Planning To See The Komodos? Beware!
There is on-going discussion about a plan to close all or part of Komodo Island next year…
Controversial plan to save ‘shrinking’ Komodo dragons
…so a lot of people here in Indonesia and abroad may be thinking about seeing the dragons before the closure.
So just a few words to anyone pondering such a visit.
Wise people know they should beware of the big carniverous creatures…
.
Komodo drago..
…who like to tuck into goats and deer and even their co-resident monkeys ( beware of them too!))
But beware also of the rip-off souvenir traders who have their stalls near the landing point.
Don’t get me wrong.
The whole trip was splendid, as recorded previously!
My Indonesian Island Break…
.
=
….but here are a few less than splendid details that I felt worth mentioning.
Landing on the island itself means you need a ticket to the park. Rp.150,000 for foreigners, Rp.5000 for Indonesians.
No point in complaining because it’s all laid down in the regulations.
But if you want to buy a t-shirt featuring a dragon, be alert!
I wandered over and asked the price. And if I bought two, was there a discount?
The vendor mumbled something which I took to be ‘50.’
‘Okay, I’ll take two.’
I handed him a hundred thousand, and got a disbelieving stare. Our party’s guide came over, to clarify the man’s message.
’150 each.’
I laughed and explained that I was no tourist, having lived in Indonesia for two decades or more. I extended my hand to retrieve my cash. The vendor held fast to the banknote.
After a moment, he said, ‘OK. 75.’
More than was fair but I am not a harsh man. Another fifty changed hands.
Moments later, another member of my little group showed me her identical t-shirt – for which she’d paid Rp.60,000!
No surprise. She was an Indonesian, after all.
The least I can do is warn you.
Also, mind how you go if you eat at the food-stalls by the harbour at Labuan Bajo, whence the ships for Komodo and other islands depart.
Double-check the prices when you order your meal.
As everywhere, some folks are honest but others are not.
Santi 18:10 on July 15, 2019 Permalink |
Not only in Labuan Bajo, Ross.
Some of my Indonesia people are big cheats and they cheat not only foreigbers.
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JazPen 12:26 on July 17, 2019 Permalink |
I was watching some Western channel last night or early today and they had the governor of that province saying he wanted to move the villagers off that Komodo island.
It sounds unfair to my way of thinking.
How about you!
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