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Celia Corbin

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It was a long travel day waking up at 3 am in Melbourne to catch my connecting flight in Sydney at 9:50 am to Auckland. I was pretty nervous I was going to miss my flight to Auckland because I was cutting it so close with a different airline. Jetstar is infamous for being late, but I took a chance because I knew it was the first flight of the day and I really had no choice since I was dealing with computer stuff over the last few days.

The timing ended up working out perfectly and I arrive into Auckland in the early afternoon. The airport is much smaller than I remember for being a big city in New Zealand. I didn’t see an area I could buy a SIM card, but in a way, I didn’t want to either knowing I’d only be around for 24 hours.

I had the option of taking the Skybus to the city and then catching a bus from there to my Airbnb but I was feeling lazy having my heavy dive bag. I couldn’t reach my host because the wifi was weak at SYD airport. So I had to wing it and hope he was home. I kept asking the taxi how soon before we’d get there. The cab was WAY more than I thought at about $100 NZD, about $70 USD. Ouch!

I don’t know that I’d normally choose a Chinese man as my Airbnb host but he said he was gay-friendly so I thought he might be pretty outgoing. I arrive at an apartment in a very residential neighborhood and it’s not as centrally located as I thought. I tried ringing the intercom but no answer. The taxi driver allowed me to use his phone and my host just got to the gym but said he’d turn back around. He arrived after 10 minutes and let me up to his apartment. It was on the second floor, and he helped carry my dive bag upstairs.

His place is clean, but I wasn’t as excited as I was about my stay in Melbourne. He shows me my way around and said he’ll be back in a couple hours. I get settled and noticed he had a bathtub. He didn’t mention where the hot tub was so I opted in for second best. I don’t remember the last time I had a hot bath outside of the massage I had recently at my Bali hotel, but it was really hard to relax at the Bali spa because I wasn’t sure how long was appropriate to stay after a massage.

I forgot to buy shampoo because I was trying to reduce weight in my bag and so I figured he wouldn’t mind if I used his. The water was piping hot and I just laid there soaking. I exhale long and hard. This feels amazing. I wish I had a bubble bath, but it’s good enough. I lied there thinking about my last few months on Flores Island and how exhausted my body really was from all of that hard laborious work. Being a divemaster is almost slave work, or maybe it was the company I was working for being overly demanding. Who cares. It’s over and now I’m in beautiful Auckland for a day, but I’m almost too tired to explore.

I let the water run out of the tub and then turn the shower on washing the rest of my body a second time. I turn the water off and see a squeegee off to the side and decide to be nice and squeegee the ½ glass door that covered the shower area.

The lights are still off in the apartment so I decide to venture out. I hate venturing without GPS. I guess I don’t hate venturing. I hate getting lost and like being efficient with my time.

There weren’t many close walking options to restaurants but Yang said there was a Japanese restaurant across the stop light. I decide to go there since it’s dark, wet outside, and I’m feeling lazy. I read a few reviews on Google about their service and food. It didn’t seem too impressive and rated 3 ½ stars out of 5 but I decided I’d go with it anyway.

I arrive and ask if I could take a seat at the sushi bar. She said they were full with reservations but had a place for me outside if I wanted. I accepted and she said she’d even put the heat lamp on. I started with a ½ dozen raw oysters and an assortment of sushi. Both were okay but not anything worth mentioning. I also requested a large hot sake. I didn’t feel like getting fancy tonight. Usually, I’d pair it with an Asahi but it was $8 and didn’t seem worth it when I could get a 6 pack for that in the States. I am still hungry and order some of the pork belly. It was okay. Then I ordered a plate of rice and minced chicken to go. I ask for one more saki while I wait for my to-go order. The food eventually comes out and I ask for the check. I ask a second and third time – eventually saying that if I didn’t get the check in two minutes I was going to walk out. That was after 30+ minutes of waiting of course. I understand all the reviews about the service. Needless to say, I finally got my check. This was the first time I acted in a very Western manner. If I were in SEA, I probably wouldn’t have said that. Funny how we acclimate to what we’re accustomed to.

