Under the Mist
“Konde… Ratu… We want to see you…”
Dino taught us what the local people say every time they want to see the lakes of Kelimutu, often shrouded in thick mist more than 1,600 meters above sea level in the southeastern part of Flores. Konde, the mythical father of the lakes, and Ratu, the mother, reside in two of the three colored lakes that first caught my attention as a kid in the 1990s. It was the old 5,000 rupiah banknote which started my curiosity of the three brightly-colored mountain lakes – keli is mountain and mutu is lake in the local language – in a faraway, exotic island.
Local people believe that upon death, people’s souls would eternally rest in one of the lakes, determined by their age and what they did in life. Tiwu Nuwa Muri Ko’o Fai is the resting place for the spirits of young men and maidens, while the nearby Tiwu Ata Polo is reserved for those who committed evil deeds in their lifetime. Both are separated only by a narrow rocky wall inside the ancient caldera of the dormant volcano. A little further uphill, Tiwu Ata Mbupu is where the spirits of old people reside. In this part of the world three whimsically colored lakes – turquoise, dark chocolate and dark blue respectively – are people’s inspiration of the afterlife.
Tiwu Ata Polo changes its color the most frequently among the three, as though the uneasy spirits were trying to break free from their final resting place. Dark chocolate this time, teal a few years ago, and reddish before that, thanks to the minerals and gases released by the volcanic activity beneath the lakes. Fascinating change of color aside, two of the lakes are dangerously acidic with pH level measuring no more than 1.9.
However upon our arrival one afternoon Konde and Ratu were not keen on showing us their true colors, blanketing themselves with thick, swirling mist. That was when Dino started whistling and reciting the mantra to ask the mythical guardians of the lakes to show themselves.
As if they heard him, the mist slowly lifted up, revealing the bewitched lake, and later the lake of the youth.
But they were only teasing us for a few minutes later mist slowly crawled back on the caldera wall down to the lakes and cover the colored surface once again. With the addition of rain drops pouring over our heads, it seemed like they wanted us to leave and come back again the next day. Dino stopped whistling and the sound from our camera shutters certainly didn’t do the magic.
We retreated back to our guesthouse in the village of Moni.
A Glimpse of Konde Ratu
Misty Path to the Lakes
The Village of Moni
A Church in Moni
Dinner was served at a small restaurant on a balcony of our guesthouse, overlooking the almost pitch black road and the rest of village, only occasionally illuminated by passing cars and motorbikes.
Dino told us how decades ago, those who wanted to reach Kelimutu would always stay at Wisma Santo Fransiskus (Saint Francis Guesthouse) in the village of Detusoko, 33 km away from the colored lakes. But some twenty years ago more than 40 local chieftains owning the lands around Moni gave permission to the locals to build lodges and guesthouses to cater the increasing demand from tourists. Soon afterwards Moni transformed itself from a sleepy village into a preferred place to stay for travelers who wish to catch the fabled sunrise at Kelimutu.
However it didn’t come free as the chieftains would periodically send a spokesperson to the accommodation managers to ask for “donation” to build a house or materials for a ceremony.
“How did you become a travel guide?” James asked Dino.
Such a rather simple question turned out to spark our guide’s enthusiasm to tell us his long and twisted life story beginning with his life as a young man in Flores, his experience working in Bali which would later bring him to places as far as Amsterdam and Milan, and his visit to Tasmania in Australia with his ex-girlfriend.
James didn’t get the answer he was looking for in the end.
“Tomorrow morning I’ll check the weather first, and if it looks good I will wake you up at 4,” Dino told us. “If not, you can wake up at 6.”
The next morning a loud knock on our door woke us up, and I quickly checked my phone. It was 4:30 am. The weather must be good, I encouraged myself to get ready really fast to not miss the sunrise at Kelimutu. Soon enough Dino drove us back to the mountain and we arrived at the parking lot just before the first rays of sun started to break. No rain or mist, the day began with a promising start.
Bathed in the golden morning sun, we took the same flight of stairs we stepped on the previous day, only this time we were walking further to reach the main viewpoint, higher than all the three lakes. In the east, endless rows of ridges were flanked by the Flores Sea from the north and the Savu Sea from the south, both glistening in royal yellow as the morning sun rose from the horizon. Mount Egon emerged above the mist-covered slopes, creating a landscape out of a romanticized painting.
Behind me, the dark blue Tiwu Ata Mbupu sat in lonesome, surrounded by steep walls crowned with lush pine forests. In front of me, following the rhythm of the sunrise the two lakes gradually showed their colors, revealing the same sight the old rupiah note was inspired by. There I was, surrounded by the color-changing lakes in a faraway exotic land. A childhood dream was fulfilled that day.
