Ngada villages

One of the great things about exploring places you have not researched is that you really don't know what lies ahead. Which goes for Bajawa, a city in the western central part of Flores. After arriving and settling into our disgusting room our motorbike driver offered to drive us out to traditional villages the next day. He wouldn't take no for an answer, and his price was decent, so we took him up on his deal.

We ventured out and saw three Ngada villages outside of town and they gave us possibly true information about the tribes. (One of our drivers had a tendency to make stuff up we think) The huts were big with overly tall roofs. The tribes of a hundred or so lived within walking distance of everyone in their village.

Most people seemed to make crafts to sell at the markets in some of the bigger towns on Flores. Some also sold coffee beans, which were drying, crackling and popping in the scorching sunlight. Our driver told us that the coffee here is supposed to be the best; unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to try it.

In most of these little villages they speak a different dialect of Indonesian, so what little of the language we did know, was almost pointless to try and communicate. But the smiles and waves of everyone made you feel more than welcome to take a peak into their way of life.

The best part of the day was the adorable kids that looked at us with wonder and curiosity while we ate lunch at our drivers own village. They patiently waited (and watched us eat) until the adults were finished with the food before coming closer to us. They especially loved Eric's camera. When he brought it out there were lines of kids wanting their picture taken, then to see it the next second. One boy brought over a school booklet to try and help us learn Indonesian as well. They were so excited when we would say something correct, and laugh with us when we had to repeat words over and over again.