The Island of Flores
Flores is the most fascinating and
beautiful island. Long hidden in the shadows of its more famous neighbor
Bali, the island of Flores is finally emerging as a unique destination
of its own. So, after visiting the lair of the Komodo dragons,
take time to marvel at some of the wonders of Flores. Here you can
swim in pristine lakes and waterfalls, dive at one of the 50 spectacular
dive sites, go kayaking among craggy coasts and mangrove shores,
explore mysterious caves and be warmly welcomed by the island’s people
in their rituals, dances and daily life.
Flores spells
adventure, diving, eco-tours, and mountain climbing interspersed with
visits to prehistoric heritage sites, traditional villages and cultural
events.
Until recently, many tourists have only been familiar with Labuan Bajo,
the small port located on the western-most tip of the island, and the
taking off point for a visit to the last natural habitat of the
prehistoric Komodo dragons, the islands of Komodo, Rinca and Padar.
Situated
in the province of East Nusatenggara, Flores is a long island that
contains some of the world’s best kept secrets. A chain of volcanoes
stretches the length of this 450 km long and narrow island, creating
complicated V-shaped valleys and knife-edged ridges - terrain that was
near impenetrable until recently and has separated the island into many
distinct ethnic groups.
Administratively the island is divided
into 8 districts; West Manggarai, Manggarai, East Manggarai, Nagekeo,
Ngada, Ende, Sika and East Flores. Further east are the adjacent islands
of Alor and Lembata.
Here you will find some of the world’s most exotic underwater life. Diving in the pristine seas of Komodo,
divers find themselves swimming along with huge manta rays, dolphins
and dugongs, while whales can be seen passing Flores’s east coast during
their migration period.
The island itself is surrounded by sparkling white beaches, where one beach even has pink sand. Mt. Kelimutu, near the town of Maumere, has three different coloured lakes that can change colour from time to time.
Besides
Komodo dragons, Flores has been in the world’s limelight with the
discovery of the Flores hobbit, or homo floresiensis, a new hitherto
unknown prehistoric human species, whose remains were found in the caves
of Liang Bua.
This
island is indeed ancient, having been untouched for centuries, once
inhabited by prehistoric men and still living prehistoric animals, as
well as containing remnants of a petrified forest.
At the
easternmost tip of the island, Larantuka is famous for its Easter-week
rituals that still continue the old Portuguese traditions brought here
some 500 years ago. While at adjacent Lembata , islanders hunt whales
manually, harpooning precariously from small boats.
To find the map on locations of attractions, what to see and do on Flores you can follow this link :
To view dramatic pictures of Komodo and Flores, click http://www.indonesia.travel/en/photoessay/details/post/9 and this link.
For continuous update on developments and attractions on the island of Flores please click: http://www.florestourism.com/