Tiwu Nuwa Muri Ko’o Fai (front) and Tiwu Ata Polo
Tiwu Ata Mbupu
Rugged Landscape Bathed in Golden Hue
Early Risers
Looking to the East
Selfie Time
Moments After Sunrise
Love in A Foreign Land
The Wall of Tiwu Ata Polo
Rice Terraces, Detusoko
What an Amazing World! 
Wow! Fantastic…
http://www.sid-thewanderer.com
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Hey Sid! Thanks a lot! Glad to know that you enjoyed this post.
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I will put these lakes in my stories for sure!! Amazing photos and articles!! All time you inspire me!!
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To know that this story has inspired you in such way is really heartening. Thanks for reading!
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Awesome
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Pak Joko, it’s really an honor to have you here. Makasih banyak Pak. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Hadel.
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That morning at Kelimutu was simply magical – after that misty afternoon, we really couldn’t have asked for better weather! Reading this write-up and seeing your beautiful photos takes me right back… ah, how I miss Indonesia!! 🙂
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I’m actually glad that we went twice, first with the mist, and second with that perfect weather. Makasih James, and thanks again for coming with me on this trip! Indonesia still has so many places to explore, and she surely misses you too. 🙂
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wah sudah sampai di kelimutu nih, saya juga pernah ke sana..emang manteppppppp..
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Betul, dan seramai-ramainya Kelimutu masih nyaman untuk berlama-lama untuk berfoto-foto. 🙂
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waktu kesana, apa saja warna danaunya ..?
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Turquoise, kecoklatan, dan biru gelap, sebagaimana saya tulis di post ini. 🙂
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Salah satu momen sunrise terbaik di Kelimutu, auranya mistis
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Mistis dan magis. Puas banget saya bisa ke sana setelah sekian lama. 🙂
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wow! Looks very dreamy!
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It’s both dreamy and surreal at the same time. But all in all it was such a wonderful place!
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Definitely! looking at it makes my mind travel to so many things lol
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Amazing, Bama!
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Thank you, Suze. Kelimutu was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my trip to Flores.
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OMG! Your pictures and story are truly beautiful, Bama. You have no idea that it gives me goosebumps. Not in a creepy way of course. Kelimutu is on my bucket list and after reading your story, I really can’t wait to see it myself….hopefully soon 😀
ps: you’re great in writing stories, why don’t you write a book, Bama? ^^
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Wow, I’m flattered, Debbie. Thank you so much for such a lovely and encouraging comment! You’ll find yourself standing near the lakes sooner than later. And since now you’ve been to Iceland and Greenland, Flores is very close in comparison. 🙂
Writing a book is another dream of mine. But sometimes I don’t know where and how to start. Maybe in the near future I really should find ways to make that dream come true. 🙂
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Wow, these photos are incredible! Let me just add that to my never ending bucket list…
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Thank you for such a kind comment, Dani. Kelimutu, and Flores in general, deserves to be in the bucket lists of those who love adventure, nature and culture. 🙂
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Bama what a fabulous tour! How fascinating that the lakes change color. Amazing photos.
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Three mountain lakes which constantly change color, Mother Nature surely has a good sense of humor. 🙂 Thanks Sue.
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Really Amazing. Thank you for sharing.
“dod Rangers”
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Thank you for your nice words, and for reading as well. 🙂
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Looks beautiful!!!
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It was even better in person! 🙂 Kelimutu is one of the most interesting places the country has to offer.
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I’m sure…pictures never do the real thing any justice.
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Pagi : )) tis truly an amazing place! And it still looks the same 10 yrs later! We did stay at moni…I remember the main road being quite scarey…lots of landslides waiting to happen. … Beautiful images!!
Hebat!
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Pagi juga! 🙂 Moni 10 years ago must be quite different, I imagine there were less options for accommodation in the village. Actually due to its topography landslide is one thing Florenese are quite used to, I believe, as I saw some sections of the Trans-Flores Highway covered in mud and rocks, the aftermath of some landslides a few days prior to our visit. Terima kasih!
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Wow! Absolutely stunning. Thanks for sharing.
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And thank you for reading, Laura. I’m glad you enjoyed this post. 🙂
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How can places like this be real?! This is stunning… added to my list too, now!
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And that’s exactly what drives us to travel the world, isn’t it? To see places so magical, bizarre and unusual. Thanks for reading, Jess. Hopefully you’ll visit Kelimutu sooner than later! 🙂
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I Hope I could go there 😦
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http://bukanrastaman.wordpress.com/2014/08/10/mlaku-mlaku-nang-suroboyo-carnival/
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Nothing is impossible. Keep your hope high and do whatever you can, sooner than later you’ll find yourself standing at the viewpoint, looking at the three lakes with admiration. 🙂
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Breathtaking pictures !!!
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Hi Praveena. Thank you so much!
