We get to Riung, at north of Ngada regency, at the afternoon, just in time to enjoy the sunset in front of the 17th islands marine national park. The next morning we will enjoy a relaxing boat trip for the islands. After passing by Nagekeo regency we head to the south of Ngada, to Bajawa town.
On our way, we will relax at the Manjeruda Hotsprings and Air Tenjun Oji Waterfall. Once we get to Bajawa we will delight the sunset of the Gunung Inerie from the Wolobobo viewpoint and we will discover the traditional villages of Bena and Belaraghi.
Riung
Riung is a small Muslim village with only a few wooden houses. It is located west of Mbay, only 30min trough a small but very beautiful road by car. Riung is famous for their coast with the National Marine Park 17 islands which is almost as wonderful as komodo national park but less crowded, more peaceful and laidback.
Getting there, we stopped in a hill just in front of the islands of the national park to see the stunning sunset. We met some guys who were studying tourism at university and explained to us a lot of things in the town.
Tam, the owner of the nirvana bungalows (the hotel where we stayed at Riung) helped us rent a boat for the next day to do a boat trip at the national marine park 17th islands. We paid 1.650.000rp for the boat the whole day, which included a fantastic fish barbecue at one of the islands.
To know more about our trip at the 17th Islands click here.
Manjeruda Hotsprings
Following the Jalang Tengah road from Mbay to Bajawa, there are a beautiful hotsrings. We stopped there for a well-deserved relaxing time. To get in we had to pay 10.000rp each, but it is really worth it, we were almost alone all the time.
There is a boiling pool located in the middle of the trees. It was very hard for me to get in, I'm more used to the cold water. When I finally did it, it was very pleasant, however I couldn't swim a lot.
Trough a stream and a small waterfall, the boiling water from the hotsprings are connected to the cold water of a river. At this spot, you can feel the difference between the two waters or get a water massage sitting at the waterfall.
Air Tenjun Oji waterfall
Not so far from the Manjeruda Hotsprings, at the same road to Bajawa, we stopped to see the Air Tenjun Oji Waterfall. There is also an entrance fee of 10.000rp for each person.
It's a high waterfall surrounded by beautiful vegetation and a resting area. However, in our opinion, not so worthy compared to other things we saw.
Bajawa
Bajawa is the capital of Ngada Regency. A small city surrounded by mountains and with an elevation of 1.300 Km. The Gunung Inerie volcano can be seen from the outskirts of the town. The weather is very different at this part of the Island, it is much colder and there is more vegetation. Actually, to get to the town we had to cross a rainy mountain.
There are many hotels and restaurants in Bajawa, not as the other cities we had already been at Flores. We stayed at Mahoni Guesthouse and had dinner at Emtry Cafe. However most of the restaurants are located on the same street, you can have a walk and choose the one that fit's you best. Usually, there's one with live music.
Bena traditional village
Bena is the most touristic traditional village of Ngada Regency. It is located in the middle of mountains at the south of Bajawa, close to the Gunung Inerie volcano. There is an entrance fee of 20.000rp each person that you had to pay at the entrance house where there are some informative posters. In exchange, they will let you a sarung to wear it around your neck, while walking through the village.
On the contrary to the other regencies, the villages of Ngada are ruled by a matriarch. Which means that the houses are inherited by the first daughter of the family. If a man wants to live in the village needs to marry a woman and pay her to live there.
The roof of the houses has a different ornament according to who inherited the house. Stef told us that a doll on the roof means the owner of the house was the first daughter. A small house ornament on the roof means that the owner didn't have a daughter and the heir was their son. If the family had more than one daughter, they had to build another house and their roofs don't have any ornament.
While enjoying the views, more and more people started to get out of their houses and met together in the middle of the village. Apparently they were celebrating something and were setting up everything to have lunch all together.
Wolobobo viewpoint
The Gunung Inerie volcano can be seen from all over Bajawa. There are some tourists who venture out hiking an 8h trip to the top of the volcano. At Bajawa you can find some organised trekkings for 1 night 2 days to the volcano.
If you aren't fit enough to climb the mountain, just like us, there's another nice option for you. The Wololobo viewpoint is not so far from Bajawa and can be reached by car or motorbike.
Of course, as at many other places in Flores, we had to pay an entrance fee of 20.000rp per person. Bajawa and the surroundings are quite cold, so be prepared and bring some extra clothes. If not, going to see the sunset at the mountain is going to be freezing.
Actually the place is very nice, the locals have added some ornaments like swings, a bench, a footbridge to take pictures. The views of the volcano and the other mountains are amazing. However, it is quite popular among the tourists so we had to queue a little bit to take the best photos.
Belaraghi traditional village
We woke up early in the morning at Bajawa city and started our tour in direction to Ruteng, at Manggarai regency. Our first stop was Belaraghi traditional village which is located not so far from Bajawa. The path to get there is really nice. If you have time I recommend you to do it by walking, but you can get there by car as well.
There are some people who decide to get to Belaraghi from Bajawa by walking. It takes all day to get there but if you do the locals will prepare you a nice dinner and you can sleep there as well. Apparently it's a nice trip between the mountains.
The weather was not so good that day. When we got to the village it was so foggy. As the morning was passing by, the fog started to leave ant the views appeared to us like they were taken out from a story. There is no entrance fee at this village, however, you can make a donation to preserve the village.
The population of the village were very nice. Once we got there a beautiful puppy came running to welcome our arrival to make us a party. The people were getting ready to welcome foreigners who were doing the trip and going to spend the night there. Apparently, all the people would wear traditional customs to make a ceremony, and after, have dinner all together. They led us try to play their instruments that looked like a bassoon made from wood.
In my opinion, it was the most beautiful traditional village we visited in Flores. But I am sure there are others that are similar or better.
Aimere Arrack farm
Not so far from Belaraghi village, there is Aimere town where you can find an arrack farm. Moke is a traditional beverage made from Borassus flabellifer and Arenga pinnata fruits. It is made traditionally with techniques taught from generations to generations.
To start, the fruit is not that easy to find, however, there are some farms where the trees live all together. They put the fruit in earthen kettles and make them burn with wood. The alcoholic steam flows through long bamboos and deposits the liquid in some bowls. This first beverage has a lot of water and some alcohol, so they have to repeat the process at least 3 times. As more times the process is repeated, more degrees the Moke will have.
There is a small stall where they have some samples you can try by leaving a donation. We tried some of them and they were really good!! You can also by some bottles if you want.
If you want to continue reading about the trip click to Manggarai regency. To know a little bit more about Flores and the accommodations we stayed at click at Flores the exotic island.
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