Monday 2 September Labuan Bajo, W Flores

Labuan Bajo anchorage

dinner with mates

With reluctance we left Tinabo in Taka Bonerate yesterday morning. Our six days with the fantastic diving and pretty islands is our personal highlight of the trip so far. We were able to sail for over half the distance but as we got closer to Flores the wind died completely and we had to motor the last part.

Gliding into the anchorage we spotted our friends Camomile, Norsa and Inspiration Lady who we haven't seen since Darwin. We also spotted the liveaboard dive boat we holidayed on 7 years ago. Seven years ago we came to Komodo on a Peter Hughes live aboard, Komodo Dancer. That was one of the best holidays we've had (the other was Galapagos) and what a neat meeting to return to the same place on our own boat. We'll go over and say hello later.

First we have an appointment with the harbour master to clear in to the port. Camomile stop by and show us where to leave the dinghy and where to go. They them show us where we can get an egg, bacon and coffee breakfast! Labuan Bajo is a stark contrast to the towns we've seen before; this one has developed for the tourist trade, the gateway to the Komodo national park with the street lined with dive and tour operators and many Italian restaurants. The foreigners came to see the dragons and some stayed to open businesses.

Halfway through breakfast and we get a phone call from Lop To who we met when we cleared in to Saumlaki. They have good news our agent, Ray Lesmana is here I town and we can extend our visitor visa here for the extra 30 days we need to match the three month cruising permit for the boat. Three hours at the Immigration office a short distance out of town, time to chat to Lop To and Saol Elle while we wait for our paperwork to be processed and then we are told it won't be ready today, we have to come back in two days. No problem, this is easier, cheaper and more convenient than using an agent when we get to Bali. We are also now free from the time constraint for when we have to be in Bali. So all good stuff today. In the evening we went out to one of the Italian restaurant with Inspiration Lady, Norsa and Camomile who are celebrated their 35^th wedding anniversary.