Blogs from Maumere, Flores, Indonesia, Asia

I did it. I traversed Flores west to east (well, at least until Maumere) without hiring a personal car and driver. That would have cost upwards of US$50 per day. The majority of the travelers I met hired a car and driver. Excluding time spent at the two ends of the journey, the overland journey itself took five days; total distance traveled over the crazy, winding, up and down roads was probably over 350 miles. I took public buses, shared ride vans, bemo, and hitched rides from fellow travelers. Except for the two days getting to Moni and staying in Moni, the entire journey was smooth and very pleasurable. Flores is heart achingly beautiful. The people, other than those I encountered in Moni, are just wonderful. Many people have helped me without asking for anything in ... read more

20th to 21st October Ende The town of Ende is in a beautiful location, surrounded by beaches and jungle covered mountains. The town itself is not particularly attractive, they seem to be doing a lot of work there, but as more tourists visit it will improve. We did found the locals very friendly. After being met at the airport and taken to our hotel, we decided on a walk through town to the beach. We noticed that the local public transport system consisted of adolescent boys driving pimped out mini vans, with the doof doof sounds systems blaring out what sounded like the Bahasi version of gangster rap music. There seemed to be an interesting mixture of Christian and Muslim followers in the town. Most of the buildings and houses appeared to be rather boring, concrete ... read more

Wedding dance on the road is spectaculer tradition in Habi where bride and groom go on procession on the road accompany with their family and relatives. The day is the dream of bride and groom even the people in Habi. The people will dance along the road. They cannot be in hurry because their relatives will stop them, to shake hands and to give congratulation. Even, the snack. The procession begin from the church to groom’s home first. After the reception in the afternoon, they move to bride’s home for wedding party there at night. they have to go on procession again. No wonder, they look tired in the afternoon. But, the process has to go on. It is not easy going to be bride and groom with wedding dance. It is a long time. First, ... read more

A sweet panorama of Maumere is sunset which situated at western area from the capital of Sikka regency. At the top of hill you can enjoy how quite a hill and how beautiful sun on the west hill in the evening. On Sundays there many people come to the beach for swimming and snorkeling there. That’s Tanjung. Opposite the beach, there is a hill with a cross stone which is built by a number of army personels who worked in Maumere 1990s. Often people go there at the evening for pray. To reach the top where Cross is, we have to go 543 stairs up with about 60s° of declivity. How tired I climb up there but I was happy could take some pictures around. Do you love it? ... read more

Motorbike - Train - Bus - Ferry - Bus - Motorbike - Plane - Plane - Motorbike - Bemo - Foot - Sigh It proved impossible even months in advance to secure a flight to Bali the first weekend of the long awaited Lebaran holidays. At ten in the evening, less than an hour after finishing work, I arrived at Setasiun Gubeng, crowds milling, dark and rusting locomotives screeching to a halt, unloading dazed and excited passengers emptying into the city, reloading with families and suitcases bound for villages across East and Central Java, some traveling further to Jakarta or several days to reach Sumatra, where in a tradition known fondly in Indonesia as mudik, Muslims gather with their families to celebrate the end of Ramadhan, to feast and to ask one another forgiveness for their ... read more