Yesterday, Nana and I had the Chef’s dinner which is an 11 course dinner in the Pinnacle Grill put on the chief Chef of the ship.  We were wined and dined with a wine pairing for every course as well as 11 courses including 3 desert courses.  The size of the servings were very modest which made the night doable and enjoyable.  We started off the  dinner with a tour of the galley….. right while they were the busiest.

Today we stopped at Komodo Island.  Komodo Island is part of Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda Islands and is famous for being home to the Komodo dragon, the world’s largest lizard. The island is part of Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is known for its rugged hills, pink beaches, and excellent diving spots.

Our excursion started arriving by tender at Loh Lian Bay’s pier in Komodo National Park, We then boarded a large wooden boat for a 30-minute ride to Kampung Komodo Village. Upon arrival, we met the villagers, who will were excited and proud and introduced us to their customs and traditions. The highlight of the village visit was a visit to the local school where we spent time with the children, speaking English and entertained by some dances by the children.

After leaving the village, we continued the boat ride to beautiful Pink Beach, located in Komodo National Park. Most of the sand is white, but a smattering of red sand naturally mixed in gives parts of the beach an overall pink cast. Stunning coral formations and clear water make this the ideal place to snorkel, relax, sunbathe, swim and enjoy the peaceful surroundings before we returned to the ship. 

But of course Komodo Island is know for the Komodo dragon.  While in the village we were escorted to the end off the village to see a wild Komodo dragon who was lying in wait for a goat or chicken to wander off from the village. We had 3 additional guides with forked sticks to protect us from the dragon.  Our guide explained that before 1990 the dragons would regularly roam the village and the villagers built their houses on stilts with steep stairs that the dragons cannot climb.  After 1990 the village came together and build a special wall around the village to keep the dragons out.

Komodo dragons are some of the most fascinating creatures on Earth! Here are some amazing facts about them:   They Are the World’s Largest Lizards. Komodo dragons can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh over 150 pounds. The largest recorded Komodo dragon weighed 366 pounds. They Have Venomous Bites.  Scientists have discovered that they have venom glands that cause shock and excessive bleeding in their prey.  Komodo dragons are opportunistic carnivores, and they can eat up to 80% of their body weight in one sitting! They mostly hunt deer, wild boar, and even other Komodo dragons. Instead of using their nose, Komodo dragons use their long, forked tongue to “taste” the air. They have a Jacobson’s organ in their mouth that helps them detect smells up to 5 miles (8 km) away. Despite their massive size, Komodo dragons can swim between islands in search of food. They’ve even been spotted swimming in open water. Female Komodo dragons can reproduce through parthenogenesis, meaning they can lay fertile eggs without a male! This allows them to populate new islands if they end up there alone.  Despite their heavy bodies, Komodo dragons can sprint up to 12 mph for short distances when hunting. However, they rely more on ambush attacks rather than chasing prey.

And most interesting of all…… Fossils suggest that Komodo dragons have existed for about 4 million years, making them one of the last surviving giant monitor lizards.

Tomorrow we dock in Bali, Indonesia.  We were given the opportunity to allow our room stewards to take the day off and visit with their families.  Hendra our chief room steward will be meeting his wife and son on board the ship while it is docked tomorrow.  800 crew will be either off ship visiting their families. or meeting their families on board.  The ship’s crew is very excited tonight.