Taka Bonerate National Park, 6/26/2024, National Geographic Orion
Aboard the
National Geographic Orion
Indonesia & Papua New Guinea
We found ourselves coming into Bonerate National Park in the early hours of the morning. We launched the Zodiacs as early as we could to look for possible spots for snorkeling. We found a remote little island which fit us perfectly for our morning activities which consisted of diving, snorkeling, and the exploring in the glass bottom Zodiac.
The afternoon was spent at sea and as we made our way to our next destination, we had some amazing presentations by our “Bird Nerd” onboard, Dr. Pepper, and our hotel manager, Fran.
Born in Zimbabwe, Ross grew up between a 45000-acre Game Ranch and the small town of Victoria Falls, which is situated inside of the Victoria Falls National Park. Most of his earliest childhood memories were of the wildlife that was always on his doo...
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This morning, we woke to high winds and a considerable swell from the south. As ever, Expedition Leader Lucho ventured to find us more sheltered water. We settled on the northern side of Satonda Island, a large crater island with a fully enclosed saltwater lake. After a successful scouting trip, we lowered the Zodiacs for a snorkelling session on the shallow reef that fringes the coastline. Those in the water were treated to sights of anemone fish, moray eels, and large schools of varying reef fish. Once snorkelling was complete, we ventured out to the island of Sumbawa for a cultural visit. Here we got to witness the fantastic dance and musical talents of the local community. We also watched a local custom which involves children attempting to climb a greased pole to reach the prizes suspended at the top. It was another great day aboard National Geographic Orion .
Today was volcanoes and ships day. This might sound like a weird combo, but in true expedition form, we landed at Sangeang Island, an active volcano, made some local friends and they brought us hiking up the alluvial outwash to find a cave with swiftlets nesting. Afterwards, our Bugis friends took us to their village where they were deep in the construction of an enormous, traditionally built wooden Phinisi ship. A climb inside gave us an appreciation for the scale and craftsmanship (the Bugis have been ship building for 400 years). As the sun set, we headed back to our own beautiful ship even more appreciative of National Geographic Orion ’s beautiful form and comforts.
National Geographic Orion tied up on a remote dock in the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia. After boarding some especially colorful buses, we began a journey over narrow roads leading into the highlands of an ancient volcanic landscape. Upon our arrival into the village of Watublapi, it became clear that our ascent into the highlands had also taken us on a journey back in time. Beaming with pride, the villagers shared their dance, music, songs, cigarettes, handicrafts, food, and even coconut wine. The highlands have been home for these Austro-Papuan cultures for the last 40,000 years. They’ve made full use of the palms for thatch, the bamboo for construction, the rattan for binding, and the plants and animals for sustenance. The delicate process of weaving and dying cotton ikat into shirts, cloaks, and hats has been mastered by the women of Watublapi. The colorful dyes are also derived from forest plants, including indigo leaves and kebuka roots. The greatest skill, care, and pride have been poured into this process for generations. After sharing an afternoon with this generous tribe, it was quickly obvious that they’d also mastered the art of having fun and spreading joy.
