Komodo national park day 2 of the Komodo tour

We rose at 6am to what I was sure was someone snoring only to discover it was a pair of Black Egrets the size of Brolgas in the midst of courtship just offshore from our campsite. Mikel said we were lucky to get so close as they normally flew away when you approached. 

The Salacia

After breakfast on banana and jam on toast and cup of coffee we headed out to the boat for Komodo Island approximately a 3 hour bot trip away. We were lucky enough to see a couple of dragons on the beach in the distance  as we approached the island and on our short ( 1.5 hour) guided walk around the island we saw many dragons, deer, a few forest pigs that ran away quickly and even pair of  bush turkeys who mate for life and whose nest the dragons use to incubate their eggs. The guides informed us that the hatchlings have an instinct to run and climb trees and stay for 3 years in the hollow of the female palm trees where they are protected from being eaten by adult Komodo dragons (though not necessarily the previous years hatchlings who may be sharing the same tree!)

A native orchid growing in the trees

Deer are native to the area and Komodo tucker!

Hamish cautiously about to try some fresh tamarind which grows in pods hanging from the tamarind tree and tastes much like a sour warhead! But without all the artificial flavour and colourings! 

We purchased the boys a Komodo national park t-shirt each from one of the souvenir 'stalls' and felt sorry for the many other Stawell holders desperate to sell us their wares. We weren't sure that the Komodo claw necklaces and wooden dragon carvings would make it through Aust. Quarantine. 

After a lunch of mei goreng when the captain unsuccessfully tried to fix an engine noise problem, we then headed to Pink Beach for some further snorkelling. After much complaining from Hamish about his snorkel letting in water we swapped snorkels and got to play around with the Gopro videoing the abundant variety of tropical fish. The boys spent some time on the gorgeous beach building sand castles before returning  to the boat for the ride back to camp.

After dinner of burgers we prepare for a game of celebrity heads