Tuesday, 14 March 2017
At Sea — Timor Sea … En Route to Komodo Island
Stats @ Ship’s Time 12:15p (EIST) … UTC 3:15a (14 March)
Temp: 82.2F (27.9C)
Position: 10.53.00S / 125.14.83E
We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring
will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.
~ TS Eliot ~
On March 6, Google Doodle celebrated a place we will be visiting tomorrow — Indonesia’s Komodo National Park. Turns out that it is the park’s 37th anniversary … which I didn’t know until first Alice, and then Mary, mentioned the Google Doodle.
The park, situated on volcanic islands at the center of an archipelago, is best known for its dragons — about 5,700 of them. A member of the monitor lizard family, these carnivorous dragons can grow — though rarely do — to 10 feet (3m) long and they can weigh as much as 150 pounds (70 kg). We will be looking for some of them when we land on Komodo Island tomorrow … fingers crossed since this is a tender port and we need the sea conditions to cooperate to make the visit a reality.
The park is also home to other species … the Timor deer, which is the primary source of food for the dragons; many birds; and the fish, sea turtles, dolphins, and whales that frequent the waters.
Part of Google’s celebration included bonus factoids about the Komodo dragons …
Like sharks, Komodo dragon teeth are replaceable.
Komodo dragons have flexible skulls.
Komodo dragons are related to snakes.
Keep your fingers crossed we see the dragons tomorrow … and don’t fall prey to them!
© 2015-2017 — All rights reserved by Erin Erkun.
Komodo is great and the dragons impressive - you'll laugh when you see the protection device the Rangers use to protect you during the tour. Enjoy this unique experience
ReplyDelete