WHALES HUNTIG

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Lembata, a small island in the east of Flores island could reach by boat from Larantuka town's pier in the tip of Flores island.

Flores island itself offer a lots of tourist destinations, among other are tree main interesting sites to see. Komodo reptiles in the west, Kelimutu multi colors lake in the middle and Whales hunting in the east of Flores island. This sites administered as part of East Nusatenggara Province, located in the east of Bali island.

Story about Komodo reptiles, I wrote in this post as well, please take a look and click it.

Now I will told you about Whales and dolhpins hunting. You may recalled to Moby dick films, the story of Whales hunter equipped with high tech facilities, start with the arrows, solid nets, sonar ray that transmitted the possible location of a whales or a group of whales, or another types of fishes using a boat manufactured tools.

Now take a look, visit or compare a traditional manual system using old fashion facilities available made by hand somewhere in the eastern part of Indonesia archipelago. Compare to the modern way. The precise location is in a small island (above photo) located in the east of Flores Island, belong to Larantuka district.

If you interested to try an adventure tour using wooden  boat along with muscular hunters, you my find a packet tour in Denpasar, Bali island for 6 days. Fly fom Bali to Maumere in the middle of Flores island, spend overnight before spending 4 hours drive by land to Laranruka town, eastern tip of the island In day 2 or day 3, if you are lucky you may watching the hunter chase the whales while cruise to small island, Lembata island.

Lembata is known around the world as the home of traditional whale hunting community. Here, whale had been hunted for centuries using all hand made equipment, spears, boats, ropes. The wooden boat without motors and harpooners must jump down from the wooden boat - hand made - to implant his harpoon into the whale to ensure success.

The technique of hunting dolphins as the same as the whales. The harpooner, the youngest and fittest of the crew aimed a barbed metal harpoon until within striking distance. He hung at the animal, jumping to the sea to put his full weight behind the harpoon. The shoot more often than not it's a miss. He returned to the boat looking exhausted.

If it is a hit, a second and the third harpoon needed to secure the animal. The the long battle to reel it begin, hit or miss, whole process is a labor intensive group effort of eight or more crews. The struggling of dolphins or whales are hard to bear, but the absolute delight and relief of the crew whenever they landed their catch, made one realize how much they needed it. Someday they catch 5 dolphins and they called it a day.

Be aware that in the village of Lewoleba, there are a few of a very simple home stay made of bamboo, lived with the family. Please don't judge the way of your life standard in the west - who lived in comfort - with them in a very simple way of life but happy ever after, not contaminated with outside worlds.

The whales, dolhpins or other big fishes are very important to feeding the family clans and some day they return to shore empty handed and exhausted. So, when they succeeded to made a big catch means a lot to them and made them happy.

Every Sunday morning the 2.000 or so inhabitants went to the Church - most of the east Nusatenggara were Chatolic -, using sarong and colourful blouses. The water are cristal clear and excellent sea for snorkeling.

Unfortunately, local tourist agency didn't paid a special effort to manage, marketing this rare tourist destination, traditional way of life and old traditional way of whales hunting.