Famous for their 3 metre lizard that weighs 100 kilos, known to the local population as oro and to Westerners as Komodo dragons. They are unique in the world. There are about three thousand of them, that live for an average of 50 years, lay about 15 to 30 eggs during 9 months and can swallow an entire pig. Therefore the best is not to come too close because they can be dangerous. When they are in front of you they really are impressive.
Komodo dragon
Do you see the dragon? it is very close to me
The entire national park is composed of an immense number of desert islands, with isolated beaches, inviting you to take a swim. I walked in the sunshine along beaches called red beaches, due to the colour of fragmented coral that washes up. The contrast between the white colour of sands and the coral is spectacular. The coral is an island, a life raft in the ocean, mystery, and refuge for millions of fish. When in the middle of these lovely waters, which seem so unreal, it is if you were in another world. Here everything is flat : all water and sky.
Red coral beach, Komodo
I slept in a small bungalow in Loh Liang, at about 30 minutes from the only village on the island. The inhabitants live from fishing and at that time it was squid season. I visited the village to contemplate their easy way of living. During the day they rest, some of them salt the fish to let it dry in the sun, others play cards, and others arrange the nets they will use that evening. At 6 p.m. before sunset, I joined them night fishing for squid.
Loh Liang village, Komodo
It was a fantastic sight, all 150 boats leaving at the same time under the uniform echo of the motors. While the sun was hiding behind the horizon we looked for a place to pass the night. In the meantime Abdurahman the fisherman prepared the five nets at the bow of the boat, ready for the first squid we spotted. By night you could only see the lights of the hundreds of boats which just like ours were waiting for some good fishing; it was just like New York, only at sea.
Finally we managed to fish several kilos after we moved the boat to other more abundant areas. The excitement of the evening ended having some fried squid with rice for dinner.
Komodo boats that we went out to fish for squid
Komodo fisherman