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ini dream destination saya dari jaman SD loh hihihih, setelah liat Sam post tentang ini, dan sekarang Kak Bama juga, duh jadii makin kepengen :((
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Nah, sama berarti. Saya juga pertama kali tau Kelimutu pas SD dan sejak saat itu selalu terbayang-bayang. Rencanain pergi ke sana, Meidi. Dijamin suka sama Flores. 🙂
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Wah dulu saya kesana tiwu ata polo warnanya hijau tua, sekarang udah merah lagi ya…. jd pengen kesana lagi…
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Itu serunya Kelimutu ya, kita gak akan pernah tau apa warna danaunya ketika kita berkunjung, karena katanya perubahan warna danau Kelimutu selalu terjadi pas malam hari.
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Wow, that place looks seriously gorgeous. How lucky that you had good weather!
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The next day when I left for the next city on the route the weather was less friendly again, just like on the day I arrived in Moni. So you’re right, I was really lucky. Hope you make it to Flores one day, Kara. 🙂
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God!! What a wonderful place!! Where is it precisaly? Hope to be There once in our lives!!! Bye!!
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Kelimutu and the entire island of Flores were truly wonderful, you should come and experience the island for yourself. The island of Flores is the third main islands to the east of Bali (after Lombok and Sumbawa) in Indonesia. Thanks for reading!
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Wow! I really enjoyed reading this, plus you’re a great photographer! This makes me want to go off and explore! 🙂
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Thank you so much for your kind words, Alex. Hopefully soon enough you’ll find yourself exploring the island of Flores! 🙂
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Beautiful shot!
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Thank you, Heaverly!
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Wow-what a glorious sunrise! So glad you were able to achieve a childhood dream that day! Fascinating stories about the lakes, too!
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The long wait was really paid off. 🙂 Kelimutu was not only beautiful, but also magical. Definitely one of the highlights of my trip to Flores.
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as always, great story, great photos!
magisnya danau kelimutu kayanya belum ada yang ngalahin ya. keren! meski belum pernah kesampaian kesana juga sih, baru lihat foto-fotonya doang 🙂
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Thank you, Fahmi. Saya belum keliling seluruh Indonesia sih, tapi rasanya saya cukup pede untuk bilang Kelimutu memang salah satu tempat paling magis di Indonesia. Semoga cepet nyusul ke sana! 🙂
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kelimutu tempat fav sepanjang masa
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And I can see why. 🙂
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Amazing!
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Absolutely! You must see it yourself.
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Damn beautifull!!!,
even the sulphuric scent used to be torturing me, but i guess the view made that all hillarious icy cold early morning climbing worthed
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Actually even though Kelimutu is technically a volcano, I don’t remember smelling sulfur when I was there. I suppose the usual volcanic activities palpable in other volcanoes happen right beneath the colored lakes of Kelimutu.
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Nice shots, brings back memories I had to stay in some village (cannot remember the name Moni maybe) to get up at sunrise.
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Thank you. My driver told me people usually stay either in Moni or Detusoko to catch the sunrise at Kelimutu. Glad to know this post brings back memories to you. 🙂
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Excellent snaps and good descriptions…..
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Thank you, Deeptesh. Glad to know you enjoyed this post.
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Bama, these lakes are fascinating and your photos are stunning. I am so intrigued by the colors, their changing ways, and the folklore attached to them. James, my husband is a geologist and he was gobsmacked when he saw your photos. You can bet that Kelimutu just rocketed to the top of our must-see list. 🙂 Thanks for the beautiful tour. ~Terri
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Thank you so much, Terri. But it’s really hard not to get good pictures of Kelimutu as it was such a picturesque place. Ah, I didn’t know that James is a geologist! I’m sure he’ll enjoy a visit to these color-changing lakes. Apart from the lakes, Flores has other curiously-looking geological features for James to investigate. 🙂
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Hey Bama, what a fascinating post. Your well-written narratives gave me goose pimples – about the legends of the lakes and of Konde and Ratu, the heard whisper of Dino, and the rain as sign to go away. Most of all, it was touching that you childhoom dream had come true. I’m glad that Konde and Ratu showed you their true color when you return. Their colors are beautiful indeed. Lovely photos.
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Thanks again, Marisol! I can imagine you and Keith enjoying Flores from end to end. It has what both of you love: beautiful landscape with intriguing culture, and a little adventure. 🙂 I was really lucky to be able to see the lakes clearly on my second visit. A dream did come true that morning. 🙂
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Bama, as always… breathtaking pictures… envy!!!! 😀 😀 kebanyakan maunya ga direalisasi terus hahaha…
Btw, DebbZie above is right, you have to write a book, you’re a good writer and photographer, Bama… I’ll buy it for sure… 🙂
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Makasih! Waduh, saya tersanjung lho (tapi gak sampe 6) 🙂
It’s very encouraging to read your lovely comment. Hopefully sooner than later at bookstores you would find a book written by me. Makasih banyak sekali lagi. 🙂
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Beautiful writing and great photos. I am not sure if we will make it to the lakes on our visit, but this makes me want to go!