After dinner, I walk back home and into my room. I hear the TV on in the living room and try being social with Yang. I ask him if there’s a place I can pick up wine around the area. He suggested a local convenient store next to the Japanese restaurant and then a supermarket about 10 minutes walk away. I decide to make the run and stop by the first store but they didn’t sell alcohol so I walked to the market about 10 minutes away. I was a little buzzed from the sake so it was a fun dancing sort of stroll. I get there and decide I was going to drink Porter Ale instead of wine. I pick up a bag of nuts for a late night snack as well.

I get back to the apartment and Yang is still there. I sit at the dinner table and try sparking up a conversation asking him if he’s from Auckland. He then tells his story how he’s from a small tribe in China. Fascinating. He has a Kiwi accent. He then shared his story about how he always loved learning English from middle school and kept practicing and getting great at speaking it. From that opened up opportunities for him to Bangkok and then his friends eventually brought him to Auckland where he’s been for the last long leg of his life. He gets a call in the middle of our conversation. He’s speaking lower as if he didn’t want his conversation to be heard and then excused himself into his room where he stayed the rest of the night. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say it was his boyfriend. I continued to listen to his Chill sessions music playing from his super large 70” flat screen. Then I decided to go back to my room and put on a movie via Amazon Prime (rental) and called it a night.

The next morning I wake up around 8:30 am and pack my things. I make myself a coffee and see Yang. I tell him I’ll be out between 11-11: 30 am. I guess he has someone coming in at 2 pm. I finish up earlier and call an Uber just before 11 am and decide to leave early. He helps me carry my bag and that was that. A very polite and also a private guy.

I never bothered to plan out my travels from the beginning. Maybe I was still feeling a little burnt from my last job where planning for others was a huge role I played. So by the time I hit the road, I just decided to wing it. I didn’t put together a budget. I didn’t set a time for how long I was going to be gone. Instead, I said I would just go with the flow according to my comfort level and see how long it lasts me. It’s more fun that way, right?

I can hear all the Type A personalities disagreeing with me right now.

I didn’t set any goals or budget because I wanted to see what level of comfort I couldn’t live without. What I learned is that I’m not in my twenties anymore and some luxuries are now very important to me – like having a nice meal and a bottle of wine – or finding a comfortable short-term apartment during parts of my travels to offset some of the sometimes annoying shared living. I learned that I had gotten too comfortable to some of the modern luxuries that as much as I tried to be a responsible budget traveler, I just wasn’t being real with myself. I had a nice job with a nice apartment in the city and that is something I have become accustomed to. Maybe because I know how great some things are means I don’t want to continue missing out on those things just because I want to prove I know how to be a budget traveler. Sure, I can rough it from time to time but the reality is that I don’t always want to! It’s not a rat race to see who can go the longest but instead, a personal journey of oneself and I don’t feel guilty that this is the traveling style I choose.

What I learned about myself is that I like getting mani’s and pedi’s abroad. I want to get my hair done. I want to buy a new dress to feel pretty. I like my down comforters when I travel. I want to buy that better than the average bottle of wine and complement it with cheese and charcuterie. I do like roughing it when it’s for the sake of adventure, but that’s about it!

Malaysia is proud of its diversity. Not only is its culture and heritage a rich combination of Malay, Chinese, Indian and European influences, but its biodiversity is also something that lures visitors from all over the world. Beaches, forests, lakes, and mountain trails all abound in this beautiful nation.

It is no wonder that adventure travelers have a myriad of choices in Malaysia. They will never run out of exciting things to do. Here are the top three places that adventurers will surely love when travelling to this Asian destination:

GUNUNG MULU NATIONAL PARK

This magnificent park in Sarawak is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visitors can go on jungle hikes, trek into caves, ride a raft in the river, and do home stays with native tribes.

