Labuan Bajo

Kelimutu Lake

Teluk Buaya

Port Of Labuan Bajo

The regency of West Manggarai is subdivided into 7 districts and 121 sub-districts. Labuan Bajo is the regional capital of West Manggarai.
West Manggarai is the regency covering the westernmost area of West Flores, located within the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara. In 2003, West Manggarai was elevated to the status of a regency in recognition of its role as an important gateway to Flores,
With the established of the regional administration in Labuan Bajo, transportation access to Labuan Bajo, by land, sea and air continue to be enhanced. Numerous economic and tourism developments are now in an advanced planning stage or under construction in West Manggarai.
Labuanbajo, also spelled Labuhanbajo, is a city at the tip of Flores Island in Indonesia. It is the launching point for trips to Komodo Island and Rinca Island to see Komodo dragons and the surrounding sea is idyllic for diving and snorkeling. Nearby Seraya Island is a great opportunity to do some diving and snorkeling and every evening at Kalong Island thousands of flying fox bats put on an amazing display.

Get There:
Labuanbajo can be accessed by ferry from Sumbawa or by public bus from Ende and Maumere. There are also daily flights between Labuanbajo and Denpasar.

A number of companies organise 4 day sailing trips between Lombok or Bali and Flores for around Rp1,000,000 passengers should be aware that these trips can cross open waters and are on boats with no navigation or safety equipment other than some lifejackets (ie. no radio, flairs or life rafts).

Labuan Bajo - West Flores

The regency of West Manggarai is subdivided into 7 districts and 121 sub-districts. Labuan Bajo is the regional capital of West Manggarai.
West Manggarai is the regency covering the westernmost area of West Flores, located within the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara. In 2003, West Manggarai was elevated to the status of a regency in recognition of its role as an important gateway to Flores,

With the established of the regional administration in Labuan Bajo, transportation access to Labuan Bajo, by land, sea and air continue to be enhanced. Numerous economic and tourism developments are now in an advanced planning stage or under construction in West Manggarai.
Labuanbajo, also spelled Labuhanbajo, is a city at the tip of Flores Island in Indonesia. It is the launching point for trips to Komodo Island and Rinca Island to see Komodo dragons and the surrounding sea is idyllic for diving and snorkeling. Nearby Seraya Island is a great opportunity to do some diving and snorkeling and every evening at Kalong Island thousands of flying fox bats put on an amazing display.

Get There:
Labuanbajo can be accessed by ferry from Sumbawa or by public bus from Ende and Maumere. There are also daily flights between Labuanbajo and Denpasar.

A number of companies organise 4 day sailing trips between Lombok or Bali and Flores for around Rp1,000,000 passengers should be aware that these trips can cross open waters and are on boats with no navigation or safety equipment other than some lifejackets (ie. no radio, flairs or life rafts).

What to Do:
Komodo National Park encompasses a lot of water and islands west of Labuanbajo. If you want to go to Rinca or Komodo islands, or dive in the park you will have to buy a 3 day park pass for 15 $USD. Money from such user fees goes into conservation efforts (including armed patrols) that are apparently overseen by the WWF.

Rinca Island (Indonesian: Rinca Kecil or Rinca Pulau) is a more convenient place to see Komodo Dragons than Komodo island. Some dive operators might be convinced to combine a stop at the island with a days diving. There are big dragons that are often right in front of the pier when people arrive.

Scuba Diving within the park is excellent. There are three main dive operators that offer day dives as well as live aboard opportunities: Bajo Dive Club, Dive Komodo, and Reef Seekers. The Komodo Diving dive master is a true enthusiast of manta rays (clearly evident by the tattoo on his back), who often spots manta rays from the boat between dives. He has been known to join divers in jumping into the water with snorkel gear to have a look at them.

