Visit by the Director-General of the Institute of Science and Technology and Higher Education to eLBajo Commodus Polytechnic
To be precise, on Saturday, March 24 2018, the group also visited the world-famous Komodo National Park (TNK). By boarding a pinisi ship, this one-day trip will visit 3 (three) places at the TNK, namely Padar Island, Komodo Island and Pink Beach (Pink Beach). At 04.30 in the morning, the group got ready at the port where the pinisi ship was anchored and at 05.00 the ship moved slowly from the port to Padar Island.
Accompanied by calm waves and a rising sun emerging from the eastern horizon, a team from the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education and several foundation officials chatted while enjoying the beauty of the National Park. After about 2 hours and 30 minutes, the ships began to enter the Padar Island area and one by one the teams boarded rubber boats that would take them to the coast of Padar Island. The largest island in the KNP area is now a favorite of tourists, both domestic and foreign. Just by light trekking for about 30 minutes to the top, tourists can enjoy climbing the green hills of the Padar Island Savana.
After enjoying Padar Island in the hot sun, the group got off and continued their journey to Komodo Island, the habitat of Varanus komodoensis. Travel time to Komodo Island is around 1 hour. Komodo Island has a port that can accommodate large ships. Upon arrival at Loh Liang, a sign reading “Welcome to Komodo” National Park seemed to welcome the group who were about to enter the National Park. In this place, visitors can see how Komodo dragons and humans live side by side. In contrast to Loh Buaya, Rinca Island, where there are no traders, near the entrance area of Loh Liang there are stalls selling typical food, drinks and souvenirs such as t-shirts depicting Komodo dragons and Komodo dragon statues.
After paying the entrance ticket, two park rangers are ready to guide and explain what can be done and the rules that apply during the trip. Given the physical conditions and time available, the team chose to follow a short trekking route. Along the road, there are occasional wild boars and deer, and after walking for a few minutes, two adult Komodo dragons are seen under a tree near a water pool. Satisfied with taking photos with Komodo dragons, the team returned to the ship, enjoyed lunch, then left for Pink Beach. Not long after enjoying the pink sand formed from coral flakes, the team then returned to Labuan Bajo bringing several interesting stories from Komodo National Park.
