Indonesia - The Rough Guide to Southeast Asia on a Budget - page 307

Hot springs and Wawo Muda
he most popular destination near Bajawa
is the hot springs at SOA (Rp20,000). he
springs are set in peaceful surroundings,
and a small but powerful waterfall provides
the cheapest hot shower on Flores. Bemos
from Bajawa market run to Soa village,
from where you can pick up an ojek for the
remaining 6km to the springs - you'll need
to ask your driver to wait if you don't want
to walk back. here are some quieter,
though equally seductive, hot springs at
Malanage, 3km south of Bena.
In the first few months of 2001 a new
volcano erupted above the small village of
Ngoranale, about 10km to the north of
Bajawa, leaving a blackened crater. here
are currently five small red lakes in the
bottom of the crater, though they shrink
to nothing in the dry season. here are
no bemos to Wawo Muda , so you'll need
private transport to Ngoranale, where
you can ask a villager to show you the
start of the wide and easy-to-follow trail,
which takes about an hour and a half to
meander up to the summit.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By plane Bajawa airport is around 20km out of town. If
you're lucky there may be a bemo to Bajawa waiting,
otherwise you'll have to walk to the main road (turn right
as you leave the terminal) and catch one there. If you're
going to the airport, either catch a bemo from Bajawa, or
take one to Soa and walk the last 2km. Trans Nusa ( T 0384
222 3666, W transnusa.co.id) has regular flights to Kupang
(5 weekly; 1hr).
By bus The bus terminal is 3km out of town at Watujaji.
Regular bemos connect the terminal with the town. Some
buses come into town to look for passengers who are
leaving Bajawa, but it's best to be on the safe side and go
out to the terminal to pick them up.
Destinations

Elizabeth Jl Inerie 4 T 0384 21223. A cosy little place
in a quiet neighbourhood, with simple en-suite rooms
set around a small gar den - very good value by Bajawa
standards. Rp125,000
★

Hotel Happy Happy Jl Sudirman T 0384 21763,
W hotelhappyhappy.com. This small, Dutch-run hotel is a
clear step up from Bajada's underwhelming accommo-
dation options. Rooms are simple, clean and comfortable.
Tours (fro m Rp600,00 0) of the surrounding area are on
offer too. Rp300,000
Villa Silverin 4km outside town T 0852 5345 3298,
W silverin-villa.blogspot.com. In a quiet location outside
Bajada (a 30min walk), Vill a Silverin has scruffy but accept-
able rooms with hot water. Rp350,000

EATING
Restaurants have not suffered from the tour groups, and
you'll find three good options on Jl Yani. Most places serve
until around 9pm.
Camellia Jl Yani. Live music every night, and some of
the tastiest Indonesian and Western food in Bajawa
served in large portions by friendly staff. Plenty of options
from Rp20,000.
Dito's Jl Yani. Not much more than a large bamboo-walled
hut, but the food is flavoursome and there are plenty
of Indonesian, Chinese and Western options, including
schnitzel, from Rp20,000.
Lucas Jl Yani. Another little cabin of a place serving good
food including a variety of sates (around Rp25,000), beer
and locally distilled arak .

4

DIRECTORY
Banks BNI off Jl Basoeki Rahmat and BRI on Jl Sukarno-
Hatta both have ATMs; the former also changes money.
Internet There's an internet café at Jl Yani 12.
Post o ce The main post o ce is up on the hill at the
Jl Sukarno-Hatta crossroads (Mon-Thurs 8am-3pm, Fri
8-11.30am & Sat 8am-1pm).

ENDE
Situated on a narrow peninsula with
flat-topped Gunung Meja and the active
volcano Gunung Ipi at its sea end, the port
of ENDE is the largest town on Flores and
provides access to Kelimutu and Moni (see
opposite), though there is little in town to
attract tourists other than banks and ferries
to other destinations. Black-sand beaches
stretch down both east and west coasts: the
Bajawa road runs right along the seafront,
so just catch a bemo out to Ndao bus
terminal and the beach begins right there.
he area around Ende is known for its

Ende (several daily; 4hr); Labuanbajo (2 daily;
10hr); Moni (daily; 6hr); Ruteng (several daily; 5hr).
By shared taxi Travels cluster outside the Hotel Virgo
to the north of the market, running daily services to Ende
(4hr) and Ruteng (4hr).

ACCOMMODATION
The increase in tourism means, unfortunately, that almost
every option in Bajawa is overpriced. It is also possible to stay
in some of the villages around Bajawa; contact the guide
association (see p.309) for information about two-day treks
including an overnight in Bena, or you can ask directly at the
village (around Rp250,000/person including meals).