Kimodo boat trip

5/16
I am on a 4 day boat trip across Indonesia with 13 other people and 4 boat crew. It took a while to get across Lombok, pick up the live chickens, have lunch, and get the boat going but we are here and our group is hilarious! I already had to take a sea sick pill... and combined with one beer I was pretty loopy. I remember talking to someone all about the reproductive system in bees... wonder how that started. Science! We are all sleeping on the deck of the boat but tonight the air is super still and hot and everyone is snoring except me. I'm sweating! I guess I'll jump in the ocean first thing in the morning since that's the only shower I'll have for the next 4 days! :)

5/17
We stopped at Moyo Island today to hike to the waterfalls and have a "bath" in anaconda territory. We also snorkeled and pretty much got to know everyone on the boat. The people on the boat could definitely make or break the trip and we all lucked out! The bathroom here is just a hole in the deck that drops down into the water. I have gotten quite comfortable being dirty and salty that I actually went into this restroom barefoot! Rocking boat + trying to pee in a hole = slippery floor. I have reached a whole new level of gross!

5/18
Why is that my brain turns on at 3am and starts thinking of new inventions or business plans? Why, brain... why? At least everyone else wakes up early around here too. But early is 6am... not 3! Today we snorkeled at a few more reefs. Two Indonesian girls on the boat are Muslim and wear the hijabs (headscarf) day and night obviously. They wore them to the waterfalls and even went snorkeling in them! They even snorkeled in long pants. This trip must have be a challenge to the dress code, especially since the only place to change is the 4' x 4' bathroom. After lunch today we embarked on the famous Komodo Island to see the dragons. We only saw 5 or 6 at this destination... but it was here that I found out that Komodo dragons can smell blood 3 miles away and they get aggressive when women are on their period. I almost cried... I was terrified! Needless to say... they wanted to eat me! I wish I would have known this before I jumped into the lions den! Komodo dragons on this island have taken the lives of 8 humans! Their saliva has lethal bacteria in it so their bite will kill you about a week or two later if you aren't treated. On a lighter note, the sunset was gorgeous and the flying foxes (looked like giant bats) came out just as the sun was setting and we were listening to Jose Gonzales... that was lovely moment.

5/19
Oh yay we get to see more Komodo dragons today! This time the park rangers gave me my very own personal ranger to protect me! I'm glad I got to see this rare beast but glad I'm off the island! We stopped at red sand beach for a snorkel and didn't want to leave. Trip is over... tonight the whole crew got together for our last dinner. I'm going to miss these guys and all the laughter!