Seraya Island (Indonesian: Seraya Kecil or Seraya Pulau) is an idyllic island and a great opportunity to get away from civilization and do some snorkeling and diving. Seraya is little more than a small, arid island outside of the Komodo National Park with a few bamboo huts for tourist lodging, a restaurant, and some villagers who let their goats graze on vegetation. The island’s cove is protected from the sea providing calm and clear water for snorkeling. At low tide the coral is exposed and local fishermen walk on the reef in search of prey. Rowboats can be rented and taken to nearby islands for snorkeling and diving. Make sure to run up to the top of the hill behind the resorts and check out the sunset. The lodges on the island do have showers, but running water is only available a few hours a day. The resort on Seraya is operated by Gardena hotel in Labuanbajo and a stay on the island can be booked at Gardena’s front desk.

One of the more spectacular displays of nature in the area is at Kalong Island (Indonesian: Pulau Kalong; also spelt Kalung), which literally means "Flying Fox Island." The name is quit appropriate as the island is home to thousands of Kalong, or giant flying fox bats. Boats to Kalong can be chartered from Labuanbajo for around $30 for a return ride, including a snorkeling stop at a nearby island before you reach Pulau Kalong. Your boat will situate itself next to the mangrove island and at dusk literally tens of thousands of flying foxes emerge from the mangrove island and move over your boat towards Rinca Island. For the entire colony to emerge will take roughly twenty minutes of continuous waves of bats passing over your boat. The boat ride to/from Labuanbajo will take roughly one hour.

Get out
Ferries to Sumbawa Island to the west (towards Bali) leave daily and very crowded public buses leave for Ende and Maumere. For those going on to points in the east of Flores another more expensive option is to hire a car.
The “Komodo dragons” which are indigenous to the regency are a tourism icon of West Manggarai. Komodo was named a World Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in1977 and added to the list of World Natural Heritage Sites by in 1991. The Government of Indonesia proclaimed a National Park in 1990. The Park’s land area is 603 km2 while the total size of the park, including sea areas, is 1,817 km2.
West Manggarai occupies an area of 9,450,000 km2 (land and sea).162 islands are contained within the boundaries of West Manggarai, 84 of which are part of the Komodo National Park. Only 17 of West Manggarai islands are inhabited. Because of the world renowned reputation of Komodo, the rich local marine environment and the natural beauty the region - both the regional and national governments of Indonesia have acknowledged the strong tourism potential development of West Manggarai

Where to Find the Best Tips on How to Save Your Relationship

by: Amy Wells

If you are looking for the best tips to save your relationship you might want to check the Internet. The computer can be a wealth of information from different relationship experts. By searching in an organized way you will be able to gain insights and information from a range of experts and you can then take the liberty of figuring out which advice best deals with your situation.

There are sites which allow you to anonymously ask questions and get replies from other site users. You would be amazed how much useful information you can get from these user message boards. The only thing that you need to keep in mind is that many of the people who post replies are not trained therapists and their information may or may not be accurate.

It is critical that you keep things anonymous. The Internet is a vast realm and you would think that there would be very little chance that what you are posting would get back to your significant other. But you would be surprised. It is true that the Internet is a huge place but it is easy to search items and content very specifically and if your significant other knows you at all, there is a good chance that they may be checking the same areas of the internet that you are.

Both men and women are very much alike in that they don't like to think that their partner is going to anyone else for advice on your relationship. Women in particular may feel emotionally betrayed if they think that you are forming any kind of emotional connection with the women who are giving you advice. This is another reason why you need to be very cautious when looking for information on how to solve relationship issues.

If you are posting questions on message boards in order to find out information, keep what you are writing fairly generic and do not mention any names. This is because you do not want someone to identify you or your partner from the information online. Today's society is so interconnected that the lines of privacy have become blurred in some situations. The last thing you want is for someone to approach your partner and try to offer them advice. It most likely will be a very negative reaction.

When you do find information, remember to take it in stride and don't necessarily think it all applies to you. This can be important. You should have done enough soul searching and thinking that you can identify what some of your relationship issues were and which behaviors led to the break up. You should also know which behaviors that your partner exhibited are ones that you had problems with. You need to be able to identify why these upset you and what you would like to see changed. If you want to save your relationship you need to be able to look at things from both sides of the issue.

Trying to save your relationship can be extremely worthwhile and there is a lot of information available that can help you do that. By knowing where to look and what to do with the information you discover you can formulate a constructive approach to rebuilding a strong and healthy relationship with your partner.

