「Hello from Bali」

Already 10 days have passed since I came to Bali. huuu....Time really flies. I always realize Bali is big town. I know more bigger town like a Tokyo. But after few months living in remote island, everyhthing in Bali surprise me. Many restaurants, shops, hotels and various people. Just sit down at cafe and look outside... watching people. It's quite interesting.

And friends. I really enjoy talking with them. Talking face to face. I can feel his(her) feeling from face or eyes or tone. And eating together, laughing together, thinking together... ya, it's nice!

Any way, I am enjoying here to the full! But... I must tighten my purse strings... there are many temptations! Nice foods and drinks, massage, clothes....etc. ....Please, someone care of my purse!

「25th December」

Merry Christmas!

I wish you spend wonderful day.

...warm hug from Bali

「...End」

I've finished dive in Alor this year. I really enjoyed all dives from beginning to end. And I met many nice guests! Thank you for coming to Alor Divers!

I leave from Pantar island. I guess will miss here... I'm looling forwards to coming back here and diving again in March!

「Photo 4」

Lastly...Rinopias!

Weedy scorpionfishPaddle-Flap scorpionfish

「Photo 3」

And...Nudibranch!

Ceratosoma tenue???

「Photo 2」

Next isGhost pipe!

HalimedaRobust

「Photo 1」

I got photos from guest. Let's have a look!

Flying GurnardLarge-spotted snake eel

「about Vacation」

「Alor Divers rainy season vacation」

from 20th December 2009 to middle of March 2010

We always accept reservations or any questions while we're close.


Well...my holiday is soon! I'm thinking what will do. Any way, at first I want to have watermelon juice!

「Pygmy Seahorse」

Let's go to see Pygmy!

We had 7 Pygmy in house reef before.... It's pity they'd gone somewhere. But we found new place of Pygmy! There're 2 sea fans where we can see Pygmy. Each fan has 7-8 of them. It's nice, isn't it? 2 photographers can take photo at the same time!

I saw pregnant one. So they will be more big family! I want to see! ....But we're going to close soon... Please be there untill the resort open! ...By the way, I will inform about the rainy season vacation soon.

「Macro Again!」

....Macro again. We saw many many things!

Two kind of Rhinopias which are Paddle-Flap(photo → 9th December [Macro]) and Weedy Scorpion. I saw Weedy first time! And...Flying Gurnard, Ribbon Eel, Large-spotted Snake Eel, Nudibranchs which are Ceratosoma tenue and Phyllodesmium longicirrum(photo → 17th November [Explore?!] )and Melibe papillosa... and Ghost Pipefish. How many ghost we saw?! I think...more than 20! ...Is it too much?! And juvenile of Many spotted sweetlips. Do you know this fish? Moving of Juvenile is so cute! Always move like a dancing, never stop. And as she grew, her moving is slow down, and stop when she becomes adult...not cute any more... The following photo is Cowfish. We saw more...but I don't remember the all...too many things! We did dive just 30m and 70 minutes... I will put their photos....yes, I ask to guests.

I'm happy found this point. I want to try different depth next.

Any way, we're satisfied!

「Gliding」

Today, I saw one Eagle Ray. Suddenly he came into my view. He flew slowly around me, and faded away.

Eagle Ray is one of my favorite fish. His figure gliding in the blue is so cool and smart!

Sometime we meet school of Eagle Ray. They always makes me happy.

「Recharge」

I had unexpected free time in the afternoon. Around few days diving was strong current and cold water, it made me a bit tired... Let's recover my energy!

After lunch, drunk my coffee with some chocolate, went to my favorite place where is 50m away from my place. This place is a cove and has a mangrove. A view from here is different from my balcony, and I feel different atmosphere from other place. I don't know why feel like that, but I like there.

I sit on the rock and look at seascape without thinking. Just look, listen to the wave and feel the breeze. ...I'm getting forget all things, and something get into me. And then, recharging my batteries finish.

