Page 56 - ELITE PLUS MAGAZINE VOL9

2) The highlands are inhabited by tribes, and the island is ethnically very diverse. The tribes of the Mang- garai, Ngada and Sikka live in districts of the same names. Many of those going to church on Sundays still believe in other forms of spirituality and the supernatural. They are proud of their tribal identities, practices and rituals, and are happy to share them with visitors.Flatland dwellers have a different reality, from the friendly Muslim fishermen who aren’t shy to invite you into their homes for coffee to Indonesian Rastafarians in beach shorts who might have you think you’re in the Caribbean.3) Exotic land fauna and marine life. On the island are a few rare endemic species such as giant rats and hanging parrots. Flores scops owls are shy but can still be spotted in the wild. Nearby Komodo NationalPark, besides the famous dragons, has over 1,000 species of fish and more than 350 species of reef-building corals. Simple snorkelling around the islets off of Labuan Bajo brings you close to sea turtles, rays, reef sharks, lobsters and all kinds of fish.4) Flores has a pleasant climate for holidaying, with only two seasons: rainy or dry (from June to October). During the dry months, sunlight is strong on the beaches but temperate sea breezes cool things down. Air is warm but not too sticky. In the tourist-friendly towns in the highlands, though, you may need warmer clothes for when temperatures drop into the teens.5) Flores is one of the better destinations for Indonesian coffee, with arabica beans heavy in body and chocolaty, floral and woody notes.And it’s much less touristy thanBali or Lombok!There are two important gatewaytowns to the island – Maumere (pro- nounced mau-mae-rae), the island’s largest town in the east, and Labuan Bajo in the west, a ramshackle harbour town with growing tourist facilities. Both have airports and it’s sensible to start from one and end at the other. If you arrive at Maumere and travel westward, your first stop should be the three Kelimutu crater lakes, which frequently change colour. At present they are bright blue, turquoise and deep green, but the changes can be drastic. Two share a crater wall while the other sits 1.5km to the west. The colour changes are due to varying mineral contents of the water, movements of rocks under the craters and the changing climate. Locals believe the lakes are a resting place of their ancestors’ spirits, and say the changes are caused by the soulsBeach at Bajawa.Beach at Maumere.Kelimutu crater lakes.Inerie Volcano.54 Elite+