Checking in, the receptionist goes through the formalities, “no smoking in rooms as that attracts a penalty”. I pipe up and add “and no durian fruit”. His eyes open incredulously “yes, how did you know that” he asks? I have seen it as standard hotel policy throughout South East Asia. For those not in the know durian resembles an oversized green pineapple. It is described as tastes like heaven, smells like hell! When the fruit is cut into the smell is like advanced decomposing meat and the smell permeates everything.
Flores is a cheap 1 hour flight east of Bali. Larger than Bali it is green and sparsely populated and still relatively undiscovered by tourists. That, though is likely to change as they are about to start direct international flights from Australia. The vibe here is as much South Pacific as Indonesian and, of course this is the departure point for day trips to Komodo Island to see the unique Komodo Dragon, one of my bucket list items and an inspiration for this trip.
I leave the accommodation bookings to “she who must be obeyed”. She outdoes herself this time booking a villa with private pool at the Sudamala resort. At less than a quarter of the cost of anywhere else in the world this is luxury. Wow, this beautiful villa has a pool much larger than a plunge pool all privately enclosed and it is not long before we shed our sweaty clothes and take full advantage of the privacy and refreshing water.
We take in the capitol “city” here, Labuan Bajo which is a pleasant small green town around the harbour. A gentle stroll, lunch and a few photos before heading back to where our private pool beckons.
