Here There Be Dragons

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Day 43, Grand Asia 2017

Monday, Nov. 13, 2017 – Komodo Island, Indonesia

The reports from passengers returning to the ship from Komodo Island were consistent. “I don’t think I have ever been so hot.” “The rain didn’t matter because I was soaked from sweat.” “We walked so far in a huge circle only to see the Komodo dragons near where we started.”

I don’t have a personal report because I stayed on board. After a rough night with little sleep, I was feeling “unsettled.” I’ll just say I didn’t want to be far from a bathroom and leave it at that. (Thank goodness no nausea or fever, so it wasn’t the dreaded Noro virus that results in cabin quarantine.)

img_1481The Amsterdam anchored in beautiful Slawi Bay, almost completely surrounded by mountainous terrain. Passengers went ashore on the ship’s tenders, with landing rights limited by the local authorities to people who had official excursions. National park rangers led groups of about 20 on either a long or short trek.

Komodo dragon sightings are not guaranteed, but I didn’t hear of anyone who didn’t see one. Earlier the rangers fed the dragons, and most of them reportedly weren’t moving much. They can be rather fast and their spit is poisonous. Joyce shared her photos with me so you can see one.

img_1486Dinner tonight was literally a feast, and I was glad that I had fully recovered. Members of the Indonesian staff created a Rijsttafel, a feast from the Dutch colonial era. This was one of about a dozen special dining events during the cruise and is served in the intimate Pinnacle Grill. Don’t ask me to pronounce any of the dishes, but I loved each one. They had just the right degree of heat and spiciness.

img_1482I don’t think my cabin stewards have repeated a single towel animal this cruise. It’s fun to anticipate what I will find when I return to my cabin each night.