EAST NUSA TENGGARA, mybalinews.com – It was a rainy morning in Bali when I departed from I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport, heading to Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara.
Just one hour later, I was greeted by sunny skies upon arrival in Labuan Bajo.
From the plane, a stunning view of lush green islands scattered across the deep blue ocean unfolded, just before landing at Komodo International Airport. The aerial scenery was simply breathtaking—a beautiful welcome to Labuan Bajo!
At the airport, I was warmly welcomed by our friendly driver, Budi. Our journey for the next several days had been arranged by Intrepid Travel, an adventure travel company with over three decades of experience crafting unforgettable trips.
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From Komodo International Airport, we drove for about five hours to a lodge in Dintor Village. I would spend the night at this simple lodge before starting the hike to Waerebo Traditional Village the following morning. So excited!
Along the way to Dintor Village, we traveled on the newly repaired Trans-Flores Road, which made the trip smooth and uneventful—until we left the main route and took a more challenging road toward Dintor. This stretch was filled with potholes and rocky sections, but the scenery ahead was absolutely stunning.
We stopped at a small local restaurant and enjoyed a bowl of fish soup that was incredibly refreshing, with a savory and tangy flavor I thoroughly enjoyed.
After around five hours, we finally arrived at Waerebo Lodge, a modest homestay nestled among the golden rice fields in Dintor Village, surrounded by mountains and overlooking the beach. It offers serene surroundings, with stunning sunrises and sunsets that create unforgettable memories. 
At Waerebo Lodge, I was warmly welcomed by Yohanes Kosmas, a native of the island who would be our tour leader for the next few days.
Yohanes introduced me to the other travelers who were also joining the Intrepid program. They had already been traveling together for several days, having started their journey in Ende. I would now be joining their adventure to meet the legendary Komodo Dragon.
“Welcome,” said Nathan, an Australian traveler, followed by warm smiles from the rest of the group as they introduced themselves.
I felt very lucky as all of the travelers, who were foreign nationals, welcomed me warmly into their group. It wasn’t a large group, only five travelers had joined the trip, and with me, we became six in total. They came from various countries, including Australia, Canada, and Hong Kong.
“Intrepid never takes large groups. We only work with small groups to ensure their comfort,” said Yohanes.
We had a wonderful lunch at the lodge—red rice, stir-fried water spinach, and fried chicken with traditional spices.
Later in the afternoon, Yohanes took us on a short hike around the lodge. We enjoyed the beautiful rice fields with a backdrop of the blue ocean in the distance.
We ended the day with another delicious traditional meal: pumpkin soup, fish, noodles, and fried eggplant. After the dinner, Yohanes closed the day with some briefing for tomorrow’s journey plan.
“Tomorrow we will hiking to Waerebo village. It will took 3 to 4 hours hiking into the traditional village. We will start from here at 7.30 a.m. We will have breakfast at 7 am,” Yohanes said.
After some briefing, we go to our room for sleeping and getting ready for tomorrow’s adventure. (mybalinews/ERV)
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