Getting an Ex Girlfriend Back - Some Tips and Hints

by: Amy Wells

If you are interested in getting an ex girlfriend back there are a few things you should keep in mind and certain actions you should take. Of course, any relationship is unique and there may be circumstances that make getting back together more or less difficult but there are a few things to keep in mind.

You need to come in under her radar if you want to stand a chance of getting back together with your woman. She will be extremely suspicious of everything and every gesture that you make, at least at first. Your ex will worry that you are playing games and that you may just be setting her up to be hurt all over again. You need to show that that is not the case.

If you manage to couple being casual with some of her interests, that can be an excellent way to acknowledge what she finds important and appear to be being nice without ulterior motives. If she loves a band, get two tickets to a concert and offer them to her and one of her female friends. That shows you are including her friends and counting yourself out of the evening. How could this possibly be a trick to get her back if you are not even there?

Getting the approval of her female friends is important since friends are very important to a woman. They were her support system during the break up and the time immediately after. Many women look to the input of their friends before they are willing to get back together with a woman. Remember, her friends may not like you at all. They heard how upset you made their friend and they don't have the buffer of positive emotions to cloud their judgment. If they think you are messing with your ex, they will let her know and this can destroy even the best laid plans.

One good sign that you have a chance is if she is still calling you. Women can be odd in that she may be calling and arguing with you to gage whether or not you are still interested enough. Remember not to let her make you into her whipping boy but as long as you are still talking you have the chance to sort things out and work at fixing misunderstandings. If she won't even talk to you, your chances of resurrecting the relationship are slim to none.

Women can be very fickle and may react to things in ways you may not expect. You may not understand, but women are very emotionally and mentally driven. They also have long memories and even when things seem to go well, something may happen that triggers a negative memory. Be prepared for this. As you grow closer to reconciling, you may find that she actually seems more upset. This is because she is becoming more emotionally invested in being with you and is risking being hurt again. It can be difficult but if you can work through it you stand an excellent chance of getting an ex girlfriend back.

You may wonder if it is actually possible to get an ex girlfriend back. The simple answer is yes, but you will need to use some of the hints and tips listed above to do so.

Visit Famous Cities on Rajasthan Tour

by: Rajesh Kumar

Rajasthan is globally famous tourist destination of India. It is the romantic state of India with innumerable tourist’s attractions. Visitors from all over the world come here to explore the attraction of the city that tells the saga of the bygone era. The state is gifted with innumerable tourist’s attractions that offer a wonderful holiday experience in Rajasthan. The state is famous for timeless monuments, rich culture, fairs & festivals, wildlife, etc. It will be a wonderful experience for vacationers, wildlife lovers and honeymoon couples being in the wonderful state of India. Visitors will have a golden chance time to collect innumerable moments to cherish the tour throughout lifetime.

There are several places in Rajasthan that are worth visiting and exploring. Some of the most visited cities are Jaipur, Jaisalmer, and Udaipur. Apart from these cities tour visitors can also explore the Agra and Delhi on their tour to Rajasthan. These cities are nearby Rajasthan and most of the visitors never miss a chance to attend the tourist’s attractions of these cities.

Jaipur also known as Pink city of India is the most visited city of Rajasthan. It is also said that the city is the Gateway to the Rajasthan Tourism. More of the Pink city is famous for appealing tourist’s attraction. Some of the popular attractions of the city are Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar, City Palace, Amber Fort, Birla Mandir, etc. It will be a wonderful experience to witness the Amber Fort on the back of the elephant. Visitors will hardly miss this chance when they are in Jaipur-the Pink City of India.

Jaisalmer also known as the Golden City of India is all time favorite of tourists. Apart from the city attractions visitors cal also enjoy the camel safari in Jaisalmer. Here visitors can explore the richness of the Thar Desert enjoying a camel safari.

Udaipur also known as the City of Lakes is the heart beat of Rajasthan tourism. It is true that the city has innumerable tourist attractions that are worth visiting and exploring. But one can never hide the fact the Pichola Lake is the most famous attraction of the city. It is sure visitors will fall in love with the mesmerizing look of the Pichola Lake and the stunning view of the Raj Mahal Palace in the middle of the lake.

