Romantic ferry travels
Going from Island to Island by ferry, what a wonderfully romantic way to travel; especially on a full moon night.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
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Ferry from Flores To Sumba
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In Indonesia, taking a ferry can sometimes be a challenging enterprise, especially if you drive a motorbike. It is always an interesting experiment to negotiate your way up the metal, oily, slippery and wobbly gangplank leading inside the ferry hole. Then trying to park your bike as close as possible to the other bikes while being hurried by the shouting ferry staff.
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Indonesia is a Country of more than 17,000 Islands
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One of the most gruelling ferry crossings was from the harbour of Aimere in Flores
to Waingapu in East Sumba
From my travel notes: Day 18: Friday June 23
SIX IN THE MORNING:
I presented myself at the ticket office at 6:00 a.m. I bought a ticket then filled out travel papers at the police office. I had to wait in line with other motorcyclists before entering the ferry because a truck, too heavy, full of pigs had trouble going up the ramp leading to the ferry.
I have never seen a ferry so full. I found a place to sit in the corner in an AC room, I had no food but 1/2 bottle of water. Once I tried going to the food counter but the passage ways were overcrowded with children, parents, boxes and sleeping mats. The trip lasts six hours. I wanted to walk around to take photos but people everywhere, sleeping in the passages, and I am a bit dizzy. Did not have breakfast. Will be a long day. Interesting
TEN THIRTY IN THE MORNING:
Finally we left Aimere at 10:30 after waiting for another ferry from Kupang, Timor, to embark two trucks going to Waingapu.
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Maya a young 17 year old Flores girl joined me on the floor in the corner and spent a bit of time with me. Maya went to get me some coffee and Instant noodles. Then she guided me amongst the sprawled out travellers so I could take some photos.
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This is the young Maya’s family. Maya helped me get coffee and noodles. Maya is the girl profile behind the boy on the left
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Thanks to Maya, I enjoyed coffee and instant Mie.
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Trucks, motorbikes, cars, screaming pigs, families, couples, children. Seemed like everyone and his uncle was going to Sumba. |
Notice max passenger capacity; 196
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FOUR THIRTY IN THE AFTERNOON:
Arrived at Sumba harbour at 16:30. The ferry staff encouraged me to leave with my bike before the pigs.
I had to work my way around the screaming animals.
Man it was just great, I really had fun.
back to flores
ferry From Sumba to Flores |
I spent one week in East Sumba of which I stayed 3 days at the Podok Wisata Cemara resort on the beach recuperating from a bad cold and throbbing headache.
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Spent one week in East Sumba before returning to Flores.
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Day 25, June 30th.
SEVEN IN THE EVENING:
I left the CEMARA RESORT at 19:00 on my motorbike following an employee for the harbour of Waingnapu.
A great one hour drive in the dark, on winding roads being careful of crossing bulls and sheep.
SEVEN IN THE EVENING:
I left the CEMARA RESORT at 19:00 on my motorbike following an employee for the harbour of Waingnapu.
A great one hour drive in the dark, on winding roads being careful of crossing bulls and sheep.
TEN AT NIGHT:
The overcrowded ferry left at 22:00. All the sleeping stalls with mattresses were taken. I had to lie down on the cold, hard ferry floor. Did not sleep all night. My bones, that do not have much fat to protect them, hurting every time I turned to find a comfortable position. Not sleeping a wink till the bell rang at 4:00 a.m. to tell us to go to the main floor and be ready to leave.
FOUR IN THE MORNING:
Arrived at the harbour of Aimere at 4:00 am. It was almost phantasmagorical to leave the ferry in the dark, the glaring ferry lights illuminating the exit. People who were lying on the floor between the parked cars, trucks and motorcycles, were slowly getting their stuff ready. Impatient truck drivers were honking their loud horns and I left when the gangplank was not totally secured. Its swaying
AND I WAS ALMOST PUSHED OFF INTO THE SEA.
