"The sea has a way of reminding us how wonderfully small we are in this vast world...”
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| (Do not disturb a sleepy Komodo dragon) |
Date: 02/09/2026 (Wednesday)
Activity: Sailing Day 02
Destination: Padar Island, Komodo Dragons & Manta Rays
This morning, thankfully, I was feeling much better.
After Subuh prayers, we had an early morning snack of bread and strawberry jam, accompanied by cappuccino, before boarding the tender boat to Pulau Padar.
Racing the Sunrise at Padar Island
We were up early to race the rising sun to Padar Island, the third-largest island in the Komodo National Park. Padar is famous worldwide for its dramatic landscape and breathtaking panoramic views, and its main viewpoint is reputed to be one of the most spectacular vistas in the region. Getting there, however, was no easy feat!
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| (Climbing up slow and steady) |
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| (Sunrise stop at Pos 4) |
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| (Admiring the view from high above) |
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| (A group photo at Post 4) |
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| (With Ari, the tour guide and Rafi the photographer) |
The climb to the viewpoint was laborious, involving more than 800 wooden and stone steps up a steep but well-structured trail. It was certainly a challenge, but Alhamdulillah, at our age, we managed to make it all the way to the summit!
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| (Yeay! we made it to Post 5, the last viewpoint) |
And what a reward awaited us. From the top, we were greeted by an awesome panorama of Padar's three magnificent crescent-shaped bays. Each bay has its own distinctive colour of sand - white, black and pink - framed by the rugged, dry hills and surrounded by the brilliant blue waters of the Flores Sea. It was breathtaking.
After our successful, albeit challenging, ascent to the peak of Padar, we returned to the phinisi and tucked into a well-deserved, hearty breakfast.
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| (Nasi goreng, nuggets and hot dogs for breakfast) |
Mingled with Tame Deers at Long Beach
Later, we headed to Long Beach, a beautiful stretch of pink-hued sand on the northern side of Padar Island. It is one of the prominent pink beaches in the region, with a considerably longer shoreline than the better-known Pink Beach on Komodo Island.
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| (Ready to explore the Long Beach) |
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| (Blue ocean at Long Beach) |
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| (Hue of pink coloured sand at Long Beach) |
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| (A leisure stroll along the pink beach) |
The unusual pink colour is created by a combination of the white sand and tiny red marine organisms called foraminifera. When their red shells break down and mix with the sand, they create that beautiful pastel-pink hue, which becomes especially vivid under the midday sun.
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| (The deers at Long Beach are tame and playful) |
The beach had another attraction too - the resident deer! We mingled with the rather tame deer wandering along the beach, hoping, no doubt, that some generous tourists would have treats for them. They seemed quite accustomed to visitors and were certainly a hit with our group.
Komodo Dragons - A Secret that Time Forgot
Today was undoubtedly the highlight of our Labuan Bajo adventure - meeting the legendary Komodo dragons on Komodo Island.
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| (Passing through a village on Komodo Island) |
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| (Learning about the legend of Ora from the ranger) |
The local village communities live within the same ecosystem as these magnificent reptiles. The population includes descendants of the indigenous Ata Modo people as well as people whose families came from Sulawesi, Bima and Manggarai. From the village, we set off on a short trek into the surrounding area, accompanied by our guides and rangers. And then came the moment we had been waiting for. We were incredibly lucky to encounter several Komodo dragons along the trek!
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| (Keeping a distance from a baby Komodo) |
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| (Camouflaged among the bushes, ready to ambush preys) |
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| (A pair of male komodo dragons) |
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| (Beware! This giant lizard is quite aggressive) |
We were able to take photographs from a safe distance, capturing memories of our close encounter with one of the world's most remarkable reptiles.
Lunch Aboard the Phinisi
By the time we returned to our phinisi, we were absolutely ravenous - almost as hungry as the Komodo dragons we had just seen! Lunch was very much welcomed.
Lunch Aboard the Phinisi
By the time we returned to our phinisi, we were absolutely ravenous - almost as hungry as the Komodo dragons we had just seen! Lunch was very much welcomed.
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| (Good food for hungry Komodo hunters) |
Dining aboard a traditional phinisi liveaboard is a full-board culinary experience, with local Indonesian flavours blended with familiar international dishes. With our itinerary involving frequent snorkelling, swimming and island trekking, Chef Ramdan prepared meals that were hearty, fresh and filling.
After lunch, we took a short rest before our next adventure.
Giant Manta Rays gliding gracefully in blue waters
Our next stop was Manta Point, where we were hoping for an encounter with the magnificent manta rays. And once again, we were lucky! As we snorkelled in the crystal-clear blue waters, we spotted around half a dozen graceful giant manta rays gliding below us.
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| (Chasing the giant manta rays) |
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| (A huge one gliding beneath us) |
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| (A manta rays couple - dancing together gracefully) |
Watching these enormous creatures move so effortlessly through the water was an unforgettable experience. They seemed almost weightless as they gracefully swept their enormous wings through the sea.
Wading and Synchronised swimming at Taka Makassar
From Manta Point, we continued to Taka Makassar, where we had another opportunity to swim and snorkel in the cool waters. Taka Makasar is a unique crescent-shaped sandbar within the Komodo National Park.
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| (We have the sandbar island to ourselves) |
Often described as a “disappearing island”, this tiny, uninhabited strip of sand appears and disappears with the tides. It is surrounded by shallow, crystal-clear turquoise water, making it an idyllic place for swimming and snorkelling.
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| (The shallow water of Taka Makassar) |
We enjoyed swimming and snorkelling while admiring the colourful fish and corals beneath us. After a full morning and afternoon of trekking and exploring, the cool water was wonderfully refreshing.
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| (In our swimming gear, ready to snorkel) |
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| (Synchronised swimming in the cool clear water) |
A Rough Rocking Night at Sea
By evening, our phinisi had sailed towards Pulau Sebayur, where we anchored for the night. Sebayur is a beautiful island just north of the Komodo National Park, known for its pristine white beaches, clear waters and rugged, dry hills.
Dinner tonight featured grilled fish and prawns - the star dishes of the evening. Everything was delicious, but I made sure not to overeat. After last night's experience with nausea, I was taking no chances!
Unfortunately, life aboard the phinisi was not getting any easier for some of us. While some of our group persevered through the continuous rocking and swaying of the boat, others had to contend with nausea and headaches. The sea conditions had remained choppy, and we were also mindful of the ongoing aftershocks following the recent 7.7-magnitude earthquake. Although we did not actually feel the tremors while at sea, knowing that the aftershocks were continuing kept us a little on edge throughout our sailing. Tonight, the gentle rocking of the phinisi was no longer quite so gentle.
Still, Day 03 had given us an incredible collection of memories - standing atop Padar Island, walking among the Komodo dragons, swimming with manta rays and exploring the magical waters of Taka Makassar. It had been an exhausting day, but what a day it was!
Tomorrow would bring another new adventure.
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