Flores - A summary

The colored crater lakes at Kelimutu, Flores, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Indonesia.

Rumors had it that Flores would be tough to cycle on. The Lonely Planet author was writing about razor sharp ridges and v-shaped valleys, and that cycling was not to think about except for Tour de France trainees. There are some sharp ridges, steep mountain sides, and narrow valleys, but it's not extreme in any way, and the main road (and a few others) is paved, and is not too steep when it winds its way up and down mountain sides, over passes, down to river crossings, and along steep sea shores, with hundreds of ravines. I cycled from west to east; Labuanbajo to Larantuka, and had a few days rest in Ende along the way. It was four and a half cycling days to Ende, and another three and a half to Larantuka, including the detour to Kelimutu.



Things to see include the spectacular crater lakes at Kelimutu. The three lakes can be seen from one hill in the middle, and the colors of the lakes are changing color, due to chemical processes in the craters. Unfortunately two of the most beautiful lakes had exactly the same color when I was there. It's possible to cycle all the way up to the parking lot next to the sight, and camp there, as I did. A few ladies walk the 7 kilometers here every morning and arrive at 4.30 a.m. to welcome the tourists with sales pitches for ikat cloth, coffee and snacks. At sunset they walk the same way back with all the unsold stuff on their heads.

Snorkeling, swimming and diving is another thing to do around the island. I only had a dip along the road at a small and empty beach to cool off one morning. There are plenty of reefs and white sand beaches visible from the main highway, and a lot more further away, and on smaller islands nearby.

Around Bejawa many villages are very traditional, and still use their odd looking houses, and rituals. There are also at least three volcanoes to climb (and many more around the island).

The Flores Hobbit, a recent relative to our own species, was found here in a cave.

The inhabitants of today look more Malay in the west, and more Polynesian in the east. They are all very friendly and cheerful, and love to see a crazy foreigner cycling through on a bicycle. I was invited to sleep and/or eat with families at several occations along the way.