Here is nothing...no shop, no cinema and no closed friends. Sometime I forget this place where I live now, and feel so lonely, miss so much them. But I am on this Island. There is the wonderful nature. Focus on now.

Now I am full of energy! I'm sure my favorite place helped me, and...chocolate too:-)

「Macro」

We did 2 macro dives at Alor island and found many creatures.

「Rhinopias eschmeyeri」 We found few month ago, but lost her around few weeks. Then today guest found her at other place! I am sure there're few Rhinopias around there.「Hippocompus hystrix」There's black one also. It's nice, isn't it?And strange nudibranch. I thought it is not creature, looks like....a jelly?! 「What is that?」 I was watching, then it moved. 「Wow it's alive!」 Color is yellow brown, length is 15cm and strange shape... And then something filmy came out from one of the tip, and suck up something from ground. ...What is that??? Then I saw kind of tentacle on the filmy one. Is it nudibranch?!

I checked it by book. Yes, it's nudibranch which is 「Melibe papillosa」 The book said that this kind of nudibranch has a large oral hood used for feeding on small crustaceans and ancillary gills at the base of it's cerata.　

I want to put photo...but we don't have. I will do next time...if I can find again and guests manage to take photo.

「Healing」

There's a point named 「Anemone City」 which is one of the famouse point in Alor. Many kind of Anemone spread out as far as the eyes could see, and grows over wide area in south of Pura island. I don't now why so much anemone grows there...

Any way, It's really beautiful. You may feel heaven or paradise. If we get wonerful condition... good visivility, warm water and slow current bring you..., you will be healed by quiet ambience.

「River?!」

This afternoon, we got violent current although we didn't want...

Ternate Island, it was calm. We expected it will be kind of heeling dive because the wall here is really beautiful. After 10 minutes, we felt mild current started slowly.「 Ok, it's usual, take it easy!」And more few minutes later, current was getting strong, up and down. 「It might be more strong?! But...will happen at this point?! 」Usually, this point is quite calm even if there's current all around. But we never know exactly what will happen. Here is Alor... So, we came up slowly from 25m to 10m. Then suddenly it began... We held on tight to rock, and waited for a while and saw how things turn out. But...nothing changed better, got worse and worse. 「We continue dive? No way!!!」 So we moved to 5m for safety stop, and held again. I heard sound of current...water swooshed. All sand and small things rose up, visibility dropped. I looked up at surface as current got weak a little. The tide was swiling with our bubble...

I got a kind of shock as came up to surface. I couldn't believe that we were just in underwater. Around 2-3m away from us, there's a river...swift current. It's unbelievable.. We were watching this from the boat. We saw big big whirling current, big washing machine. Huuu...frightful surface.

I already had experience even worse than today. But I never expected like this current in this point. It really surprised me. And I knew how difficult to read or expect the current in Alor. Of course it's not always, usually ok. But it's only sometime and suddenly comes. Any way....can I say something??

「Welcome to Alor!」

「Miracle」

Listen! We swam with Whale!!!!!

「What is that?! I saw something big shape!」 Suddenly Gilles shouted on the way to diving point. Whale?! We stopped in the middle of the sea and waited few minutes.

「Pssssst!」 Woooow! Whale came up next to our boat! It's just 5-7m away. Unbelievable!!! We lost any words completely. I had goosebumps... Nobody has ever seen her such a short distance. And another whale came up behind us. It's dream.....

「Hey, guys! Put on mask and fins! Why don't you try to swim?! Now is good timing! 」Gilles shouted. 「Yeees, Boss! We want to try!」 While we were hurrying up preparation, Gilles tried to get the point where whales come up next. ...waited few minutes...

「Pssssst!」 Whale came up behind us! 「GO, NOW!!!」 We jumped into the sea. While we were swimming, whales came up near us! But couldn't find them in underwater, still a bit far. We swam and swam. And then suddenly whale appeared just under us! I couldn't believe what's happening in front of me. How beautiful she looks... just fantastic...

