Our trek today is 1 hour in length. We may see other animals. All are wild. NO ONE is allowed off the pier without a ranger. 

As we are walking up the pier we are all thrilled to see a Komodo dragon walking the beach, finding a huge fish and eating it.

We are told to not separate from group… stay behind line cuz they don’t know the character of the Komodo dragons and what they might do. Look left and right and up….could be in trees. 

There are male and female palm trees. First one seen has what look like small “fruits”. The trunks have soft centres so babies can climb to get away from adults. The babies live in trees till 3 yrs old ….. eat insects and “fruit”.  They do come down…. We saw some on the ground but they can outrun adults and can climb trees…. that the adults cannot.  

Difficult to grow rice here on this island so natives eat pulp of palms by boiling it…. Is like tapioca. 

Males have a longer tail, bigger head and can live to 60 years. Female smaller 20-30years m, lay 30 eggs once a year of which only 3-5 survive 

Total population of dragons is 1600 (stable)on this island but there are  only 500 in this area. 

First one was we see is a female then the 2 that were thinking of fighting. They were laying in wait for deer or buffalo near a watering hole. Mating season is July and August. They go into hiding so people don’t see any around. Incubation of the eggs is 9 months. Females stay with hatched babies for 3 months then they leave the nest. 

Bird digs hole then dragons take over to lay eggs in one hole and use other as camouflage. 

It is so bloody hot (I heard 36C). Even if it is dry season maybe beginning of wet season, I am dripping from sweat. 

10-15 minutes by derelict boat for 1 hour +/- at Pink Beach for swimming and snorkeling. 

I thought I would try again my waterproof case for my phone and my face mask. Both leaked. So sorry no pictures.

While on my second time out snorkelling (with borrowed ones this time), I unknowingly got caught a rip current that no one had warned us about. Trust me it was ripping. As I looked down the fish and the ground was racing by and I could not get out of it. I kept telling myself “don’t panic, don’t panic, go with it, just don’t panic”. I kept thinking of the people that drown off the beach in Guayabitos. I went so far past rock outcropping that I could not see anyone in the water or on the beach. It did ease up as I got further away and I was able to get to the rocky shore that tried to maneuver over. Finally when I was able to see others I called for help and the guide grabbed my hand to help me get over the rest of the rocks. I have a few cuts but I am alive to talk about it.

There are only 2000 people that live on Komodo … mostly are fishermen. 

Flores island… was told to check it out