Beside tourist attractions Rajasthan the land of maharajas is the heavenly destinations of royal wedding. Wedding in Rajasthan are mostly arranged in the heritage hotels, palaces and forts of Rajasthan. Now most of the people and celebrities arrange their marriage ceremony in Rajasthan. The romantic environment, imperial and majestic setting and the traditional marriage ceremony gives a feeling of kings and queens for the moment. It is dreams come true for every couple to get married in the royal environment of Rajasthan.

Apart from exploring the beauty of monuments, tourist can also explore the beauty of Rajasthan Temples. There are several temples in Rajasthan some of the popular ones are Birla temple & Govind Devji Temple of Jaipur, Jain temples & Nathdwara temple of Jaisalmer, Eklingji temple of Udaipur, Ajmer Sharif of Ajmer and Brahma Temple of Pushkar. Visiting Brahma temple of Pushkar will worth your Rajasthan temple tour. It is said that the Brahma temple of Pushkar is the only temple in India dedicated to Lord Brahma-the creator of this universe.

After explore every length and breadth of Rajasthan they can also enjoy the tours to Delhi. Delhi is the capital city of India. It is true that most of the tour to Rajasthan starts from Delhi. The capital city of India also has major attractions. Visitor being in the capital city can explore some of the prominent tourist attractions such as Lotus Temple, India Gate, Red Fort (Lal Killa), Akshardham Temple, Qutub Minar, Raj Ghat, etc. Beside all how will one forget to visit Agra the city of India that holds one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Exploring the beauty of Taj Mahal will be the delightful experience of Tours to Agra. Millions of tourists from all over the world come to Agra to grab the architectural magnificence and the magical beauty of Taj Mahal.

Why Working on Cruise Ship Could be the Best Thing You Ever Did!

by: Neil Maxwell Keys

How would you like to be able to visit some of the worlds most exotic, beautiful and far away places that few people will ever get to see? Including the Bahamas, the Caribbean, the Far East, Australia, Europe, Canada, and USA?

Imagine waking up each day in a different, exciting and unique tropical island, the sun shining, the weather hot, the sea crystal clear - and the only decision you have to make is which beach you're going to visit that day!

Imagine always having plenty of cash and doing all those exciting things you've always wanted to do: jet skiing, jeeping around exotic islands, learning to scuba dive, trekking through rainforests, whale watching, hiking to waterfalls, swimming with dolphins, snorkeling in crystal clear sea, shopping in unique countries or simply relaxing on the best beaches in the world.

Imagine having many great friends of all different nationalities from around the world - all living, working, socializing and enjoying amazing life experiences together.

Did you know that YOU COULD DO ALL OF THIS while being paid a great tax-free income for doing it?

Does this all sound like a pipe dream to you? It really isn't, you know. This is exactly how thousands of other people are choosing to live their lives right now, as we speak. This is exactly the life that I have led. This is exactly the life that YOU too could be living.

If you've already thought about getting a job on a luxury cruise liner Chance are that probably already appreciate some of the incredible benefits of working in this unique, exciting and fascinating industry.

But let's get one thing straight...

Why do YOU want to work onboard a cruise ship?

It's important to be able to answer this apparently simple question, before applying for cruise ship jobs.

Why?

...Because unless you have a clear idea for the reason you want to do it and know exactly what you want to achieve, you may apply for the wrong positions, but worst of all you'll struggle to find the motivation to follow through with it. Your efforts will be doomed to failure!

That sounds rather harsh, but think about it for a moment...

You're attempting to embark on one of life's great adventures, your success will largely depend on the impression you give to a potential cruise ship employer and that only comes from knowing your reasons for wanting to do it.

So grab a pen and paper and write down your main objective in no more than ONE sentence.

I don't want to over-influence your ideas, but here are some of the many reasons why people decide to work onboard a cruise ship:

* TRAVEL THE WORLD Cruise ship jobs provide the perfect vehicle from which to visit the most exotic and beautiful destinations on earth. Often you'll travel to places that you would never get to see in your lifetime through 'conventional' travel.

