16th January 2024 - Surabaya - Labuan

The hotel is so beautiful.  We took lots and lots of photos. We discovered that itt features as the Hotel Netherlands in Joseph Conrad's novel Victory. It is a stunningly beautiful building, full of history and we were very lucky to have stayed here.

Before coming to Indonesia, Joan was a bit worried about finding anything to eat.  Admittedly our experience on the first night was not good but since then, the country has been a delight, with lots of weird, wonderful and delicious food.  Breakfast was a huge buffet.  Kevin tucked into pancakes and waffles whilst Joan hit the seitan fritters.  It was great.




We were flying to Labuan Bajo today so caught a cab which drove through China town, and then a canalled area that felt a bit like Amsterdam.

It was mad, topsy turvy day! We arrived at the airport late and then went to the wrong terminal. There was no sign of our flight anywhere. The airport staff were amazing and bundled us into a taxi and got us to the right place.  

Here we went to check-in and it turns out out flight was cancelled weeks ago 😱  Joan had been so busy, she had missed the email.

Again super brilliant airport staff rearranged our flight, now via Bali and gave us both priority check-in and seats with extra legroom on both flights.

The flight to Bali was very late taking off and we risked missing connection but again kind airport staff held up second flight for us and a few others affected, and got us a bus direct from first plane to second.

Pick up airport thankfully went smoothly and we made our little bamboo house on the outskirts of Labuan Bajo.  It was right at the top of a hill, with the most amazing views of the sea.


Very near to Australia!


Despite the description suggesting that the house was self catering, we basically had an outside sitting area with a kettle.  Still the views were amazing, and despite there being mozzy nets, the little horrors did not bother us.  However, on the downside, Kevin's left foot had swollen and he wa finding it difficult to walk so we caught a taxi into town.  Upon our return to the Uk, we found out that he had most likely been bitten when we were at Bromo and it had caused him to have cellulitis.



This is the Tripadvisor site for where we stayed:


The villa staff arranged for us to have a ride into town.  The first restaurant we visited looked a bit dodgy so we headed along the main drag until we found the Copper Bonnet restaurant and bar that had an outdoor sitting area overlooking the sea.  On the way, we passed some kiosks on the quay selling fish and frying food freshly caught.  



Again the foot delighted us.

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