Kimberley Australia, 6/4/2024, National Geographic Orion
Aboard the
National Geographic Orion
Australia and New Zealand
Two different but equally incredible excursions awaited us today. Shortly after breakfast, we went ashore and viewed some rock art. Unlike yesterday, this art was newer, only hundreds to thousands of years old. Many different incredible pieces filled various caves, from handprints to mythical artifacts, and even contact era ships and figures.
After lunch, we went ashore to view a massive boab tree from the early 1800’s and visited the ship, Mermaid. We also enjoyed the flowers and birdlife, including a spectacular rainbow pitta.
Mike learned early on that the best way to escape Ohio was to become a marine biologist. During college at Wittenberg University he attended a semester at Duke University's Marine Lab — that time only confirmed his love for all things oceanic and ma...
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After some un-forecast wind, we needed to relocate our morning snorkel and look for more sheltered waters. Following a short reconnaissance trip, a suitable site was found that was well protected. We boarded the Zodiacs and made land on a quiet beach fringed with a coral reef. As the Zodiacs were coming into land, we saw an entire roost of fruit bats circle above us. Once in the water, we were rewarded with some fantastic coral coverage and great marine life. Small nudibranchs could also be spotted in the rubble near shore. Once we finished our morning swim and beach comb, we returned to National Geographic Orion . With only an hour interval, we were back into the Zodiacs bound for our next location, the community village of Sambawa. There was a very warm welcome as the locals greeted us with music, dance, and many smiling kids. The festivities continued as they paraded us through the town towards a main seating arena. From here we enjoyed several more dances and theatrical performances. There was also the opportunity to sample some of the local snacks and cuisines. Once the main acts were finished, a traditional pole ascent was undertaken by the local kids.
Today was one of our most amazing days! We arrived early at Komodo Island to avoid the crowds and got rewarded by the sighting of mating Komodo dragons! It is true that it is the beginning of the mating season, but none of our naturalists had ever witnessed the mating so far, even the guides told us we were very lucky. On our walk of the island, we were also lucky to see deer, wild orchids, and some birds. In the afternoon we went ashore to Pink Beach, which was a delight. The number of fish, corals, and starfish we saw was amazing. The day ended with the most famous crew show, a lot of us couldn’t resist dancing and singing along with those who took such good care of us during our stay on board National Geographic Orion.
This morning, we awoke to a calm breeze and fair waters off the coast of Sumba. We began the day with a snorkelling session directly off the beach. This was our first opportunity to get in the ocean since embarkation, and it was keenly anticipated by all. The beach offered plenty of shade and looked out across the bay at a large collection of oyster lines used for cultivation. For those who snorkelled, a shallow reef flat led to a drop-off with good coral coverage and fish life. We then headed to Waingapu Village. There were over 300 people lined up to greet us, and they formed a corridor funnelling us into the main entrance. A dozen horses joined the welcome party and added to the overall splendor. Inside we watched several fantastic dance performances and were gifted beetle nut and fresh coconut. Once the ceremonies were finished, we walked around the village and had the opportunity to pick up some local handicrafts. There was also a pig sacrifice to welcome us into the township. Shortly after, we returned to the ship and had a great Q & A session with our Indonesian specialist, Leks.