It is home to the largest network of caves in the world. Deer Cave is the largest cave passage that has been discovered in the world thus far. It is home to free-tailed naked bats. Clearwater Cave is the longest underground river system in South East Asia. The marvelous Sarawak Chamber is the largest underground cave in the world.

Mulu is also home to stunning karst formations called ‘The Pinnacles,’ a formation of limestone rocks that jut out like razors. Hike on a 2.4 kilometer trail that’s 1,200 meters steep to enjoy wonderful views.

MOUNT KINABALU ON THE VIA FERRATA

Climbing GunungKinabalu (Mt. Kinabalu) is challenging enough with its elevation of 4,096 meters. The world’s highest Via Ferrata (iron road) is also located on this mountain in Sabah. The highest point on the route starts at 3,400 meters and takes the climber to a height of 3,800 meters. Traversing the Via Ferrata is not for those with a fear of heights. Climbers will be walking on vertical surfaces and crossing valleys on cable lines. This death-defying route has steel cables that can hold up to 3,000 kilograms of weight.

TAMAN NEGARA NATIONAL PARK

Located in Pahang, Malaysia, this park is home to one of the oldest rainforests in the world. Visitors are truly amazed as they trek or take a boat ride through the dense forest that contains amazing flora and fauna. Being about 130 million years old, the diverse and complex ecosystem never fails to amaze visitors.

These are only the top three adventure places in the diverse and beautiful Malaysia. There are many more places to discover, which makes this tropical country a great place to visit.

With its numerous islands dotting the picturesque blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, Greece undoubtedly ranks high on many aspiring world travelers’ must-visit lists. Not only is this Southern European country the site of one of the world’s earliest civilizations, but it is also a veritable treasure trove of bays, cliffs, and caves for the adrenaline junkie in you.

After all, the best way to get a glorious, olive-toned tan on a Greek vacation is to sample all the adventurous delights that this ancient island nation has to offer.

So, how do you make the most out of your sojourn into these islands?

Start your day right, with a cup of joe at the nearest kafedaki, that is. These traditional Greek cafés are sure to be a welcome change from your usual neighborhood coffee shop chain. Knock back a cup (or two) of Greek coffee with a bit (metrio) or a whole lot (glyko) of sugar, or if you’re feeling particularly brave, take your daily dose of caffeine straight orsketo, as the locals would say.

Scale the iconic, pale white cliffs of Santorini. Some first-time travelers like to take a camel up this renowned resort town’s sloping alleys and streets, but if you’re fit enough, you can do that on foot. The glorious sunset that you’ll catch at the tip of this little island is more than worth the trip, and the view is certainly better than anything you can get on a postcard.

Go sailing. There is no better way to see the Greek islands than while skimming the azure waves of the surrounding oceans towards them in a yacht. The Cyclades are a popular option for this activity, and you can charter your own yacht (preferably with an experienced guide lest you get lost) for island-hopping. You are sure to find each island to be as distinctly beautiful from the last one, from the dainty, jewel-like Sifnos to the rugged and rustic Serifos.

Stop for a long lunch. No Greek vacation is complete without partaking of that glorious Hellenic tradition that is the “long lunch.” After a busy morning hitting the islands on your yacht, make a pit stop in Crete or Corfu. Sit down at a local seafood tavern and feast on authentic small dishes or mezedhes like grilled octopus, meatballs, zucchini balls, and heaps of that tangy fish roe dip called taramasalata. Make sure you take refreshing shots of the Greek anise-flavored liquor known as ouzo between bites. Do this all al fresco for best results and repeat as needed (or desired) throughout your vacation.

Go kite-surfing on the beach. Greece is nothing if not famous for its beaches (well, they are also known for their mythology and civilization, but that’s not really why you’re going there, is it?), so be sure to get your fill of typical summer activities like scuba diving, beach volleyball, or just plain sunbathing. If you want to try something different, the island of Paros is perfect for kitesurfing.

