Take Two
Joana Mollet, Destination Expert.
We're approaching the end of another glorious day on board the Silolona, Indonesia's most luxurious classic schooner, and have dropped anchor off Banta - a stunning island deep into Komodo National Park. The bay is deserted, the water a deep indigo blue and a slight breeze ruffles the sails. As my hand goes around a cold sundower, I'm calmly blown away by the breathtaking scene before us and I say to Scarlett, "It doesn't get much better than this".
We lazily cast our eyes over the calm waters and are suddenly aware of a whirl of activity on the surface, - a crew member shouts out "Mantas!" and suddenly it's all action again. Throwing our drinks down, we snap on our goggles and fins and swim out towards them.
A group of manta is feeding in the bay. As we approach them, we realise that there are no less than seven, gracefully gliding and turning in an immense water ballet. Undaunted by our presence they move around us and beneath us, their huge black capes and white underbellies so close that at times we can almost touch them. I squeak into my snorkel as one turns and swims headlong towards me, mouth agape and hear Goris, Silolona's veteran marine guide, chuckling at me in response. These graceful creatures, for all their size, are harmless of course.
We swim around them until the last colours seep from the sky, then return - exhausted but exhilarated - to the Silolona. Back on deck, with a fresh sundowner in our hands we admit to ourselves that we're probably the two most spoilt creatures on the planet and think: "Okay, take two, - it doesn't get much better than this".
