Farewell Party

August 30. After a farewell dinner on board the Pan Orama II docked in Lombok Harbor, some of the staff dressed up in traditional costume and persuaded us tourists to dance on deck - a nice finale to a good trip. (But for us Road Scholars tomorrow would bring one more interesting day back on Bali.)

Lombok Village

After the waterfall and lunch, we walked to a traditional Sasak village. There were just a few villagers around - most were probably in school, or working in town or in the fields - but they seemed well prepared for our visit.

I'm attracted to the varied geometric patterns of woven bamboo in the walls of the huts.

Lombok Waterfall

After the market, we went to see a waterfall: Sendang Gile waterfall is a prominent Lombok scenic attraction, a pleasant - if steep - walk from Senaru Village. The top photo is of a viewpoint from a restaurant in the village, the next two emphasize the lush forest through which the waterfall descends, and the last captures a meditative pose at the base.

Lombok Island Market

August 30. Lombok is one of the largest Indonesian islands, comparable to Bali, so it has a sizable - and photogenic - traditional market.

Seafood ground up with some kind of starch (probably rice), colored, and shaped into a decorative ramen.

Moyo Island

August 29: Moyo Island is described as an unspoiled tropical paradise. We experienced it mainly as a quiet farming community, since we didn't complete the full hike to a beautiful waterfall undertaken by some of our group. Just to stroll along the road and back, and then relax with a beer at a beachfront bar, was pleasant enough.

Cashew

Teak plantation

Vanilla pods

Comfortably untidy farm

Young cats at play

Kids exploring the tide pools, with Pan Orama II in the background

Komodo Dragons

August 28: We sailed to Rinca Island, one of the three islands that make up Komodo National Park.

Gateway to the park

A mature specimen

Deer are prey, but the komodos are well fed by their keepers

They seemed happy to sit still for their pictures.

Our group hiking to the top of the island...

... where we can see the bay where Pan Orama II is moored.

Back on the ship, a hopeful salesman has left some pertinent trinkets.