I don't know how long we could swim with whale....maybe only few seconds or one minute?! Any way, it was wonderful moment. She was just under me, around 5-10m in depth?! The whale we saw is sperm whale which is around 15m? We didn't think about it, just lost admiration of whale. Her movement was gentle, smooth and beautiful. How can I explain?!

Everybody was so exciting and happy after the show. We never forget this experience, we cannot!

I wish to see her again...someday...

「Orangutan」

This is orangutan crab. Usually they are on babble coral or soft coral, and we can see quite often in Indonesia.

They are kind of spider crabs and have a long hair, moving is like a orangutan. It's funny!

...By the way, this photo is really great, isn't it?! I can see him in detail. The photographer who was guest here gave his photos to Gilles for the resort, and I borrowed it for blog. It's not only him, many guests gave us their great photos! So, here I want to say again that thank you very much for your photos!

「Exercises?!」

This morning, we did dive at the wall where we can see fish battle. Now is the flood tide. ...Of course, we ready for current, let's go!

Actually, there's almost no current...it's good. We saw big turtle, school of ribbon sweetlips and big grouper which is more than 1.5m! Around Alor, we often see big grouper. ...And then, suddenly current started as we expected. It was getting stronger from top or bottom or wherever....what is known as the washing machine?! Any way, we climbed up slowly to shallows where is the most safety place in this point. But even there, current was strong. I can imagine what is happening at the wall...

After came up to the surface, we have to swim out from the reef. Because the boat cannot get closer to reef, otherwise, strong current push the boat to the land. Swimming on the surface is no problem if it's calm. But like a today, it can be good exercises even you don't hope...

The current in Alor always surprise us. It suddenly changes, then brings cold water and big fish. That's why diving here is interesting and exciting. But we need right judgement as safety first. We have limits, cannot against the nature.

This photo is school of ribbon sweetlips. We can see always here!

「Colors」

What did we see this afternoon at Ternate Island???

「Bornella anguilla」 Many nudibranchs have a beautiful color. She is also beautiful. isn't she?「Calpurnus verrucosus」 Usually I see it at night dive in house reef, so I thought only night time they come out... So I was wrong, but I am happy to see at afternoon! I love this kind of cowries. They're so cute even tiny one. I'm deeply impressed by the color of underwater world. It's amazing and much different from the ground. You're surprised when the first time you went to underwater, weren't you? Yes, I did. 「How beautiful world here is!!!」

「The Rainy Season」

It started rain from few days ago. The rainy season began. It's a welcome rain for dry ground and trees.

Here, rain is not all day, usually It's only 1 or 2 hours and heavy. It's like a today. This morning was fine and beautiful weather, but while we were diving in the afternoon, hard rain began. I heard sound of rain in underwater, and looked up. I saw rain pattered down on the surface...and many kids! Wow...how many naked kids there are?! I came up among kids because they were around our boat....no other exit. Kids were so excited! Swimming around boat and shouting and laughing. ....Why?! They're always friendly as today, but it's too much, like a crazy! And our boat staff was, too. ...Why?! And maybe I was, too. ...Why?! I guess...it's because of hard rain and thunder! There's no another reason! We haven't had rain for long time, so wet weather made us crazy! But as we were closed to resort , we calmed down...because there're no more rain.

Any way, the rainy season began. The color of the island will become green slowly. It's so beautiful, just green all around resort. I'm looking forward to seeing it!

「Let's go to Kalabahi 2」

Ok, I have a time, let's try another things...I mean I have another thing to do in Police station. But all of Police who is charge of this things had gone for ceremony or something like that. Nobody knows what time they come back. I said again「Welcome to Indonesia...」

The first plan was Gilles picks me up by speed boat at 2p.m. But it was 9:30a.m. ...What I can do in Kalabahi?! Then I decided go back by taxi boat again, it leaves at 10:30a.m.

I walked around town. There're many small shops, and they put many different things together. Daily necessities, dry food, closes, stationary, cleaning staff, rice...etc, like a small supermarket. It's quite interesting, but difficult to find what you want.

