Indonesia is the 20th country out of 31 countries that Ms. Vu Minh Diep has ever visited. The experience of watching Komodo dragons and swimming at the pink beach is the main reason for her to return to the island nation for the second time.
Before the trip, Ms. Diep planned very specifically and meticulously because her 7-year-old daughter also joined her parents. Her family also combined the itinerary of exploring the coastal town of Labuan Bajo and 2 days and 1 night sailing on the sea during this trip.
The amazing experiences on the island
The trip to Indonesia this time of Ms. Minh Diep's family lasted for 7 days, but the time spent traveling and returning from the mainland to the islands and transiting at Bali airport took almost 2 days. However, her family knew how to enjoy 5 days in Indonesia with very interesting activities.
Ms. Diep was not regretful when she deliberately bought a 2-day 1-night tour to explore 7 islands and unique tourist destinations. Her family visited Kelor Island, which has characteristic green water; Manjarite Island, which has many fish, coral reefs, and sea stars. Kalong Island is also known as Bat Island; Padar Island has a great view, where tourists climbing to the top of the mountain will see 3 beaches at the same time - especially the pink beach. Komodo National Park is the habitat of Komodo dragons - the largest living reptile in the world. Manta Point is where Ms. Diep experienced snorkeling to watch manta rays.
The sunset scene on Kalong Island is the most impressive thing left for the female tourist. Ms. Diep and her family quietly watched thousands of bats fly out of their roosts, flying away to hunt for food on the vast sea.
“I didn't expect to have such a majestic scene. If I hadn't slept on the sea for a night, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to witness this beautiful moment,” Ho Chi Minh City's female tourist recalled.
The island she liked best was Padar - where tourists can see 3 white, pink, and black sand beaches from the top of the mountain. Thanks to its uniqueness, Padar has become one of the most famous islands in the area. This is also the third largest island in the Nusa Tenggara archipelago, where the Padar Island Conservation Area is located in the Komodo National Park, recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve and Human Settlement since 1991.
Among them, the pink beach on this island is dubbed one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. This is also one of the 7 pink sand beaches rare in the world. The natural pink color is due to tiny organisms called Foraminifera - also known as foraminifera, with pink shells, living in coral reefs.
Ms. Diep shared: “These pieces of coral are eroded by the sea and drift to the beach, mixing with sand to create a beautiful pink color. Here, my whole family swam and snorkeled to see fish, coral, and clear blue water, and even saw the bottom.”
First-hand experience of seeing Komodo dragons
Komodo National Park in Indonesia is located in the Nusa Tenggara archipelago, also known as Sunda Small. This archipelago has 3 large islands named Komodo, Padar, and Rinca, and 26 small islands, with a total area of 1,733 km². This national park was established in 1980 to conserve Komodo dragons, the largest living reptile in the world.
Ms. Vietnamese tourist said: “I watched the Komodo dragon searching for a water source, sleeping under a tree, and moving freely near humans. In this wild environment, they are like the masters of the island, moving freely and hunting, making me feel different from visiting caged animals.”
Komodo dragons are very large with a “dramatic” appearance and seem to be harmless because they move slowly or sleep all day. However, they often pretend to be dead to hunt and can injure tourists.
A Komodo dragon's bite is as light as a feather but as fast as lightning, and can cause infection. Their saliva contains many harmful bacteria that can cause serious infections, and their strong jaws can tear apart prey in an instant. When visiting Komodo National Park, tourists need to listen to and follow the instructions of the guides. According to Ms. Diep, each person needs to keep a safe distance from Komodo dragons, especially not to touch or approach them. If you want to take a photo with this animal, the guides will assist.
Aside from the unique experiences on the island, Ms. Diep's family also rode motorcycles, visited some attractions in the coastal town of Labuan Bajo, such as: Batu Cermin Cave, Waecicu Beach, and Sylvia Hill - a place suitable for watching the sunset.
Ms. Diep rated the food in Labuan Bajo town as fresh and affordable, ranging from 150,000 to 300,000 VND per meal, enough for 3 people. In the middle of the town, there is a local seafood market, Pasar Malam (SO Bajo Night Market), selling various types of shrimp, fish, squid... Some stalls sell stir-fried vegetables, white rice, and other dishes similar to those in Vietnam.
The total cost of the trip for Ms. Diep's family was around 10 million VND per person. “This trip, the most difficult thing was to find cheap tickets and buy a SIM card because outside the airport, there is only one place in the town center that sells SIM cards for foreign tourists, and the locals' English is not very good. However, looking back, I'm still very satisfied with my journey, and the locals are very friendly,” Ms. Diep said.
