I’m only going down the road to Moni so there is no rush. At breakfast Ricky tells me an hilarious story about how Indonesians think Australia got its name. Apparently on his way to Australia, Cook picked up some sailors from Ambon in Indonesia. With his telescope Cook could see land in the distance and asked these sailors “what is that land?” They replied “cesstralia” which translates into “How do we know we can’t see anything. You’re the one with the telescope”. Cook thinks they say “Australia”. There are a few flaws with this explanation but I like it.
My destination for today is Moni up in the mountains from here about 50kms away. Ricky helps me catch a bus. There are minibuses plying these roads to no particular schedule, you just stand on the side of the road and wait. One comes, Ricky hails it down and negotiates a good price, 30,000 rupee ($3). They find me a small space beside a chicken and away we go. Flores is amazingly mountainous so the roads are sharply winding. They remind me of the roads in nepal but in much better condition. Ricky tells me it’s because of the Japanese during WW2. He explains the Japanese are responsible for much of the good infrastructure here, such are the spoils of war.
No matter how full the bus is, anyone who hails it down will get picked up and stuffed in…literally. Young guys are asked to give up their seats for women and older men. They’ll find space on the roof. After about an hour we reach Moni and I find my way to Palm Bungalows. I’ve been told about this place from other travelers. It’s a short way out of Moni but is independent offering all meals. Breakfast comes with the room. Mines a very basic bungalow but only costs $6 a night. Travelers come to Moni to visit the famous volcanic crater lakes of Kelimutu.
I lunch, then after a short break walk into town for a look. I bump into a guy I met on the bus who offers me coffee and an opportunity to have him as a guide to the lakes and a village. He seems expensive but I decide to go with him anyway.
angusmccoll 