Traveling to France always meant going to see the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe or the Louvre. It’s almost always expected of any traveler to have their picture taken in these famous landmarks. But if you’re looking for something to do outside the City of Love, why not go on an adventure travel expedition in France?

A tour of the old chateaus around the Loire Valley should be a great adventure for people who are interested in historical landmarks and old architectural structures. There are walking tours that can take you from one chateau to another so that you can see what it is like inside. Some of these walking tours include wine and food tasting. You can sample some of France most delectable cuisines as you discover the beauty that the Loire Valley offers.

For people seeking a more sports oriented adventure expedition, the French Alps is the place to go. Skiing, hiking, snowboarding and mountain climbing are just some of the many activities that the French Alps has to offer. You can trek around the mountains and the woods to see the beauty of Mother Nature up close or you can marvel at the pristine snow-capped mountain views as you sip your hot cocoa from the many hotels that abound in the area. You can also just relax, make snow angels and enjoy the beautiful snowy surroundings that the French Alps is famous for.

Another great adventure travel expedition that France is known for is the French Riviera tour. The French Riviera (Cote d’Azur) lies along the coastline of southeastern France. Here you will find Saint Tropez and Cannes. The picturesque views of the villages and houses sitting high off the cliffs will make you think of beautiful coastline paintings and simple life on the coast. The French Riviera tours offer a view of the luxurious beaches and quaint surrounding villages that make it one of France’s most famous destinations.

A culinary tour of France is not to be missed especially for foodies. This type of adventure traveling gives you a tour of the best places to eat in France. These gastronomic tours will take your taste buds to an incredible food adventure as you sample French cuisines and pair them with some of France’s finest wines. Bordeaux and Provence are some of the best places to go on food adventure trips in France.

For budget conscious adventure travelers, Nice is a nice place to go. You can soak up some sun in this southern seaside town as you browse through markets and souvenir shops for trinkets and things you can bring home.

Think out of the box and go on adventure travel destinations in France. Soak in the beautiful countryside and seaside locations in France and get more from your vacation. Veer away from doing the touristy things, unless it is your first time in France, and find out what other adventures France has to offer. Go to the paths not usually taken and discover the beauty of France.

When you think of England, you think of the Royal Family, the Big Ben and the London Bridge. You also think of city tours, double decker buses, and other famous city landmarks that tourists frequently visit. What you probably don’t know is that England also has some of the greatest adventure tours that you have to experience.

The Coast to Coast walk/cycle/ride is an event that thousands of people from around the globe flock to England to participate in. Alfred Wainwright was the genius behind this exciting journey that takes you through the off beaten paths around England. Back then, Wainwright just walked around England.

Today, people take on Wainwright’s path by walking and cycling. The 5-day event meant that people had to use the path that Wainwright created long ago and stick to the path as closely as possible. This is a challenge because England isn’t the same as it was during Wainwright’s time. There are new buildings and new roads that have been created that could make following the original path a bit tougher. Participating in this event meant you get to go see the England that tourists don’t often see.

England doesn’t have a lot of diving spots, but there are some places that you can still go to in order to have your underwater adventure trip. At the Scapa Flow in the Orkneys, you can go on a diving expedition and explore the warships and destroyers that sank off this coast during the World War I. Marine life had taken over the sunken ships so you can see the beauty that sprung up after the devastation. There are beginner courses that you can take for less than £100. There are also longer expeditions that can set you back £500 or more.

If bungee jumping is your thing, you can go to the Transporter Bridge in Middlesborough to get your fix. This is the only bridge in the UK that allows bungee jumping. Satisfy your bungee jumping craving with this 200 feet high jump that lets you fall head first to the Tees. The freefall won’t lend you any picturesque views as you go down but it is still worth it. Not many people can say that they bungee jumped in England.