This is local market. They sell fresh foods which are fish, fruits, vegetables, eggs and sometime meets. It's also fun to watch them.It's time for boat leaving. There're many local taxi boats in harbor. So, I must find the boat that I got this morning, otherwise, I go wrong village. But I didn't need worry about it, boat staff remembered and called me, 「Hey Junko! Come here!」 For them it's very easy to recognize me even my skin is blown...

On the way back, I sat down on the roof of the boat. It's much better than inside. Last time I saw boys played card, of course the wind blew it... This time they were drinking local alcohol and talking. Then started many questions again...why not?! It's same question as police, and 「Are you marry?」「 How many brother or sister? 」「How old are you? 」「Which kind of religion? 」「How much the flight from Japan to Alor? 」....or whatever. So better you prepare all answer if you travel in Indonesia!

And then, I went back to resort by bike taxi. ....huuu...tired...

The cost to get Kalabahi is Rp.20000...bike taxi is Rp.5000, taxi boat is Rp.15000.(one way) ...Do you want to try?! I think it'll be fun and nice experience if it's the first time for you. I'll pick you up at village!

「Let's go to Kalabahi 1」

Kalabahi in Alor is the main town of the Alor Archipelago. We usually go shopping there for the resort. There's no shop in Pantar...just village and small small kiosk. So, we have to go to town. ...I said Kalabahi is the main town....but actually, it's really small town. Let's say, a hour is good enough to see all.

Yesterday, I went to town to get driving license. I waked up at 5a.m., and went to village by bike taxi(..yes, there're a few bikes in Pantar!) to catch local taxi boat, otherwise, I have to walk for a hour...
This is the inside of taxi boat. From village nearby the resort to Kalabahi, it takes 2 hours...depends on winds, waves and current. ....It's long way. Only 45 minutes if go by speed boat. muuu....any way, we have to take this boat, this is the only way to get to the town! Passengers are sleeping, talking, smoking, eating...whatever they want to do. I was watching the sea. Then I saw a school of dolphins! They came closed to us and swam with our boat! Jump, jump, jump!!! It's so cool! ...After they'd gone, watching the sea again...

I went to Police station as soon as arrived in Kalabahi. I got inside Police station and asked where I can make the license. ...Many police came to me and checked my passport. You know, they just want to see it, not real check! They're just interested in foreigner... And start many questions... Where from? Where do you stay? What do you do?....etc. After I answered to all, asked about license...finally I could ask! But, nobody knows clearly. 「You cannot do without Indonesian ID.」「...I am not Indonesian, that's why I brought my passport 」 or「You don't need license because you're foreigner. You can drive with passport and stay permit. 」「 Nooooo! I can't do in Bali. That's why I am here! 」「 ....ok, you should ask the police who is the charge of lisence. Go there. 」 It's too long to get answer that where I can make license!

I waited the police who knows about license till he comes back from breakfast...

At last, he came back and said 「You can make it, but... the machine to make license broke down. We can't do now. It may be...next week?!」Oh my goodness! ...I said to myself 「Welcome to Indonesia.」


...to be continued...

「Nightfall」

Sometime, I come across a breathtaking view. ...like a yesterday.


I will never come across again this view and this color that a box of paints doesn't have.


.....Do you feel nightfall?

「Fish Battle?!」

The wall nearby the Strait of Pantar, every time we can see the fish battle! At the certain point, many fish mostly Blacklip Butterflyfish is picking at rock surface...like a crazy. They are eating eggs of Indo-Pacific Sergeant. There're thousands of eggs on rocks! Of course, Sergeant cannot put up with such painful situation....start their counterattack! They rush angrily to school of fish which is eating their eggs. ...but too many enemies, just only one second the enemies break up and come back, start eating again. ...Some sergeants don't give up attacking, the others try to protect other eggs which aren't attacked yet by enemies. ...They stay above the eggs and defend.

It's really interesting to watch them. You'll be surprised...what' happening?!

...Hey Sergeant, it's hard life.....isn't it?!

「Hot Critters」

Hot news from Alor! We found rare critter which is kind of Ghost Pipefish.

