Cruising from Bali to Irian Jaya and down to Cairns

[JohnM]

Next morning we arrived at Maumere on the island of Flores. Quite a large town, but we are taking a 1 hiur bus trip into the mountains to a remote village.

View attachment 484737

A convoy of about 8 busses of varying sizes, with a police escort, necessary to clear the road for us. A good paved road all the way, but only one effective lane with wide shoulders.

View attachment 484738

Arrived the village and the school kids were excited (only a couple of cruise boats make it up here) and were taking photos of us, taking photos of them.

View attachment 484739

AN elaborate welcoming ceremony, unfortunately only view-able by a few at the front.

View attachment 484740

Then led down to the performance area. Quite flash.

View attachment 484741

The band

View attachment 484742

Several perfomances, this one related to marriage involves an elephant tusk and the gradual chopping down of a banana tree.

View attachment 484750 View attachment 484751

View attachment 484753

View attachment 484754

View attachment 484752

Ouch.

Unusual phallic symbolism...

 

[bPeteb]

Ouch.

Unusual phallic symbolism...

I think Roo was very circumspect in his description

 

[JohnM]

I think Roo was very circumspect in his description

Circum what?

 

[RooFlyer]

Basically involving defence against attack, necessitating climbing up bamboo to fire arrows from there

 

[RooFlyer]

Then it was to the demonstration of weaving of the local ikat.





Then to the shop! I virtually never buy stuff from places like these (last time was on the Silk Road in Uzbekistan), but given multiple assurances from the exped crew that its the real McCoy, I bought what will become bed runner for 50 euros.




About 50 mins back to the boat for lunch.



as we sailed on



Afternoon talks are good; this one, given by a 'geomorphologist' was a decent effort on that is a massively complicated topic.

 

[RooFlyer]

Couple more pics - and if worried about photographing children, they were being proudly brought forward by their parents and multiple OKs from the boat.

 

[RooFlyer]

Next day, we arrived at Kalabahi on the islad of Alor





Moored offshore and a short zodiac ride to a dry landing at a pier.

Just to show the marina on the Le Soleil







As before, on a convoy of air con busses for a 30 min ride to a village, not far from Kalabahi, but still up a mountain. The last bit was on foot.

 

[Cossie]

50 euro? I would not be able to help myself, especially after having seen the cloth being woven and dyed.