I decide to move to Ende today. It’s a port city on the southern coast and I can fly from there to Labuan Bajo. To get to Ende is one of those mini bus rides. You just stand on the side of the road and they pick you up. For me it’s just a short walk up a hill to get to the road from where I’m staying at Palm Bungalows. But just as I’m ready to leave, Robert, the owner, proposes his car at a very cheap price. He has to send his car and driver into Ende anyway so for $5 I can get a lift with him. Great.
The scenery between Moni and Ende is just spectacular. It encapsulates just how dramatic the landscape can be on Flores. The road snakes through shear escarpments on both sides, covered in rain forest. I’ve not seen anything like this before. I need to come back here. We make it to Ende around mid day. I haven’t planned any accommodation so I ask Sony the driver for advice. He recommends somewhere close to the airport, which is useful because my flight to Labuan Bajo is early.
Checked in and now it’s time for a wander about. Ende has a different feel about it. It’s hotter because it’s on the coast. It’s a largely Muslim community. Everywhere else I’ve been on Flores is dominantly Christian. There’s not a lot of civil love that’s obvious. Town facilities are run down or trashed. The beaches are of black sand and thickly covered in litter. It’s about 3pm and there’s very little to excite the camera. I stop at a beach-side warung and grab a coffee and wait for the sun to set. As things cool down the kids come down to the beach to play and swim. There is quite a nice vibe now as the black sandy beaches become alive with youthful enthusiasm. Foreigners are definitely a novelty here because Ende is not really on the tourist trail. So I attract attention and become a good practice for English. I don’t mind. A game of soccer gets organised in front of me. Bamboo poles are jammed into the sand and some litter flicked aside to form some sort of a playing field. I’m joined on the sideline by a few of the wanna-be players, who for what ever reason can’t play, and we chat. They’re good fun and I enjoy their company. I grab dinner here too, then back to the hotel.
angusmccoll 