DAY158: Flores, Labuan Bajo, Batu Cermin, Mirror stone, Cunca Rami

10am: Batu Cermin is the closest attraction to Labuan Bajo. It's a cave that is famous for the 'Mirror stone', a natural wall that reflects the sunlight. It only does it around noon so we were too early for the show. We paid only 20.000Rps for the entrance fee which is not too expensive. Walking inside the cave is tricky, some passages are very narrow so don't go there if you feel claustrophobic. Or if you hate bats because we saw many flying around us.

1pm: Spontaneously decided to go to Cunca Rami waterfall instead of spending a quiet afternoon by the beach for Vouniou's last day. We like it more adventurous. There is absolutely no sign on the road leading to Cunca Rami but I knew it was further away than Cunca Wulang. There is only one road in Flores so I just had to keep going and ask the locals. I must say they were a precious help because the sign on the gate doesn't mention the name 'Cunca Rami'. This is where things went rough. When you leave the main road, the path gets very bad and rocky for several kilometers. I would probably have given up if a nice young man hadn't stopped by us and told us he was a guide to the waterfall. Quite unexpected to be honest, we were slightly suspicious but it was nice to have someone leading the way. Then we started walking: a beautiful but hard - because hot, wet and muddy - trek through the tropical forest and the rice fields. It feels like nobody but the locals has ever been there. Our guide, Vempi, took a machete at the beginning and told us it was for the snakes. I shouldn't have asked this time. But it was too hard to get there to give up at the last minute. The trail was very slippery once we reached the rice fields and Vouniou fell twice (and was about to fall a lot more times). But it was totally worth it, a great reward. The waterfall is mind blowing! It's 70 meters high and the water flow is so strong that it creates its own wind.

4pm: The way up was easier, even though Vouniou managed to dip her foot in the river because she slipped. That was so funny! Driving back to Labuan Bajo was faster, it always is when you know the way. I love the scooter so much, I consider getting one when I go back home.

10pm: Watched the sunset by the beach. The beach near Labuan Bajo is really trashy unfortunately but the colors of the sunset are still very nice. It's Vouniou's last night here. So we bought some beers and talked about the trip for a couple of hours. I'm going to miss her a lot.