means “Cape of Flowers” after the beautiful coral formations that shimmer in her crystal sea.
Flores island promises the unforgettable trip experience with some unusual sites which you can not find anywhere else, offers peaceful place relaxationx on a palm fringed beach, explore the enchanting coral playgrounds. Venture inland to discover the island’s rich cultural heritage, the magnificent of “Kelimutu” - the Three Color Lakes, see the Giant Lizards - Komodo Dragons on their natural habitat, and much more
The island of Flores offers the unlimited uniquenese from prehistoric dragons, wild horses, colored lakes, actives volcanoes, traditional villages, megalithic cultures, NEW found Human Fossils, coral reefs and untouched beaches. There are over 7 acitive volcanoes spread from east to the west of the island makes up the uniquenese of the island like a mystery to discover. Flores island and its surroundings tiny island include Komodo island endless in diversity as it starts from the west lies the home of pre-historic dragon (Komodo National Park with its Komodo dragon “giant lizards”), offers a great and spectacular colorful tropical fishes, coral and reef, step into the main island of Flores the megalithic tombs and their unique lifestyle still exist in the remote traditional villages, hiking into the deep of Manggarai entering the World Shock site LIANG BUA known with its NEW FOUND HUMAN FOSSILS, Ranamese “giant lake”, (Poco Ranaka, Inerie, Gunung Meja, Gunung Ia, Inalika, Gunung Palue, Gunung Egon, and many more active volcanoes), Lake Kelimutu - three colored lakes, hand weaving sarong, traditional houses with its ritual symbols, while the most eastern part of the island and its tiny island surroundings rich in colonial history, but strong on traditional ways of living and beliefs include the WHALE HUNTING tradition.
Mountain and Valleys
The huge mountain and valleys on the island predicted formed, due to a collision between the Australian - Indian Ocean plate and Eurasian plate, large volcanoes erupted about 70 millions years ago. These volcanoes slowly merged together to form the green jewel, Flores.
The cone shaped volcanoes on Flores are still potentially and demonstrably active. The Chapel of Christ in Larantuka was miraculously spared when Mt. Ile Mandiri erupted in the early 1980s. In Ruteng a new volacano “Anak Ranaka” appeared as recently as 1988. And smoke can still be seen rising from Mt. Ebulobo, on traveling the road from Bajawa to Ende.
Flores mountains offer great opportunities for trekking and hiking, where you pass terraced rice fields laying deep in the sloping valleys, or climbing over mountain passes to traditional villages.
The Three Colored Lakes
Konderatu - konderatu, let the clouds part so we may see your glory”. Set high among the mountains in the middle of Flores island is Mt. Kelimtu with its three volcanic craters, each with it’s own colored lake. Most visitor make an early start to reach the summit and see the sunrise, which through its rays reveals the true colors of the lakes.
Local believe the colors are influenced by the kind of spirits that dwell in them. Scientists believe it is due to the high mineral content dissolved in the water, either way it is a spectacular sight.
Prehistoric Dragons
With one large bite the huge dragon, with its flickering forked tongue, ripped into the flesh of its prey and then gulped it down in one piece. The Komodo Dragon Varanus Komodoensis is the largest of all lizards in the world, measuring up to three meters in length and over 150 kilos in weight. These dragons are carnivorous and if hungry will turn on their own.
Official guides work and study on Komodo Island assisting in fieldwork and research. They have the knowledge and experience to show you these spectacular animals. Komodo island and nearby Rica Island are not just “dragons” but also offer a variety of other wildlife such as wild horses, birds, and deer as well as abundant marine life. Komodo dragons are only found among the island of the National Park.
Accommodation is available for those who wish to become aquainted with Varanus Komodoensis.
Traditions and Megaliths
Although the vast majority of Flores is Catholic, many people still follow their old ways, by living in traditional villages and placing food offerings on megalithic stones, to appease their ancestor.
In the mountains, around Bajawa, the Ngada people still follow the law laid down by their ancestors. The Ngadanese are divided into set, clans, that have head chiefs and elders who decide over matters such as land-rights, funerals, marriages and other ceremonies.
The area Lio, Mt. Kelimutu, has a legend about four brothers who migrated from Java and formed the first Lio clans. All clan that live and form the same area, elect lords and chiefs to decide over community matters. Each clan owns a clan house where the bones of important ancestors are kept, and rituals are held. The Lio village is a cluster of houses with large high steep roofs erected around sacred stones, and megalithic.
Weaving
Women throughout Flores still hand-weave their textiles using natural dyes and handspun cotton, known as Ikat weaving. Flores textiles are rustic in color with abstract motifs of chickens, mountains and traditional houses. Some weaving areas are, Pagal around Ruteng, Wolotopo, Nggela in Ende region and Sikka nearby Maumere.
Coral Reefs
Where the world can you dine with pre-historic dragons, then leave them to digest their food, while you explore the unique underwater world.
Flores, the treasure of coral reefs, rich with colorful sea gardens, giant clans, caves, and clear water that teems with more species of fish than can be found in all the rivers and lakes of Europe.
There are three location, Labuan Bajo, Riung, and Maumere that offer facilities for snorkeling and certified divers. Labuan Bajo, the prefect location to explore untouched coral in Komodo National Park.
Maumere also offers the opportunity to explore great marine life, around 40 different dive sites in the Marine Garden of the Bay of Maumere. Dive into the crystal clear water with normal visibility of 60 - 150 yard and the right temperature of 26 - 28 Celcius, where you will see more species of fish than anywhere else and exciting marine life.
Flores Island - a home of the unique culture, nature beauties and more.. It lies between Sumbawa and Timor islands is an abbreviation of Cabo da Flores which was used by Portuguese sailor in the 17th century to identify the cape on the eastern end of the islands because of its underwater gardens
Divided by mountain chains and volcanoes, the island populated by ethnic groups with their own traditions and languages. Predominantly Catholic, the have retained several aspects of the Portuguise culture such as the Easter parade held annually at Larantuka on the eastern part of the island and the Royal Regalia of the former King of Sikka
Sumber : http://www.komodotours.com/
Add comment February 13th, 2007