Manado airport was modernised and extended in 2001, so planes can land after dark. In fact, Mandala has a flight from Jakarta landing at 8pm. . There are flights to Ternate and Ambon as well, but they are not very reliable and depend a lot on the whether. Price for Manado-Ternate-Ambon was 947.000 Rp (12/98). Price for a return ticket to Jakarta is about 3.500.000 Rp (1/99). There are also 2 flights a week to Davao (Philippines), 1 with Bouraq costing 100 US$ one way and 1 with Philippine airways. (9/2002). There is one small tourist office and some touts hanging around. One of them took us to Tasik Ria Resort, 20 km south of Manado and we liked it very much.

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We went to Flores in May 1998 for only 1 week. We liked it very much, although facilities and transport can be very rough. Distances are not so big, but the roads are very mountainous, so it takes 22 hours from Maumere to Labuan Bajo by road. I'd love to go back once to visit inner parts of the island, and not just rushing it as we did now.

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The airport is very close to town. If you want to, you can go to the bus station and take the bus at 2 pm for Ende stopping at Moni. You will arrive there around 5 pm.

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There are frequent buses from Maumere to Ende which will drop you in Moni. Getting out can be more difficult since buses can be full. We hired a car to Ende for 50.000 Rp.

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This trip is 262 km and takes a bit less then 10 hours depending on which form of transportation you take. Most people visit this region with a hired bemo or car. This costs about 175.000 Rp per day starting from Labuan Bajo (9/98). The usual trip takes about 3 or 4 days. You can also go to Bajawa by bus and start renting there. Stephane De Becker recommended Micheal, a severely disabled boy who has a friend called Harry who has a Kijang. Everybody knows Michael, so he's a good guide.

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There are direct buses from Ende to Labuan Bajo.At Losmen Islas (Ende) you can charter their minibus to Labuan for 400.000 Rp. We also met some people who did the Maumere-Labuan Bajo stretch by hired car with driver. This trip can take 2 to 3 days and typically includes a visit to Moni and Bajawa (for the 3 days tour). Price is around 500.000 Rp (5/98).There is 1 ferry a day departing from Sumbawa in the morning and arriving around 5 pm "depending on the current" and vice versa. This ferry stops in Komodo, but not every day, check it out first.Update 9/98: However, 1 of the 2 ferries has broken down, so there's only 1 ferry who has to do the 2 crossings on its own.

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The Pelni ship "AWU" from Ende to Waingapu Rp. 21.500 one way economy class - i.e. sleeping on the floor, because all the benches are taken anyway. There was no first or second class tickets, because they are booked weeks in advance.

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The Maluku chapter was written by David Sills who went to Ambon, Banda and Seram from 6 till 18 December 1998. If anyone knows a better travelguide on the web about the Mollucas, please let me know. I'm pretty sure there isn't any.

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We liked Ambon ? it?s not as big or hectic as Manado, but the traffic can still wear you down at times (coming back to Ambon from Banda or Seram, you really know you?re in a city). There is less English spoken here than in Manado (for example). Of course some Indonesian basics will help, but you can probably survive with English, and a good phrase book. Dutch speakers are very likely to find some of the older locals to chat to.

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Downtown Ambon is quite compact and easy to walk around. If you?re tired, lazy, or have a longer way to go, bemos cost 450, and tend to have regular pick up/drop off sites (i.e. you may not just be able to flag one down). We usually went to the terminal near the Pasar Mardika to catch a bemo. The confusing mass of bemos there is actually well organized into different lanes for different lines, and these lanes are well labeled. Just go to the front of the correct line to find the next bemo departing.

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