Sumbawa or Flores
 

Has anyone been to Sumbawa, east of Bali? Is it worthe touring one day? If so, where would you recommend we go? How about Flores?

I've not been to Sumbawa, but I spent about five days on Flores back in 1995, shortly after an earthquake leveled major buildings such as the Catholic church. I found very little to do, little to see, and a poor infrastructure for getting around. In my month of traveling independently around Indonesia, I tried to visit islands where different religions were dominant and I chose Flores because of its Christian heritage dating back to the Portuguese. There are idyllic tropical beach scenes and many women weave exquisite cloth pieces (they are forceful traders, too---even little kids watch for foreigners and yell to their mothers sitting at outdoor looms, "Here's a tourist, Mama"). Have you considered Ambon? ZZ

Isn't there trouble in Ambon?

Yes, there is trouble in Ambon. Last I heard no foreigners were being allowed into Ambon because of the problems.

Ambon may not be the place to go now, but check out the security situation. I have another suggestion: Tanjung Puting, a national park on Central Kalimantan (Borneo) where Dr. Birute Galdikas, one of Louis Leakey's famous three proteges (the other two were Dian Fossey and Jane Goodall) established an orangutan rehabilitation center. In Banjarmasin, there is a travel agency that will make arrangements for you to fly to the nearest town and get a guide who will negotiate a rental boat and take you to the park, where there are decent, but basic, accommodations. Visiting Camp Leakey and the whole area has been one of the highlights of my life. I believe that there are direct flights from Surabaya to Banjarmasin. I arrived there by a circuitous route. If you do this---or, even if you don't---you might consider reading Dr. Galdikas' fascinating biography. ZZ

Postscript: I should have said, "Dr. Galdikas' autobiography." ZZ

We are on a ship out of Bali for a week for snorkeling trip around Komodo, the best snorkeling in the world. I'm interested in taking on some islands as a side trip. We've been to Lombok already, didn't think much of, and Mayo. I think we'll be back to Rinca as snorkeling in its water is spectacular. So Sumbawa or Flores is as far as we can manage in a small ship. I'd like to hear what other people thought of Sumbara, and if it's good, then where?