Diving at Komodo
Trip to Gua Rangko cave is on the list for today. Three of us from the hostel are going to get scooters and hit the road to the famous cave where you can swim. I cannot for the life of me remember the name of the cool Hungarian roadie who joined us. Crap old age is creeping in. Maybe time to get pills.
We got a little breakfast and then hit the road to get the baby Harleys. Got a discount of ten thousand per bike and we were off to the Rangko cave. Short stop at the side of the road to get petrol and we could get back on the road. Great drive as the roads as beautiful, except about fifty meters part at power station. Road literally looked like someone just pull it apart and created this stretch of dirt road. As we were getting miles on the clock, guy on the motorbike passed me and shouted ‘Cave’ I shouted back ‘Yes’ so he shout back ‘follow me’ so the boat was organized.
Followed the guy down this so called road, hardened off road car tracks in the mud, we arrived at sea side. Baby Harleys parked, and we were boarding this long boat on the way to cave. Short trip and we were mooring on the jetty, getting ready to pay another fee. The cave is nothing special but it is nice and you can swim in it. Also it is a forking hot in it. I prefer to swim in the ocean and so we went to the beach and swim / snorkel a bit. Unfortunately even in such paradise as Komodo the plastic is in the ocean.
Stayed on the beach as the last near the dawn, watching the Chinese family leave ‘honestly we watched the young Chinese as she was hot’ then even us packed and left island. Decided to get some drinks and food ad Escape Bajo where the view from the roof is nice for sunset. Ordered food, drinks and then it was when the accident happened. Frankie went on walk at balcony and the yellow grumpy fecker jumped of the balcony. Four stories high was enough for him to loose his head, figuratively and literally speaking. He missed the sunset. We sat at roof, watched the overcast sunset, enjoying the great food and delicious desert of fried bananas with cheese called ‘Pisang Goreng’. Time to hit hostel as night came down and we were ready to hit the pillow.
Diving time is here, woo hoo 😊 Finally I can go under water and explore the Komodo oceans. I’m happy as Shivaan and Liam and me were only three diving at the first. Later we were joined by Sally, Sorcha ‘both eye catcher and hot’ , Joan and Paco, latest is the instructor. Rest of the gang are DMT. What a nice drift diving, current is strong and I love it ! Challenge is what I’m after. I was so satisfied with diving that I decided to get three days instead of only two. Also Liam has one more dive and since we were buddies and on the same level it was nice diving together. Mantas, turtles, corals, fishes , shark and currents woo hoo …. Fantastic diving. At the first my back was killing me as the Irish Lobster Red tan was painful every time my gear moved and scratched back. It was like I have clothing made from sand paper or as Billy Connolly once said from the Camels pubic hair. So irritating that I was thinking that I’m loosing all my skin.
Hopefully aloe vera and rest in shade made difference and next day was o.k so I was enjoying the dive more. Food is simple but delicious, mostly vegetarian. I was lucky to be able to experience small speed boat on some days and big boat on the last day. Big boat is so comfy, with bean bags on top deck under shade. As the last day approached the weather got a bit worse so when we got permission to leave harbor the waves were quite rough. Sorcha and Sally were sea sick and therefore quietly sitting at lower deck ready to fed the fish if needed. Eventually as the boat entered area of Islands the ocean calmed down and everyone got on upper deck. Last dive was amazing, the drift on the underwater express highway was something I looked forward to for long time. As the highway entered turtle town ‘so many turtles, that you bump into them’ the express highway changed to local road and slowed down. We were just looking around on all those amazing corals full of school of fishes and turtles in awe. Visibility was good and the ocean temperature was comfortable too. Back on the boat for lunch and on the way back to island as we did not have enough time for third dive.
Last two days are designed for exploring island and drying the equipment so I can fly. Well both plans were quickly put to rest when the heavy downpour woke me up in the middle of the night. It was like the herd of horses were galloping at full speed on the roof. Yeah the roof is made from corrugated steel so that amplified the sound too. Getting up and seeing the rivers flowing down the place what was called road yesterday was amazing.
No exploring but chilling with book and cup of coffee until the rain eased in afternoon. Another good time at dive shop waiting for a dinner time at Taco Bajo for leaving due. As expected the food and the company both were amazing. Closer to 22:00 slowly everyone start leaving and it was time to hit the pillow.
Last day on the island and I woke up to the sunny blue sky day ! what a change from previous days. Nice way to say good bye from the island. Little European breakfast of yogurt with fruit / muesli and black coffee with toast in Italian restaurant is nice way to start day. Sun helped to dry out the gear and now is time to pack the “little” suitcase and get ready for next trip.
Bye Bye Labuan Bajo / Komodo / Scuba Republic and all new friends.
btw. Photos in gallery :-)