* TO DO SOMETHING WITH YOUR LIFE Working onboard a cruise ship makes you a VERY interesting and attractive person. You get instant respect, even recognition. It's unusual and different and people naturally want to talk to you about it. "What was it like?", "Where did you go?", "I wish I'd have done that" (a VERY common reaction!). Even potential employers are INTRIGUED when they see on your resume that you once worked on a cruise ship! You'll feel VERY satisfied that you actually did something exciting with your life.

* TO SAVE MONEY The potential to save a lot of money is fantastic! You're being paid a great income (tax free) and you have ZERO expenses - no board to pay, no food to buy and no bills to settle each month. Every cent you earn goes into YOUR pocket and no one else's. You are free to do whatever you like with that money, whether its save for a deposit on a house or a new car. Or blow the lot on amazing life experiences in exotic ports of call! The choice is yours.

* TO MEET OTHER PEOPLE With up to 1500 crew members onboard each ship you WILL meet and make many great friends (even partners) with new, interesting and exciting people. And with 70+ different nationalities working onboard, you'll often find that your closest friends are from exotic faraway places too!

* TO START A NEW CAREER Never forget, a cruise ship job doesn't have to be a 'one-off' opportunity. A whole new glittering career awaits you - if you want it. Opportunities to develop your career are massive and cruise lines almost always promote from 'within'.

* HAVE SOME FUN! Isn't that what life's all about? And "fun" comes with a capital "F" when you work on a cruise ship!

As I've mentioned above... there are many other GREAT reasons to work on a cruise ship, so don't be over-influenced by my list. But do grab a pen and get your reasons down on paper.

Copyright 2006 Neil Maxwell Keys

Why These Are The Best Times To Apply for Jobs On Cruise Ships

by: Neil Maxwell Keys

Jobs on cruise ships are available throughout the year. However, during certain times of the year employers have to be a bit more selective in who they employ. You may not know it but you actually stand more chance of getting a job at certain times of the year than at others.

But no matter what time you choose to apply for a job, the truth is that the 'perfect' time does not really exist. Sure, there are some times that are better than others, but the most important thing that you can do is to start your application process right now, because cruise line companies are employing throughout the year.

Sitting around waiting for the best time to apply is a high-risk strategy. What if it never arrives? If you continue to wait then you'll miss opportunities. The most important thing is to just get started, even if you don't think you're quite ready. You never really know until you try! This will allow you to get started and then when the right job turns up you'll be ready for it.

Everyone makes excuses, but you have to get past these. It's not easy to do, but don't become one of those people who's always saying they're going to do something and then never get around to it.

So in terms of what times of year jobs on cruise ships are easier to get than other times, when should you apply? One answer is just before Christmas in the months from September to November.

There are a few reasons for this. The first is that world cruises usually begin in January, so most cruise lines look to fill their vacancies rightaway. Also, winter is generally the busiest time of year. This means that there is simply more work going. And on top of that, a lot of the more experienced crew want to spend Christmas with their families, leaving more openings available for you.

This should convince you not to wait until December to get your applications in, but to get up and get sorted as soon as you can!

But there is another time of year when jobs on cruise ships are easier to find, and that is just before the summer peak season which starts in May. Boats are usually fully booked during this time, but there will still be experienced crew who decide to go home for the summer rather than at Christmas. This means more jobs on cruise ships will be going, and why shouldn't you be the one to get the position?

Jobs on cruise ships are going throughout the year. Sure, there are two times of the year when you might stand a better chance of getting a job because there are more positions going, and if you can time your application to coincide with these times then that's great.

However try not to let the time of the year prevent you from applying for the jobs on cruise ships that you want. The truth is that there are jobs going throughout the year, and if you wait too long then you're going to miss out. Begin your search for a job right now, start the ball rolling today, and you are much more likely to get hired.

Piazza Navona

During the Christmas season Piazza Navona is packed with stalls selling toys, sweets and decorations for the Nativity scene or Christmas tree, making it a favorite spot for children. Its unusual shape recalls the time of Domitian, who built a stadium for equestrian displays here. The Fountain of the Rivers, with the obelisk, and the Fountain of the Moor, with the God of the Sea, at the center of the square, are both sculpted by Bernini.

Information by Wcities