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Tiger Blue sails to stunning deserted islands which inspire people to want to hike and explore. The islands offer something for all fitness levels and treat you to some of the cleanest, clearest air on the planet. The Komodo Islands offer easily accessible walks on grassy slopes and sandy beaches with breathtaking views.Small islands set in amongst shades of turquoise water offer photographers opportunities to come home with images of exotic and evocative lands. For artists, the atmosphere of these islands is inspiring and offers the challenge of trying to capture their essence with paint on paper. Hiking in the Komodo National Park with guides brings the extra thrill of hunting for dragons. On Flores, the hike up to the Kelimutu Lakes is easy, taking you along a clear trail in light forest filled with a large variety of birds, and then back down to a busy ikat market. Gunung Api, the volcano in Banda is a tougher climb, but the satisfaction of reaching the top and being able to look out over the Banda Islands, set in a vast ocean, as well as standing on the edge of the precipitous crater, is hard to beat. In addition, Des Alwi, the 'King' of Banda offers citizenship to the islands on reaching the summit! On Sumba you can stroll more leisurely along miles of white sandy beaches.
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Beach activities are not just about lying around and getting a tan. The islands of Eastern Indonesia offer up a whole range of different types of beaches to explore. Fine sand beaches can sit across a channel of 100 metres of water, from a beach with perfectly rounded stones. One beach can have sea glass thrown up on it, another just round shells, yet another just piled with sticks 1 foot long. The geography and natural history of these islands is fascinating and unique. On Komodo there are the dragons of course, but there are also the mega lobes, flightless birds-left over from the age of the dinosaur. Jungle fowl with long trailing tail feathers are also common on Komodo, as are large birds of prey often seen on the bare branches of the Red Kapok tree. Deer, wild boar and goats roam the grassy slopes.
On Banda bird watchers are treated to the large pink Banda pigeon. This bird devours the nutmeg fruit whole and you can hear their whooping calls in the mornings and evenings, when they congregate on the fig trees near the waters edge.
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For the fishermen, the open waters south of Flores offer great runs of wahoo. Trolling lines from the rear of Tiger Blue whilst cruising is the easiest way to catch dinner and this fish is fantastic eaten as sushi with wasabi and soy sauce, or as cerviche, marinated in lime juice and spices. Rods can be taken out on the tender, most popularly just before sunset, drinks on board. A great sunset cruise! Children love going out in the small tender, bottom fishing with lines straight off the side of the tender. Fly fishing is also an option to try in the calmer waters of bays where Tiger Blue is anchored. Barracudas caught on lines make great curries but Marlins are released and returned to the sea.
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There are activities that all ages can enjoy. Snorkeling in clear clear waters amongst vibrant shoals of fish and healthy corals, like those in Banda, gives everyone great pleasure. Children and adults alike can spend hours viewing large anemones on outcrops that are crowded with clown fish. Swimming above giant parrot fish listening to them crunch coral is highly entertaining, whilst swimming with manta rays in Komodo is breathtaking.
Bonfires are joint efforts-guests and crew gather beach firewood to make up a giant bonfire. Kids will happily join in and on bonfire nights there are often a few smaller individual fires set up alongside the barbeque. It is activities and evenings like this that make a trip on Tiger Blue so memorable. It is also on clear evenings on the beach that stars and planets can suddenly become a topic of interest with everyone wanting to know which constellations are visible, which planets are the brightest. A laser in the hands of someone who knows the stars makes for a very entertaining evening. The top deck and the stars are a big draw for teenagers keen to sleep on deck. Younger kids can sleep happily and safely on the deck beds whilst we are anchored overnight.
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Each island visited by Tiger Blue offers a different cultural experience. On Komodo you are introduced to the woodcarving skills of the locals which they have honed to make a living carving statues of the dragons. They also carve shells into lovely manta and dolphin amulets which can be bought when they paddle out to Tiger Blue on their canoes. Pearl cultivation has taken off around the islands of Komodo and Banda where the sale of coloured pearls supplement the incomes of the local people.
On Sumba, Flores and the local islands it is their skills with of cloth weaving, spinning, natural dyes and basket weaving that really come to the fore. Handwoven baskets are used for everything from containers for pig fodder, to palm sap for natural palm sugar,for carrying fish, fabrics, crops - these woven pandanus leaf baskets are exquisite in their simplicity- very much in the same way the Shaker crafts are perfect in their practicality. The spinning, natural dying process and weaving of the traditional ikat cloths is fascinating and really worth a visit. In addition the people still maintain their traditional dances which can be viewed under coconut palms at night with flame lanterns.
Religion is very influential on the Southern coast of Flores and huge churches stand over grass roofed houses.
Ponies are a big part of Sumba culture, as are their painted fishing boats- the sea an important part of their livelihood. In Banda, if you visit at the end of the fasting month, you are privileged to view the intimate ritual of the villagers on Banda Besar cleaning and decorating the graves of their loved ones.
A voyage on Tiger Blue is very much a private introduction to the many cultures and lifestyles of this fascinating area of Indonesia.
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