Sailing is another way that you can explore England from a different point of view. From the Tower Bridge you can sail through to Devon, north Cornwall, Isle of Man, the Scottish Islands, Edinburgh and then come on back to the Tower Bridge via the east coast. Sailing through all these places can take more than 2 weeks so plan your vacation accordingly. You can opt to sail through only a few of the 60 stops that this tour offers or you can go on a limb and go through all of them.

These and other lesser known adventure tours in England are steadily gaining popularity as people are recognizing the need to really discover what else England has to offer other than the city tours and normal tourist attractions. Let your wanderlust take over and book a tour and find out more about England’s hidden gems.

Recently I got to spend time snorkeling with over 100 manta rays (closer to 150 to be precise) in Komodo National Park. It was one of the pinnacle sea moments of my life.

I was on a dive boat with about a dozen others when the captain shouted from the distance the huge school of mantas. We turn the boat around, stop about 100 feet from the manta pathway until we approached them at a safe distance. It was one of the most exciting times for me. But sometimes we get caught up in these beautiful moments that we forget how to interact with marine life responsibly. This is why I am sharing with you 5 ways to interact responsibly with these sea creatures.

1. Keep Noise to a Minimum
When you encounter manta rays, don’t be that person screaming at them to come over to you and then doing cannon balls right next to them. Not that I think you are, but there’s always that “one person.” Keep noise to a minimum and avoid jumping in abruptly if you’re on a boat. Keep your fins underwater to avoid creating big kicking splashes.

2. Allow the Mantas to Swim Around You. Not the Opposite 
When you’re snorkeling, try staying in one area allowing the mantas to swim around you. Don’t swim over to them. Keep calm and avoid disrupting them if they’re feeding close to the surface of the water.

3. DO NOT TOUCH!
Let me repeat. Do not touch the mantas. Do not touch the mantas! I know it would feel so amazing to touch one of these guys, but this code of conduct is an absolute! The manta rays have a protective mucous coating, and when you touch them, you rub away their protective barrier causing them to get sick or get an infection. We don’t want them to get sick. Let’s preserve their existence in these oceans by keeping your hands off.

4. Keep your distance 
The rule of thumb is to stay at least 10 feet (3 meters) away. If manta comes close to you, remain calm and still and let the manta ray control the interaction with you.

5. Do Not Chase or Harass the Mantas 
You want to avoid restricting their natural behavior by blocking their path. Avoid duck-diving when they’re near. It may startle them and interrupt them while in their natural habitat trying to feed or clean.

That’s it! Stick to these 5 and you’ll be to engage with the mantas in a safe and responsible way, and while I’m not a marine biologist or expert, this is simply a guideline I’ve heard through my training. I hope this helps!

When one thinks of Labuan Bajo, they think of diving with manta rays or visiting the Komodo dragons at Komodo National Park, but what else is there to do is a common question I’ve been asked? How about jumping off a 42-foot cliff at Cunca Wulang Waterfall?

Admittedly, I almost didn’t go. The night before I was raging it up at the Paradise Bar, the only place to go on a Saturday night in Labuan Bajo. My Swedish friend and two-week long roommate was taking off, and I wanted to properly send him off with one last good night out.

It’s Sunday morning, and I get a Facebook ping at 9 am from my local friend, Stefan, who is all bright eyed and bushy tailed ready to go. This is going to be a struggle. He said he’ll be at my place by 10 am so I use the opportunity to sleep in those few extra minutes before he arrives. Should I use this time to sleep in and go another time? Motivate, Celia. Motivate!

So I get my ass up and hop in the shower and meet my friend as scheduled. I stop to pick up a sandwich and water for the road, and we start making our way to Cunca Wulang Waterfall. He’s concerned about his two other friends…and, when I say concerned, I mean he’s concerned they’re still hungover and not going to wake up. He promised to not leave without them but stopped by their house and no sign of life. He called but no answer. Eventually, around 10:30 am they awake from the dead! It looks like after the bar had closed, they all decided to go swimming at the beach and share a bottle of tequila until the early sunrise. Rock stars! So we’re all a bit of a hot mess at this point except my friend Stefan who seems to have a neverending supply of energy.

