The Backpacker

That night we stayed on the boat. Our 'dining' table was moved to a side and we spread out our sheets and turned in. Out at sea, anchored near an unnamed island, surrounded by thick mangrove forests, and thus mosquitoes, the sea hitting against the wooden boats, the sound of some night birds and crickets....was a night to remember. I dont remember spending a more comfortable night as I did that night, among strangers, completey at teh mercy of nature...Mathias, our guide had alerted us for unpredictable spells, adding that if such a thing happened, we would probably have a bad night, for the sea would churn and rock the boat.

No such thing happened. I spent a lot of time staring into the darkness, while Peteris snored beside me...it was heartwarming to know that tired people didnt fuss too much about their beds...!! I must have dozed off at mid night and woke up right after...at pre-dawn. But I was thoroughly refreshed. It must have been the air, I wouldnt know what it was, but it was great. The boat, as I mentioned before, has a toilet (that empties straight into the sea!), roughly three by three and you cant do anything else but sit down and head out. You get excess of sea water for everything. The crew pulls up sea water to wash the dishes, the deck, the kitchen and the toilet....so you get an idea.

A while later, I hauled myself to the top of the boat where the crew slept. The morning was dawning when they stirred to life, surprised to find me there! I watched the horizon for traces of the sun...few things match the beauty of watching the sun rise from between the hills.

After hours of sailing, Rinca Island came into view. 'Numb and stoned' Mathias got us all excited (after some more coffee) with stories of Komodos and wished that we were lucky enough to find the dragons easily. We pulled up to the quay that jutted out into the lagoon created between two islands close to each other. We were no more on the open sea, but suddenly found ourself surrounded by thick mangrove forests. We alighted and were swamped with mosquitoes. Mathias has warned us about the mosquitoes, but it didnt prepare us for the ...... seemed like the mosquitoes, the size of spiders, were wrecking vengence. They were out for blood! I may have not been prepared for the sun, but I was for the mosquitoes...having had the good sense to start on anti-malarial tablets two weeks before I began my journey to Indonesia.