This is the first one. I thought it's Halimeda Ghost Pipefish when I found it. But it's not Halimeda. The color of their body is brown and a bit hairy.And second one. Look, it's more hairy and mimic. I was surprised when I found it. What's that?! Is this dirty Halimeda or Robust??? We looked it up in the book and their photo. It's looks like [Roughsnout Ghost Pipefish]. But we're not sure... Or new species?! Please let us know if you know the name...

Around few days, they stay at same place. Do you want to see?! Let's go to Alor!

「Day Off」

I've got the day off today. We were a bit busy around few days. ...The day for nitrogen emissions. Also my ears need a rest.

Day off... writing to friends or this blog, reading books, listening to the nice music... Or just look at the sea if get tired from everything. Yesterday was cloudy and windy, but today the sun comes out with nice breeze.

And think about myself.

「What do you want from your life?」 Someone asked me before. It was deeply etched in my mind. I couldn't find the answer then. It seems like easy to find, but not so easy. I am still asking myself. I feel almost find the answer. This environment may help me. I am fortunate to be here.

Any way, focus on this moment with wish.

...Well.... now is the time for coffee! My day off is passing slowly...

「Real Seaman」

Village people around Pantar Island live by catching fishes. How to do? You can see they do fishing by small canoe...of course without engine. Or they just dive without fins, and through with a spear. Sometime we watch them from underwater. It's cool! If they notice that someone is watching them, become so proudly! 「Hey Mr.! Look! I can dive and catch fishes! Take picture!」

There's one more way to catching fishes. Setting a trap.This is the trap which is like a big bamboo basket. They put it at 3-20m depth. Can you see the man holding stone? They put stones around trap for fixing, otherwise the current drift the trap away. Yesterday, we came across they were just doing this. It's unbelievable! They pick up a heavy stone 5 or 6 times during one dive! Not only 1 time. And then kick the top of the trap, come to the surface. He is the man who is real seaman! He has nice smile even underwater, doesn't he?!

「Velvet Ghost pipefish」

This is Velvet Ghost Pipefish I found few days ago. It looks like Robust Ghost Pipefish, but the skin(?) is bit different...like a velvet. That's why their name is Velvet...I guess. It must be smooth to the touch if I can touch it.

They're nice, aren't they?

「Explore?!」

Today we did 2 dives in the morning...went to Alor Island. The second point where Gilles used to dive before was the first time for me. It's like a exploration dive. Do you like exploration dive?! I love it. It's always exciting to dive in unknown place, isn't it?

Well...what we found?!

I found a pair of Velvet Ghost Pipefish again just after entry. They're so beautiful. I will put their photo later. This time I want to put another photo which is nudibranch.[Phyllodesmium longicirrum]
At first I found small one, around 5cm. And then Gilles found really big one, more than 20cm?! I was surprised when the first time I saw this nudibranch in Alor. Have you ever seen before?

By the way, this point is in front of the village. Many children gather on the beach if they find our boat. 「Mrrrrrr!」「 Miiiiiiss!」They shout and wave to us. They're so cute! Today, one boy wearing school uniform shouted from the road behind the village「I just finished schoooool! (in Indonesian) 」.....What should I answer him?! I couldn't help laughing...

「Whale!」

Whales came to Alor!!!

This morning, we were on the Beach to go diving. Suddenly we heard the sound of water splash!
「Whales?!」 ....waited for few minutes, eventually big black back of whale came out with spouting! Wooow!!! Whales!!! Two of them showed us their bake few times and tail at the end. It's wonderful! Then we saw again after the dive. We were watching them from the boat without saying a word. ....Just then, something came up to the surface. ....What is that?! ...It's turtle! He didn't go back to underwater....just stayed on the surface. He seems to want to say 「Look at me! The whales are nice, but I am nice,too!」

We're not sure which kind of whale. Because we saw only their back and tail. We guess....it's sperm whale.