We make about a half-dozen more stops (it’s one of those mornings, lol) trying to find bananas for my other two friends, stop to take pics at a viewpoint, pick up some food from the local warung, more water, cigarettes, and then we finally get our shit together and begin making our way to the waterfall.

view along the way

I’m not really sure how long the drive would take to get there because we made so many stops, but I guestimate it’s about an hour away.

After making our way on our motorbikes through windy roads up the mountain, we reach a rocky unpaved road. We pay our $4 (50,000 rupiahs) at the entrance of the waterfall park where we could either park our bikes and make a long 1-2 mile trek or say f*ck it and four wheel our way through that mothereffer. We’re still hungover, so we say f*ck it and start riding our bikes on the loose cobblestone path.

The easier part of our trail.
The easier part of our trail.

After about 15 minutes and a sore ass, we make our way to the end of the path where the only way to go is by foot. There’s an old man there selling coconuts, so we decide to take a couple for the waterfall. The man chops the outer barrier with a machete trimming it down for us. We then have a local who we pay to escort us to the waterfall.

The hike is about another 15 minutes or so. We come to a crossing point where we literally have to leap from one rock to another. I’d guess it were about 4 foot jump. I’m thinking, “Are you serious? F*ck!” Here goes nothing! My sad leap across the two boulders with streaming water below me looked more like one awkward old lady giant stride. Stefan grabs my hand so that I don’t fall into the flowing stream. Alright! I made it! How in the hell am I going to get back, though? I’ll think about that later. Then we come across another “leaping point” we’ll call it for lack of a better term, but this one wasn’t as bad as the last one.

path to waterfall 1

We arrive, and it’s just as beautiful as I imagined. Wow. I’m surprised we’re one of the only few there. We get settled and park our things, and I can’t decide if I want to nap, eat, nap, or jump.

friends at canyon

My friend decided she’d motivate to be the first to jump off the 42 foot (13 meters) cliff. Alright, alright, let’s get our asses in there. It’ll feel so much better. My friend, Stefan and I, decide to jump in together and “Weeeeee!!” *splash*… shock therapy! Instant hangover cure. There’s something about the ocean or natural body of water that clears the mind, body, and alcohol seeping from your pores. 

Later more people begin to show but still not too many where it felt crowded. We begin to guide them on where to jump, and it’s about a dozen of us all enjoying this hidden gem.

Our friends made their way to a rock below the waterfall, so my friend Stefan and I decide to follow them. Stefan went first, and I could see it was going to be a struggle getting to the waterfall. It required all of his upper body strength to swim there. I try, and I’m struggling. I keep getting pulled back into this little hole, and the current is too strong. My arms are tired, and I feel myself getting swept back. I tell him I can’t make it and I’m swept back to where I started. He comes back for me and said we don’t have to go, but I’m determined. I’m not a quitter. I can do this. So we hang onto a rock with one hand and try to find an alternative route until my arms regain strength. Our friends told us to try from the other side which now made a whole lot more sense because it was a lot less strong. So we try from the left side, and then I make my way to the other side, and we begin climbing to meet our friends. The rocks are slippery and I keep slipping, so Stefan continues to be my guiding light helping me get up safely. Then others begin to follow suit, and he helps about 3 others make their up grabbing them all with one hand until they get to a stable point.

We want to give others the chance to enjoy the rock under the waterfall, so we decide to get off, but it’s tricky. One of our friends was starting to make his way down with his feet in a sliding motion, but that only lasted about a second before he was swept down in .2 seconds, the fastest rock slide I’ve ever seen. We see a couple of others try, and the same thing happened. Slippery slope! Stefan was the last to go down and then told me not to go down that way because it was a very shallow and rocky area. So he helped me get down the way I came up.

