MANGGARAI TIMUR
The road from Bajawa to Borong which is the capital (ibu kota) bends for one hour south to Aimere, then continues along a stretch of beach and turns to the north inland again. Manggarai Timur doesn’t receive many foreign visitors and Borong is usually only a place to stop on route from Bajawa to Ruteng or Labuan Bajo). There are a few padang and Javanese restaurants and a few (not really nice) hotels.
SLEEP
In Borong are a few, mostly basic hotels see
If you don't intend to visit the area, traveling westwards to Ruteng is a better choice to spend the night. Heading to the east the guesthouses in Wae Langga, Aimere or Bajawa are more comfortable and appealing.
EAT&DRINK
Resto Bougenvile in Borong town is a good place for lunch but even better is Siquarra Restaurant not far from the border with Ngada district, with nice dishes and nice people.
TRANSPORT see also
FLIGHTS
There is no airport in Borong. The closest one is in Ruteng, 1,5 hours away however there are flights to Kupang only and very irregular and very, very expensive and
therefore not really usable.
BUS LONG DISTANCE
There are buses to Bajawa, Ende, Ruteng and Labuan Bajo.
BUS WITHIN TOWN
Bemo/angkot Rp 5000
CAR WITH DRIVER
A car with driver is best to arrange in the main tourist towns like Bajawa, Ende, Labuan Bajo or Maumere. Also check car with driver
OJEK (motorcycle taxi)
Rp 5.000 to Rp 10.000 for a ride.
TRAVEL
This is a kind of shared “taxi” (a big car, APV or minibus which runs from door to door). I am not sure if there are travels starting in Borong but you might get one coming from Bajawa or Ruteng. Otherwise you can call Gunung Mas who can pick you up on their route between Ruteng and Bajawa. Costs are usually Rp 150.000.
BOATS
There is a seaport in Borong but not usefull for travelers. As far as I know the nearest port for passengers is in Aimere (to Waingapu, Sumba) in Ngada
WHAT TO SEE IN MANGGARAI TIMUR?
Just beyond the border with Ngada there is Mbalata Beach, a black sand
beach with views of the majestic Gunung Inerie across Aimere Bay. Take the road at the junction in Wae Lengga to reach the beach.
Further south west, 30 to 40 minutes off the Trans Flores Road you will reach savanna Mausui a beautiful and quiet landscape.
Poco Ndeki is the same word for nature. About 10 kilometers before Borong (coming from Aimere) turn left and right again at the t-junction. However, trails are not so clear. A few kilometres beyond Borong you will find Cepi Watu a beach where huge stones cover the coastline. Like elsewhere on Flores, nobody there outside the weekends.
From Borong the road goes inland further north as in the south are huge mountains. Lake Ranamese is a nice place to stop on the way to Ruteng. It is easy accessible (fee is a steep Rp 100.000) and only a short stroll downstairs you will meet the green and fresh lake full of natural life. There is also a waterfall reached via another path. Only a few hundred meters further on they have built an ugly wall (with graffity) to keep you away from the nice views down there.
The north coast is even more seldom visited and actually only reachable via Reo (Manggarai). Near Dampek are fine views from the road high above the sea. Wonderful sunsets
here. Further east in the neighbourhood of Pota you will come across a prehistoric landscape with blue rivers and huge stones and ricefields. Rana Tonjong (lotuslake) is a few kilometers
south of Pota and worth a visit when the lotus flowers are blooming. Be aware of a lot of mosquites since you need to reach the lake after a 20 minutes stroll through the forest.
Nanga Lok viewpoint is located between Riung and Pota.
Although Komodo National Park get all the credits for it famous komodo dragon, the area west of Riung, towards Pota is also home for a slightly smaller specie of the komodo dragon. However there isn't such a thing as the tourist scene like on the islands of Rinca and Komodo and the chance you will spot them here is
almost zero. In Pota is a Komodo Information Center which I haven't visited yet so I can't tell you anything about it.
Please visit their website
https://komododragon.org/
Tip
The road along the north coast Riung to Reo is good today and a nice alternative for the regular Bajawa to Ruteng Trans Flores road.
Traveler who visit Riung can do this route. Coming from Moni you visit Bajawa first, then on to Riung and the day after the boattrip from Riung to Reo and continue to Ruteng. It takes a bit
longer indeed mainly because of the gorgeous views along the road of ricefields, mountain landscapes, seaviews and river landscapes. And the road Reo to Ruteng is another beauty with the Reoriver
and the views along the winding road. One of my favourite parts.
Anne Mieke -AM PHOTONESIA©-