Adventures on the Sailing Vessel Moorea

Southeastern Indonesia

17,000 Islands in this archipelago with only 6,000 islands inhabited, there are many anchorages to explore.  Above is our cruising guide’s map,

“101 Anchorages” where the red numbers indicate anchorages the guide recommends.  We checked into the country on Timor island in the city of

 Kupang and stayed at Roti Island (red numbers 1-5) for a week, learning how to surf.  Our planned path is to visit the Southern islands, known for their

great surfing locations and work our way to the tip of Sumatra Island, stopping at Bali, along with anchorage # 72, 73, 74-83,89-92, 94-97,99-101.

This may give you an idea how we move along.

The 15 fishermen on this 40 foot boat, guided us in the shallow, coral floored anchorage with 15 indo speaking voices, shouting out

indecipherable directions, we gave up and just decided to drop the hook next to them with many cheers and indications of a job well done

Many motorists in Indonesia don’t have automobiles, instead they sport a scooter and fill up their tanks from

 small road side gas stations that contain fuel in bottles. 

For many blocks, the streets are lined with stalls selling shoes, clothing, food, etc.  

Our guide we used while in Kupang, his name is On and he showed us his city and helped

us with immigration and quarantine officials.

A free park to visit and feed the monkeys in Kupang.

Deciding to take a 24 mile bike trip from Nembrala to Baa, there was much interest from the locals about our foldable bikes.

Some of the faces we saw on our bike trip. 

After the long bike ride, we found a room for the night and enjoyed some coffee in the lobby.  While sitting there, I was given a Ti’i Longga (straw hat) and woven scarf from one of the guests.  We also met Robert, who is employeed by the government as an Accountibilty Trainer and he treated us to dinner at a local Karioke restaurant. 

Robert is the one singing and the Beattles seemed to be the favorite English songs.

Komodo dragons residing on the befitting named Komodo Island.  See how everyone scatters as the Komodo walks near, this creature may look as if it only can trudge along, but when threatened or on the hunt, it can sprint on it’s hind legs. 

A bite from a Komodo is very poisonous.

Sorting out the catch of the day, commonly women carry heavy (30# plus) of weight on their heads. 

Gerupuk Bay, Lombok Island, where the village caters to surfers and harvests seaweed.

Click here to view 2006 cruising pictures