After about a half-day at Cunca Wulang Waterfall we decide it’s time to make our way back to town. We ask our friends to carry our bags back to the beginning area of the trail so we could go in for one last jump and float part of our way down, which also allowed me to skip that treacherous leap between rocks.

piggy back trail

Our local guide who was there watching our belongings the whole time making sure it was safe carried our bags back the rest of the way until we reached out bikes. Score! I tip him $4 (50,0000 rupiahs) for allowing us to focus on having a good time.

After we got back to our bikes, we made one last pit stop at a private resort beach and rested up with some coffee and tea until the sunset. 

sunset at beach

Moral of the story is get your lazy ass up and motivate when it comes to beautiful natural gems like this and never quit even when you’re fighting against a strong current you don’t think you can fight; there’s always another way.

Diving with mantas is among one of the ultimate bucket lists for divers and why so many passionate divers come to Komodo Island, but how about swimming with 150 of them?

I started my morning with Wicked Diving on their boat, Charlie, with about a half dozen others who signed up for this full-day excursion. We were already off to a good start seeing dolphins playing in the water on our way to our first dive. We don’t always see a lot of dolphins around here so it was a nice surprise to see them from a close distance as they passed our boat.

charlie

We just finished up our second dive at Batu Balong, one of the best dive sites in the world, and were on our way to Makassar Reef (also nicknamed “Manta Point”), a dive site northwest of Komodo, known for finding mantas hence the nickname.

Our captain and some of our boat crew noticed something in the waters about 100 meters in the distance, and we notice there are about a dozen mantas. Our captain decided to turn the boat around, and that’s when we saw a long stretch of about 150 mantas. We watch the mantas from the second level deck of Charlie, and we are ecstatic. Everyone runs to grab their cameras and watch them in awe as they form a line behind each other looking like aquatic birds.

About ten minutes pass and we decide to keep going but continue to keep seeing mantas everywhere. I want to jump in! Everyone wants to jump in, so the captain and our dive instructor make the call to turn around and allow everyone to grab their mask and fins and hop in!

One of the Wicked staff members joined the boat trip today on her day off has never even seen a manta. This is someone grew up on this island, works in a dive shop, and barely snorkels. She escapes through travel books like the works of Paulo Coelho. Can you imagine the joy she felt not only seeing her first manta but hundreds let alone being able to go out and swim with them?? I’m pretty sure I can vouch for her by saying this is one epic moment in her lifetime.

Or could you imagine a couple who traveled from the other side of the world with only one dream to see a manta and then gets to see an entire sea full of them? Hell, even our dive instructor was ecstatic and said the last time he saw something like this was a year ago.

We all jumped in, and the captain was guiding us about the proper direction to go in, and once we found their path, it was craaaazy!! They were in every direction! On either side of me, below me, coming at me! There was one manta ray that was literally swimming 6 inches below me and so close to flapping it’s wings on me if I didn’t move. I remember coming manto y manto (er, I mean, mano y mano. hehe) with one manta ray with its mouth wide open. I’m thinking, “Oh sh#t! What if stay in place? Will we have a head-on collision?” Naturally my instinct was to get the hell out of its way.

snorkel selfie manta (1)

After about twenty minutes of being able to snorkel with these beautiful creatures, we get on the boat and head to our last dive at Manta Point.

We gear up, take a giant stride into the water, and descend into a drift. Sure enough, mantas are passing by in several directions. Not quite as many as our impromptu snorkel session, but still incredible to see and a different experience. You get to study their bellies as they pass you from above in twos, fours, and sixes or lean close to the ocean ground steadily watching them circle around you.

After experiencing an epic day with nature’s playground, it was no surprise that at the end of our trip back to Labuan Bajo that we were gifted with a beautiful sunset and three eagles passing in the distance. Incredible day!

eagle

My activist friend, Marta, runs the Wicked Good SEED (Support Environment & Education Development) accelerator project in Labuan Bajo, a 7 month scholarship program sponsored by Wicked Diving. She invited me to spend a couple of hours talking with the teenage students of SMKN 1 High School, a vocational tourism high school, in Manggarai. I love getting in touch with the local culture through my travels, especially, curious and enthusiastic teens, and agreed to meet her the following morning.

