{"id":36222,"date":"2025-02-28T10:53:46","date_gmt":"2025-02-27T23:53:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/?p=36222"},"modified":"2025-03-20T22:01:09","modified_gmt":"2025-03-20T11:01:09","slug":"komodo-island-indonesia-%f0%9f%87%b2%f0%9f%87%a8-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/?p=36222","title":{"rendered":"Komodo Island, Indonesia \ud83c\uddf2\ud83c\udde8 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Date : 23-25th February 2025&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Travelled : 1400 NM from Darwin to Slawi Bay Komodo.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Visited : Komodo Dragon National Park <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Stayed : Holland America\u2019s Zuiderdam<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>We slip out of Darwin harbour on the tide just after 6pm.  As the Australian mainland settles in the wake behind us, we see nothing but ocean for the next two days.  The sea is very calm and settled much to Pam\u2018s delight.  Walking the promenade playing table tennis, swimming divide the meal times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the morning of the 25th is bright with scattered cloud as we weave through the Indonesian archipelago and the numerous small islands surrounding Komodo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8222-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"36231\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8222-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36231\" srcset=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8222-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8222-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8222-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8222-scaled.jpeg 1365w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8222-570x428.jpeg 570w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8222-1320x990.jpeg 1320w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8222-2731x2048.jpeg 1366w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8217-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"36227\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8217-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36227\" srcset=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8217-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8217-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8217-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8217-scaled.jpeg 1365w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8217-570x428.jpeg 570w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8217-1320x990.jpeg 1320w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8217-2731x2048.jpeg 1366w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Cruising into Komodo Bay, Indonesia\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UNLyOAzetUQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a relatively short tender ride to the pier on Komodo. We meet our guide and we get a safety briefing and lots of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.m.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Komodo_dragon\">facts about Komodo dragons<\/a>. I had no idea the dragons mucus is venomous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8231-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"36229\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8231-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36229\" srcset=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8231-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8231-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8231-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8231-scaled.jpeg 1365w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8231-570x428.jpeg 570w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8231-1320x990.jpeg 1320w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8231-2731x2048.jpeg 1366w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8234-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"36230\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8234-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36230\" srcset=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8234-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8234-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8234-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8234-scaled.jpeg 1365w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8234-570x428.jpeg 570w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8234-1320x990.jpeg 1320w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8234-2731x2048.jpeg 1366w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>We follow along on what we are told is a four kilometre long path that winds its way through the forest.  Did I mention it\u2019s hot and humid !  The pleasant breeze close to the visitors centre has gone once we have gone a few hundred metres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A kilometre later we are rewarded with four dragons sun baking in a clearing.  The two smaller ones soon move back into the forest.  I would describe them as large goanna size.  The larger dragons seem less mobile (like many people on the Zuiderdam) or basically have seen so many tourist in their 40 years they don\u2019t give a rats and just enjoy the sun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8246-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"36235\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8246-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36235\" srcset=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8246-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8246-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8246-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8246-scaled.jpeg 1365w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8246-570x428.jpeg 570w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8246-1320x990.jpeg 1320w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8246-2731x2048.jpeg 1366w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8243-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"36236\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8243-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36236\" srcset=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8243-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8243-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8243-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8243-scaled.jpeg 1365w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8243-570x428.jpeg 570w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8243-1320x990.jpeg 1320w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8243-2731x2048.jpeg 1366w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8241-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"36237\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8241-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36237\" srcset=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8241-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8241-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8241-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8241-scaled.jpeg 1365w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8241-570x428.jpeg 570w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8241-1320x990.jpeg 1320w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8241-2731x2048.jpeg 1366w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Komodo Dragons Sunbaking\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/x0poCeJf5n4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Trundling on for another couple of kilometres the breeze lifts and we spot the bay.  We have had our dragon experience and we are looking forward to coffee back on the Zuiderdam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-1 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-4 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8253-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"36239\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8253-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36239\" srcset=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8253-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8253-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8253-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8253-scaled.jpeg 1365w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8253-570x428.jpeg 570w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8253-1320x990.jpeg 1320w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8253-2731x2048.jpeg 1366w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8256-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" data-id=\"36238\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8256-1024x768.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36238\" srcset=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8256-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8256-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8256-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8256-scaled.jpeg 1365w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8256-570x428.jpeg 570w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8256-1320x990.jpeg 1320w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8256-2731x2048.jpeg 1366w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Suddenly out of the forest a small dragon (pictured above) runs out, stops for a quick photo opportunity before running off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A final photo below and it\u2019s back on the tender for coffee, lunch and a swim. That was our day on Komodo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8259-scaled.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8259-768x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-36234\" srcset=\"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8259-768x1024.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8259-225x300.jpeg 225w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8259-scaled.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/IMG_8259-570x760.jpeg 570w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>Michael + Pam<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Date : 23-25th February 2025&nbsp; Travelled : 1400 NM from Darwin to Slawi Bay Komodo.&nbsp; Visited : Komodo Dragon National Park Stayed : Holland America\u2019s Zuiderdam We slip out of Darwin harbour on the tide just after 6pm. As the Australian mainland settles in the wake behind us, we see nothing but ocean for the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":36233,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[167],"tags":[67],"class_list":{"0":"post-36222","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-indonesia-","8":"tag-cruising","9":"czr-hentry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36222","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=36222"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36222\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":36241,"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36222\/revisions\/36241"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/36233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=36222"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=36222"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=36222"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}