When we swam into the part of the cave where the salty rock drops down closer to the surface of the water, that rocky kind of roof soars back up into darkness...and sleeping bats. The contrast between the bats and the dark heights of the insides of the cave and the weightlessness of the light aqua clarity of the water that has built up in the cave is quite wild and ridiculously cool to experience...just drifting inside the cave, enjoying it all.
Our scooter zipped up and down mountains, along coastlines, and through vast fields and little villages. The stark contrast of the bright and light aquas, blues, and turquoises, and vibrant greens and the browns and sandy tones, was a contrast that is beautiful and unforgettable.
Diving down deeper to swim with the fish, seeing them whirl around you in dizzying flashes of vibrant colour. And then, out of nowhere, a sea turtle surprised us! Swimming gracefully through the brilliantly clear blues, this little guy stayed around for a while before continuing on with his day. Under the surface, watching that little turtle glide through the ocean, it feels like paradise. And it is. It really is.
The national park is an entire island and is the natural home and only place on Earth today where the Komodo dragon lives and breathes in its natural habitat. The Komodo dragon is practically a living dinosaur and it plays an important role in how scientists continue to form their understanding of evolution.
The sunsets from the villa those first few days were unlike anything I have ever seen - and it only got better from there. With an incredible time ahead of us, we settled in for a night overlooking the boats lighting up the reef-peppered waters that surround Labuan Bajo.