She meets me on her motorbike in front of La Cucina Restaurant at 7:15 am, but she didn’t have an extra helmet for me. The cops can be a bit strict on the helmet policy around here, unlike many other places in Indonesia, so we decided to hail down a motorbike cab instead. It’s about 10 minutes away in a ruralish area outside of Labuan Bajo. The students are all dressed in a matching baby blue and yellow uniforms wearing Vans or Converse shoes in crew cuts and ponytails.

I was a few minutes ahead of Marta, and while I wait for her to arrive at the school, I get plenty of rubberneckers wondering what this foreigner is doing standing by herself in front of the school on the side of the road until she arrived.

LBJ high school

Marta escorts me pass about a half a dozen of full classrooms, and I get big hand gesture waves, bright smiles, and welcoming hellos from the students. If there’s anyone that knows how to boost my self-esteem, it’s definitely Indonesian kids!

We get into Marta’s classroom where she teaches 4 hours a day on Monday’s and 2 hours a day on every other weekday and most of the kids were already in their seats. They’re all wondering who is this foreigner guest their teacher brought into the room.

Marta introduces me to the class and then allows me to tell them something about myself and encouraging they ask me questions to help practice their English.

“Hello, my name is Celia. I’m from California…in America. I have 3 brothers and 2 sisters which is a big family for Americans. I have been traveling since October, and this is my third time to Indonesia.”

I’ve never been great at introductions.

There are several students quick to raise their hands and ask me more questions about myself wondering if I like Indonesia, what my hobbies are, and then one of the girls followed up and asked…

“How old are you?” she asks.

HOW DARE SHE!?

I hear the turntables scratching through my head with “How old are you?” Beat. “Erwee, Erwee.” Scratch. Beat. “Erwee, Erwee.” Followed by a dozen pots and pans falling through a glass ceiling.

Marta quickly steps in and explains to them about cross-cultural relations and what’s appropriate to ask people, and this was wasn’t necessarily polite among Western culture. 🙂

Thank you, Marta! But I answered anyway.

“I’m 34.” I say confidently.

32 pairs of eyes went big in the classroom as if they felt sorry for me. Hey, kids! I’m not that old, okay! Am I?? Well, whatever, the 30s are the new 20s in America! Take that even though you Indonesians all look like you’re 30 when you’re 60 and 60 when you’re 90. Oh, go away with your impressive anti-aging genetics! 😉

Whew! That was a digress. Ha! Back on topic. Where was I?

Oh, yes… the introduction.

As I am finishing up introducing myself, one male student walked into class late apologizing for being late and proceeded to say to me, “Sorry, sir.”

The class chuckles and corrects him before he apologizes again and accidentally calls me sir a second time.

Oh, kids. You have a long way to go, but you’re so adorable.

I take a seat in the back of the classroom and observe Marta going back and forth between speaking Bahasa and English. She then asks for a few of the students to give a presentation on a topic about a place that tourists could go but also how to make it environmentally conscious. I was interested to learn about the Bajawa Hot Springs to Cunca Waterfalls to the Batu Cermin Caves. I haven’t really even thought about the land attractions since I’ve been here. 

Then the class concludes, and Marta welcomes me to spend 15 minutes with the students and allow them to practice their English. Several of the not-so-shy types run over and ask to take photos with me. We needed to allow the next class to prepare and finished off with a few group photos of the class.

group photo

One thing I’ll say is I’ve always loved the inquisitive and warm Indonesian teen minds. I spent a month with them in Java a few months ago and now a couple of hours this morning on Flores Island, and, while adults are usually much more my speed, I sincerely love their age in this culture.

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