Rinca to Riung August 2015
After a night in Sebayor Kecil we sailed to Bari Bay. We had the kayak in the water and the local kids loved it. The bigger boys loved paddling and Morg had a great time swimming and fishing with them around the boat. They were lovely children and the older ones have a real sense of responsibility for the younger kids and Morg.From here we went to Lingeh Bay- a beautiful anchorage in a 200m strip between a reef and the shore.
Boys jumping off the boat
Boys trying to sell us produce
Boys happy with their books
We shared this anchorage with an Australian boat and had a swap note meeting. Good, as they were heading west and MS east so valuable advise was exchanged on the best places to visit.
Again visited by local kids asking for books and pencils. Our supply of books was now exhausted but they were happy with marbles and fish hooks. Warren spent one afternoon surrounded by kids in the cockpit making bead bracelets. They came with  bananas, cucumbers and tomatoes which we bought off them, and one enterprising young guy even brought a live chicken onto the boat. I’m sure this was the first time the poor chook had been on a yacht as it was petrified and the kids are none too gentle with it. We didn’t buy the chicken, not sure if we could manage getting it ready for the freezer and wouldn’t be a great pet.  We went for a walk ashore to meet one of the young men who had come out to the boat. This was by far the poorest village we have been into. Each village, depending on their size and affluence has a mosque or two  and  the mosque here was a tiny square concrete building  -the dome of which was a few sheets of tin beaten into a rough shaped egg. The house we visited was a large bamboo hut with a concrete floor housing the extended family in 2-3 rooms. Newspaper cuttings decorate the walls and I’d imagine you’d need an umbrella inside during monsoon season. Yet they are very happy people, always greeting us with big smiles and welcomes of  ‘hello mister’.
Rutong Island
After a couple of  days here we sailed onto to Damo Bay, a very deep fjiord like bay very sheltered. Stayed here a few days and then onto Riung which is located in the center of the 17 Islands National Park. We had a dolphin guide us into the bay between the reefs and swim around the boat for a while when we anchored. Morg and I jumped in for a swim but the water wasnt that clear and sadly we didn’t meet him. A Dutch boat arrived shortly after us and they too were guided in by the dolphin. We had a lovely time with Monique and Peter off Deesse sharing a car up to the mountain village of Bajawa. A long 3.5hr  car journey over pretty bad roads. But nice to see some of Flores other than the coast.
Sophia and Megan in the main sail
The next day we were joined by Kailani an American boat with a 7 yr old girl on it.  Morg and Sophia had a great time playing with each other. We anchored out at Rutong Island for a couple of nights where the kids had great fun on the beach. Lovely clear water, white sands and good snorkelling. Nine nights in this area went so fast, especially  as this was the first time we had done some socialising in what seemed a long time. The rally boats are also due to start crossing our paths soon, so we may not be on our own any longer.
