1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #567 - Banyu Wangi Seafood Stall, Labuan Bajo

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #567

 

- Banyu Wangi seafood stall, Labuan Bajo, Flores Island

 

(Where can you find delicious fresh garoupas and squids grilled with chilly sauce to perfection? And for only $5-8 per serving? Well, you have to fly to Labuan Bajo to find it, right by the sea called Kampung Ujung, with many stalls like this one to choose from. We chose Banyu Wangi just because they were the first to open for business at 5.45pm. And boy, what a find! We ended up coming back to it every night, but on the last night, they had packed up for their end of Ramadhan Aidil Fitri celebrations for the weekend. If we are back in Labuan Bajo, you will know where to find us for dinner. Our EcoTree Hotel's restaurant too had surprisingly good choices for dinner and lunch)

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #566 - Jamie's Italian Restaurant, Kuta, Bali

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #566

 

- Jamie's Italian Restaurant, Kuta, Bali

 

(We had always wanted to try Jamie Oliver's dishes, given his high profile TV programs. Coming across his Jamie's Italian Restaurant right beside the Kuta Beach and next to the Hard Rock Cafe, we had to give it a go. We ordered his Fettuccine Porcini and Crab Spaghetti as mains and his Classic Super Food Salad with Salmon as side. Our verdict? Would it be too rude to say, "please tell her mother that I didn't mean to insult her.."? Yep, not much to shout about for all 3 dishes. Would it even be more rude to say, "Jamie, frankly Gordon Ramsay's Bread Junction at MBS was better"?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #565 - Kuta Beach, Bali

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #565

 

- Kuta Beach, Bali

 

(We have been to Bali several times now, but we have yet to set foot on the famous Kuta Beach .. until now. A long, long stretch of sandy golden beach greeted us, with many surfers making it their home base. For 50,000 rupiahs, you get to relax by the beach under an umbrella and with a coconut in hand. For a similar amount, the lady will knead your shoulders and neck for a nice massage - what a treat! But when the sun goes down, this beach becomes magically red, orange and yellow - the main reason why hundreds gather here each evening)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #564 - Kelor and Menjerite Islands, Komodo National Park

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #564

 

- Kelor and Menjerite Islands, Komodo National Park

 

(Over 500 islands are dotted all over this Komodo-Flores-Sulawesi area, each with that distinctive brown hill and green patches near its shores. Both Menjerite and Kelor Islands look the same, but it is what is below the blue waters that's really different. We snorkelled at both - but Kelor took the cake, with tropical fish of all types hugging so close to the beach - see video below. You really do want to stay here forever - a real slice of tropical paradise, indeed!)

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #563 - Rinca Island, Komodo National Park

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #563

 

- Rinca Island, Komodo National Park

 

(Komodo Island may have the namesake dragons and thus, all the attention and tourists, but the island with the most komodo dragons is actually here at Rinca Island. We took another idyllic 2hr ride there on our very own slowboat - just the 2 of us, with the 2-man crew and guide - so much more relaxing for us. 5 dragons were surrounding the ranger's kitchen here, attracted by the scent of food. In fact, that was how the ranger got one to move from his lazy morning lounging - by dangling a piece of fish. Sure enough, he went for it like a crazy lizard, knocking my phone-cam along the way - see below. What unexpected drama from a wild, carnivorous 8ft-long dragon!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #562 - Taka Makassar Island, Indonesia

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #562

 

- Taka Makassar Island, Indonesia

 

(Taka Makassar Island is probably the world's smallest island - no bigger than a football field, right in the middle of nowhere in the Flores-Sulawesi Sea. It looks idyllic, and it has beautiful pinkish white sand - tourists called it Paradise Island. The corals here were plentiful and more importantly, colourful - attracting large numbers of tropical fish. It is a snorkelling haven. Further out about 500m awy, is Manta Point, well known for the large number of manta rays that congregate here due to the rich sea currents. Hubby was able to spot 2 of them, just before we sailed back from this most enthralling whole-day trip that we have ever signed up for - simply wow!)