Ahhhh, a day at sea! What a welcomed break from our busy schedule of snorkeling, diving, and visiting local communities filled with curious people all wanting their pictures taken with US! Time to reflect, listen in on a presentation about the curious mating habits of insects, attend a book signing, go on a galley tour, submit an image for a photo feedback session, hear a presentation about Komodo dragons, watch false killer whales off the bow of National Geographic Orion, and finally, cap off the evening sharing images taken on the expedition. Whew! Turns out a day at sea is chock full of interesting things to see and do!
- Daily Expedition Reports
- 22 May 2024
At Sea towards Flores Island, 5/22/2024, National Geographic Orion
- Aboard the National Geographic Orion
- Indonesia & Papua New Guinea
Michael Nolan, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor
Michael Nolan was born in Bitburg, Germany to an Air Force family stationed there. His first experience of the ocean came at age 12, when he learned to snorkel in the Italian Mediterranean. At age 17 he moved to Tucson, Arizona and became a PADI SCUB...
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Exploring Indonesia: Bali, Raja Ampat and Papua New Guinea
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5/24/2024
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Komodo, Lesser Sunda
After cruising during the night from Flores, we arrived right after sunrise at Komodo. The topography we saw from National Geographic Orion was comprised of a mixture of savanna and dry forest. It just increased our desire to disembark and explore the Komodo National Park. Once we disembarked, we divided into groups. Some of our guests went on a long hike, while the rest explored the park. Both hikes gave our guests the opportunity to see the Komodo dragons in their natural habitat. Our naturalists and local guides also spotted different species of birds. Back on board, we repositioned to a nearby oasis known as Pink Beach, where we had our afternoon activities. Some of our guests went diving while others went snorkeling. They all had a spectacular time enjoying the underwater world. It was another great day of exploration!
5/23/2024
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National Geographic Orion
Flores Island, Indonesia
The day began with an enthusiastic welcome on the dock in Maumere, the main town in this region. Then we visited the market and museum in a fleet of brightly decorated mini buses. We passed the afternoon in the village of Liangawo, a first visit for National Geographic Orion . What a place! Men on horseback rode ahead of our buses, and then we had a welcome ceremony and parade into the seating area. We heard different styles of music, tried betel nut and palm wine, watched various dances (including the plowing of a field), and marveled at the expertise required to spin cotton, dye it, and weave it. This region is known for its gorgeous and natural woven fabrics. Between us, we purchased many pieces from the local weavers.