Komodo Dragons

Although these donuts appeared at breakfast a couple of days ago I thought I’d show them to you today when the subject of the day was less than lovely. I didn’t have any donuts but they were sure enticing and quite a hit with many people.

Today we anchored off of Rinca Island, part of Komodo National Park. It was one of the most beautiful island settings we have seen. But it was brutally hot!

Almost everyone on the ship wanted to go over and see the Komodo Dragons so there was a well-orchestrated procedure which took a few tenders full of guests over to the island, had well informed local guides show them around and then whisk them right back to the ship. We saw 5 or 6 dragons near the visitor center where we were told they come because of the smell of cooking from their kitchen. The dragons are the largest lizard in the world and can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh 150 pounds. And they are ugly.

As this short note indicates, they can be vicious. We were warned about having bloody sores which might attract them but there didn’t seem to be any danger as there was a strong fence between us. The dragons only eat once or twice a month and we saw three of their prey, the deer, the water buffalo and the wild pig. We’re told that their bite eventually kills even the large animals and although they are solitary hunters once the animal is dead the others smell it from afar and come to join the feast.

We were truly wiped out from the heat and humidity but were glad we got to see the dragons which inhabit these beautiful islands and no other place on earth.