Trips and Travel

[Giles]

So, P and I are on our way to a diving trip in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Raja Ampat is effectively in every "best 10 places to dive in the world" list, and we have wanted to dive it for years. A Filipino friend who we met diving in The Philippines in 2017 and then dived with again in The Socorro Islands in 2019, contacted us at the beginning of the year and asked if we wanted to do a Live Aboard in Raja. We jumped at the chance for lots of reasons, not least because we will meet up with lots of dive buddies including our special diving chum Jasmine from San Jose.

It is a bastard to get to, compounded by Mr Trumps decision to start a war. We originally booked to go there and back via Doha. Well, that was suddenly not possible, so after a number of long and painful calls we got BA to change our flight. Via Kuala Lumpur on the way out, and Hong Kong on the way back.

So far, we are 2 flights in, and in Jakarta. We have another flight tonight at midnight (It's 11am local atm), which takes us 4 hours further east. Then we have another hotel room to hang around in for a few hours, then a ferry ride to The Papua Paradise Eco Resort.

Because the travel takes a long time and is expensive, we added 10 days at that resort before we join the live aboard....

[endo]

Sounds like you have a wonderful time ahead of you, @Giles Indonesia is so diverse and beautiful. Enjoy it! Have a good trip and best regards to P.

[Giles]

16:45 local time and just woken up after a few hours kip (at the Anara Hotel, Jakarta Airport). Need food, will probable eat here and take our time to check in for the next flight.

It is 1600km from here to Sarong.

And to pick up your point about Indonesia being diverse. It's bloody massive:

We are coming back in October to dive Komodo, which again, we have always wanted to do and I am sure will be totally different:

[Bridger]

Looks awesome @Giles - I would love to explore Indo

Eat. Pray.Dive. Love.

[sabergirl]

Safe travels, Giles and Paula. Can’t wait to see more of your adventures.

[Karol]

@Giles @Madame-Buttonfly You guys will love it! I’m already planning a come back.

[Denman John]

@Giles That’s one part of the world that I’d love to explore. Enjoy your time there and send us a few pictures!

[1WayTrip]

Would love to do something like that with a tub of Rapalas and a travel rod.

[Giles]

I have a travel rod and a bunch of Yo Zuri's, Tackle Houses and Malosi's.....

[Matt]

Cool trip guys. Take lots of pics for us.

[Giles]

Next stop Sarong.

[68degreesorless]

No underwater guitar this time

[Giles]

I will try and avoid it

[Giles]

Sarong airport

[Giles]

[Chap]

Lots of engines on that little skiff.

[Aetas]

8355cm3 and 600HP. Smooth!

[hajduk]

The ocean currents must be strong around the area. Because there's a serious cavalry charge there!

[Bridger]

Running drugs between tourist dives is a popular way to top-up the income.

[Giles]