I was keen to get to the small town of Maumere for a bit of a rest and recovery, I ate a dodgy Nasi Ayam (rice & fried chicken) on the ferry for dinner, and all I will say is that one squat toilet with a constantly wet floor used by 20 or so other people on a ferry is not somewhere you want to visit as often as I did through that night.
Narrow, yet reasonable quality roads with little traffic meant by mid afternoon I was settled into a Maumere hotel for a one night stay, by early evening I was feeling a little better and required food to boost my depleted energy levels. The hotel was snookered within a residential area so I had to ride my motorcycle to the nearby eatery area for a meal. After eating it was well and truly dark and I soon discovered that in my unwell state I had not payed enough attention to exactly where the hotel was and was unable to find it. I gave up and asked a teenager for directions, he kindly jumped on his scooter and I followed him back to my accommodation. Turns out I had ridden past the hotel at least three times without recognising it because the signage was not laminated, the hotel looked similar to other houses in the street.
The next morning, eager to get back on the road but still not feeling one hundred percent I gathered my gear and prepared to depart. A quick pre ride bike inspection revealed what I really didn't need to start the day, a flat rear tyre. I had a nail through the tyre, probably from all my circle work trying to find the hotel the night before. So it was out with the tools and off with the wheel, one of the hotel staff doubled me and the wheel to a tyre repair shed and for $1.50 the tyre and tube was removed, a vulcanised rubber patch was installed over the hole and the tyre reinstalled. A quick double back to the hotel for my reinstalling of the wheel and the job was done, I was back on the road.
My destination for the day was Moni, a very small town surrounded by volcanic peaks. I had pencilled in a two night stay in Moni for a bit of rest and relaxation and I was not disappointed by my decision. Moni proved to be a wonderful place, with an ideal cool 22 - 26 degree climate, a wet season afternoon showers and great views from the veranda of my chosen accommodation at the Bintang Bungalows, I really could have stayed a lot longer.
Also staying at Bintang Bungalows were three Swiss guys, father Andre, son Eric and Johannes, Eric's mate, they had purchased a couple of old Honda motorcycles (not scooters Eric would say) in Indonesia and were riding around having great time, they were a couple of well travelled friendly guys always happy to share a story.
While in Moni I rode up a nearby road, parked the bike and after a short walk was on the Western rim of Kelimutu and its three coloured lakes, minerals in the water mean one volcanic lakes remains turquoise while the others fluctuate in colour between yellow, orange and red.
My stay in Moni at Bintang Bungalows provided the rejuvenation I needed. A hot water shower, the first in about ten days was special, along with good food, and an impromptu acoustic session from the resident musician Billy who was a dab hand on the guitar and good vocals to match proved a real winner. I was feeling fit and healthy again, anticipating more twisty roads and friendly locals.
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