At this time of the year, the whales pass through the Panatar strait. We saw them 2 weeks ago, but didn't see after that. We thought they'd gone somewhere... So, we are so happy to see them.

The blue sky, the calm sea and the whales. Try and imagine how peaceful and beautiful a moment it is... You almost forget breathing...

「Ghost Ghost Ghost!!! 」

This afternoon, we dived black sand. At this point, we saw many things before, but around few months almost nothing...so quiet... I know fishes move and have season, but suddenly all of them had gone... It's so sad, isn't it?! We're not sure when they come back, so we should go for check sometime with hope.

How was today?!

It's amazing! They came back! We saw many Ghost Pipefish...2 Robust Ghost Pipefish, 3 Ornate Ghost Pipefish(2 black and 1 white) and 2 Velvet Ghost Pipefish which is possibly a variation of the Robust Ghost Pipefish and quite rare...we guess. We were so busy, Gilles and me showed it one after another, guests took picture one after another! Also we found Reptilian Snake Eel we've not seen for long time.We enjoyed so much....85 minutes dive!

「Alor Divers - Diving」

How is the diving in Alor?! .....It's WILD & BEAUTIFUL!The strait between Alor Island and Pantar Island, we call the Pantar Strait. This strait is not wide, and besides, Pura Island in the middle of this strait makes more narrow. So...the current can be quite strong at certain point...「super drift or washing machine!」Of course, current depends on tide. At times, it's very calm and peaceful.

When we have good condition, the visibility can be more than 40-50m. And amazing coral reef - great variety and colorful of soft and hard coral. You'll feel as if you're in a dream or heaven! I often feel「...where I am now?! 」.....But don't worry, I can come back to the real world. I AM (good?!) DIVING GUIDE!

And topography. There're wall, slope, overhang, small cave, big or small rock formation, and also black sand for macro! I'm never boring.

There're only 3-4 diving operation in around Alor, and sometime live-aboads come. Only 2 or 3 times I've met other divers in underwater since I came here. Even on the surface, it's difficult to find other diving boats. It's great! ....but...you know, sometime I want to meet others, it's kind of ...fun?!

What we can see in Alor?! muuu....I cannot say now! So many things! I will repot in this blog later.

...Do you come to want to dive in Alor?!

「Alor Divers - Resort」

...Wow.... this is my new place... so quiet. ...Am I Ok? ...I might get lonely...??

This is my first impression of Alor Divers. ...yes, so quiet! There're just nature around the resort. The ocean, the forest and the sky. I cannot hear anything except sound of waves. But actually, I came to like as soon as I saw my room!

My room is second floor of Diving Center. It's like an attic room ...or the adventures of Tom sawyer!?! I have wonderful view from balcony and nice breeze. ..Wow, is this only for me?! What a luxury life I've got!

In Alor divers, there're restaurant and 6 bungalows in front of the ocean. Now we're building 7th one. And one more thing,,, long withe sandy beach! 400m!

Alor Divers is situated on Pantar Ialand...not Alor Island. ,,,but ALOR Divers. 「Why did you put Alor??」 ..I asked. 「....the sound is much better than PANTAR Divers.」I see.... may be you're right, Boss.....

「Welcome to my blog!」

I've just thought of good idea. Let's try blog in English! I already have blog in Japanese. But many people who I met cannot read it! I want other people besides Japanese read it. So, I try to start English version.

I am Junko from Tokyo in Japan. I work as diving instructor in Indonesia. The first place was Bali for a year, the second was Bunaken Island for 2 years. And now, I've been in Pantar Island since July in 2008.

Do you know Pantar Island??? I guess,,,,No! Take a map!

Pantar Island is one of the Island of Alor archipelago where is east part of Indonesia (Nusa Tenggare), and next to Alor Island. ,,,Have you found it?!

For the present Alor Divers is my place. This wonderful Eco Dive Resort has been run by Gilles from Frence & Neya from Slovenia couple since 2005. This resort is not big, but cute and comfortable! I like so much. I will write more and more around few days.

Thanks for visiting. .....I think it's enough for the first day.....