CEREMONIA goes to Flores

I hope you're all ok with me bringing #ceremoniawanderlustwednesday to the blog. as some may know, prior to the pandemic I'd been based in Bali the last 2.5+ years with my honey. despite all our time spent getting to know Bali, we didn't venture to other parts of Indonesia too often, but we finally made it a point to explore more this past march.

on march 9 we left Bali without a set itinerary and ready to explore the remote eastern islands. we started in Flores, which is about a 2 hour flight away (or 2 day boat ride which is not recommended from the horror stories I've read and heard from other travelers), and flights are relatively cheap, I think we got our one-way tickets from Denpasar for about $60 per person. we spent the first 2 nights in Labuan Bajo which is the port town where many travelers base themselves for diving trips and other excursions such as visiting Komodo Island--the only place in the world where you can see the komodo dragon. there are many cheap guest houses and places to stay, but I highly recommend seaesta, a newer property with a fun rooftop pool and vibe, yummy restaurant, and clean and comfy private rooms. we paid about $50/night and were very happy with our stay, food, and service.

we decided to splurge a bit for my birthday (pisces!), so on march 11 we took off on a private island adventure with le pirate. having stayed at their Nusa Ceningan property, I already knew what to expect design and service-wise, and so I was happy to spend my birthday glamping on their private island. and that is where we were, tucked away in our tents, maybe snorkeling, or hiking up a green grass hill, enjoying a cocktail, playing scrabble, without reception, away from the noise and chaos when news of the pandemic hit. these are the pictures I captured on our private island adventure, and ones I will hold close to my heart forever for many reasons. it was a birthday to remember, so much beauty, and also the most life-changing one--the entire world changed over night. but during the moments captured here, we were blissfully unaware. I really wasn't worried about too much. I miss that feeling.