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Hi Jeff. Thank you. As you said in your post, Indonesia is really big. If you cannot make it to Kelimutu this time there’s always another time to go back to the country. 🙂
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I adore those pictures!!!! =)
following you now, below you can find my blog =)
-Mireia
http://thelittlesecretsblog.wordpress.com/
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Thank you, Mireia. I’m glad you enjoyed the photos.
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Nice story and photos.. I like it !!
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Thank you. I only captured what’s already beautiful. 🙂
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you are capturing the world through a lens and its beautiful
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Thank you very much for your kind words. 🙂
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wah keren banget hasil foto2nya..didukung dengan penulisan yg oke banget jadi bikin penasaran pengen liburan ke sana juga..:) terus gaya penulisannya apik jadi nambah wawasan juga nih dalam penulisan..
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Makasih Maria. 🙂 Ayo datang ke Flores. Pulaunya masih relatif alami, pemandangannya bagus banget, budayanya unik dan banyak lokasi-lokasi yang gak ditemui di pulau lain di Indonesia. Makasih banyak untuk komentarnya ya.
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Breathtaking photos Bama! And your narration seems to get better by the day. Loved every word……thank you and James for taking us along 🙂
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That’s really kind of you to say, Madhu! A little secret here: your blog and James’ are among those which keep me improving my writing style. 🙂 Hopefully you’ll make it to Flores sooner than later!
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Wow, what a beautiful place. I would love to go here one day! Amazing photos and lovely story to go along with them.
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I would recommend Flores to anyone who’s really into nature, adventure and culture. It’s one of the places I can see myself returning in the future.
Thank you, and hopefully you’ll visit it sooner than later!
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Ah… the classic lima ribu rupiah note. I think most of us have our interest started there – too bad I haven’t had the chance to visit the magical three-colored volcanic lakes of Kelimutu yet, but it’s high on my bucket list. Maybe someday.
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True. We often find travel inspirations from banknotes, the exact reason for many people who come to Yangshuo and Xingping in China to see the landscape which inspired the 20 yuan banknote. Flores is relatively easy to visit from Singapore via Bali. Do plan a trip to the island, chances are you will end the trip feeling satisfied.
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You have travelled a lot in Asia yet have not visited india…!! I liked your blog…
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Don’t worry, India is in the pipeline. 🙂 I’ve always wanted to go to India but one visit won’t be enough as it’s such a big and diverse country.
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Your blog is pretty awesome. Love all those photos and the way you put all of them to your stories and made it looked amazing! And kelimutu it’s my fav one btw. Keren mas Bama! Ga nyangka ketemu blog ini 🙂
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Eh ada Agil. Thank you so much! Really really delighted to know that you found this blog, somehow. 🙂 Kelimutu is indeed one of the most magical places I’ve ever been to.
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There is a similar place in Bulgaria – Seven Rila Lakes. You should visit that place as well. It’s amazing. 🙂
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I just looked up the photos on Google and you’re right, the lakes look amazing and well worth a visit.
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Reblogged this on Fatma Sheikh MED1001.
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Mother Earth is to be respected. You shared a special place for all of us. Thank you.
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Yet we often take her for granted. Visiting such a magical place like Kelimutu reminds us the very reason why conserving nature should be in everyone’s interest. Thank you for reading!
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Amazing shots!
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Thank you, Gašper and Maruša.
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These photos are incredible. Thank you for sharing. I have the travel bug again.
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Giving people the travel bug they need is probably one of the nicest things I found out about what my blog posts can do. Thank you for your kind comment and happy traveling!
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Pingback: Great blogs and places to dream about – Asia edition | The World Is Not That Big
I posted my blog with your photo and links. Let me know what you think. Kirk – http://theworldisnotthatbig.com/2015/04/28/great-blogs-and-places-to-dream-about-asia-edition/
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Hi Kirk, thank you so much for the link to my blog! It’s always great to share my excitement with others, moreover Kelimutu was a place I dreamed of visiting since I was little.
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Really beautiful pictures of Kelimutu, the crater lakes are just calling for my visit.
Indonesia has so much to offer for their volcanoes and trekking. I have been to Mount Bromo and Ijen, and both mountains were stunning. I’m heading to Mount Batur next and really hoping to include Kelimutu in another trip soon.
Thank you for the wonderful post.
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Thank you, Tusu. Indonesia really is a haven for volcano lovers, including my best friend who keeps coming to Indonesia every now and then. From Bali you can fly to Maumere or Ende on the island of Flores, and head to Kelimutu. It shouldn’t be that hard to reach.
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