We began our day on the top deck, watching the ship come into the bay and dropped anchor. Komodo is one of the 17,508 islands that make up the Republic of Indonesia. Komodo island is particularly notable as the natural habitat of Komodo dragon, the largest lizard on earth, named after this island. The inhabitants of the island are descendants of former convicts who were exiled to the island and who have mixed themselves with the Bugis from Sulawesi. The population are primarily adherents of Islam but there are also Christian and Hindu minorities.
We tendered into Komodo Island, the natural beauty is just stunning. There is a certain calmness about this country that relaxes you just being in it’s presence.
We were a little disappointed to find our “Secret Island Tour” did NOT consist of visiting the Komodo Dragons. I must say we were very surprised and very grateful that we were part of a visitation limited to 50 tourists to visit a fishing village on Komodo Island. We started by boarding a 9 passenger boat that transported us to a larger wooden boat in the outer waters.
As we approached the village, boats carved from trees met our boat, wanting to sell us pearls and carvings of the Komodo dragon.
As we approached the village we could see children on the dock, singing and waving to us, very excited in anticipation of our arrival. We were told only one boat a month is allowed to visit.
We walked through the village on our way to the school house. Their nearest running water is 2 miles away. As we walked, there was an overwhelming feeling of guilt that we have so much and they have so little. BUT, they were content and happy. The children must pay their way for school. They only attend school until the third grade.
Their Grocery Store:
We finally arrived at the school. The children took right to us.
As we left the school, the teachers gathered the children together and they sang for us.
It makes us both feel that we are not doing enough and need to do more to help.
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