FLORES ISLAND lies between Sumbawa and Timor islands is an abbreviation of Cabot da Flores which was used by Portuguese sailor in the 17th century to identify the cape on the eastern end of the islands because of its underwater gardens. The sea gardens extend a long most of the northern coastline and offshore reefs and they are most profuse near Maumere where a diving resort and also Riung. Divided by mountain chains and volcanoes, the island populated by ethnic groups with their own traditions and languages.
Predominantly Catholic, the have retained several aspects of the Portuguese culture such as the Easter parade held annually at Larantuka on the eastern part of the island and the Royal Regalia of the former King of Sikka.
Mt. Kelimutu, 1.690m fifty years ago, had three lakes, one lake was blue green, one fiery green and one red. Thirty years later, the colors had changed to blue, red brown and cafe au lait. Now, Ata Bupu (Lake) is a dramatic dark-brown. Ata Polo are dark red-brown, and only Nuwa Muri remains aquamarine or turquoise as it apparently always was. No one can explain the cause of such color changes except to suppose that different minerals are dissolved in the waters of each lake.

The countryside surrounding the lake, though no longer so "natural" as in the days of early Dutch visitors - some hundred years ago - is still mountainous and dramatic enough with panoramic views all side
Religions
Although 85% of Flores population are Catholic. Christianity is fused with traditional beliefs. Christianity has also being even in smaller villages like Nage near Bajawa, where age-old Ngada beliefs and practices have been preserved. Here, symbols of this continuing tradition - "bhaga," which resemble miniature thatched roof houses, and umbrella-shaped "ngadu," with carvings of axes, cassavas, dragons and flowers twisting around their wooden stems - were displayed between two rows of tall, thatched houses and stone tombs, said to contain hoards of treasure. Gory buffalo sacrifices, agricultural fertility rituals, take place in Nage.
Flores Coastline
Riung :
Journeying across Flores, tantalizing glimpses of the coastline - Riung : Pulau Tujuh Belas, "nature preservation". Enjoying snorkeling in enormous "aquarium" siesta on white sandy beach of Pulau Rutong, see myrids of bat colony hanging over mangrove trees.
Ropa
Experience your trip in to a more secluded place, stay at local house, fishing, climbing mountain, sleep in a tree-huts. Finding ruins of past generation, who lived spreading a long the mountain. This trip suitable for young and middle age. REAL ADVENTURE .

TOURIST INFORMATION OF MANGGARAI,
MANGGARI REGENCY
The regency of Manggarai is one of the six regencies in Flores Island. The area covers a part of Flores Island and some other bigger island bordered by west Manggarai regency in the west, Ngada regency in the east. Flores Sea in the north and Sawu Sea in then south. Manggarai regency is a mountainous and hilly area and this perhaps has given rise to a considerable variation in culture between areas. Manggarai Regency declarated as district in 1958.By 17 of July 2003 Manggarai regency had been formally divide into two regencies they are Manggarai Regency with its capita of Ruteng wich covers 11 subdistricts and west Manggarai regency with its capital of labuan Bajo wich covers 5 subdistricts.

CULTURAL HERITAGE
Mbaru Gendang; the traditional house of Manggarai is called mbaru gendang or Mbaru Tembong’ (the drun house), colonial shaped with thatch roof extending down to the floor. The drums house is round, divided into pie-like sections that belong to all members of village represented by the lieages living in the house. It is a central of ritual authority, organizing the ritual activities and controlling the village’s agricultural land.
Compang; is a kind of altar, made of a pile of stones with a banyan tree often planted in the middle, located in the central of the village. It’s a sacred place for the village where the sacrifices are performed and offerings for the ancestors are made. Some time the bodis of important people are buried round it.
Lingko; is a round field (spider-web like farm) which belongs to all lineages living in the drum house. There is a Lodok (a sacred place0 in the centre of the Lingko. It symbolizes the unity of father above and mother below’ with the Teno wood stake and rock instruments. Sacrifices are often made here, and the design of the Compang in the centre of the village. The Uniques of Compang In Ruteng.
Ruteng is a market town because in this town people from various village meet here for sales their product.
Ruteng is town encircled by the area of rice field un folding in sloping area of volcanic mount. Mostly resident of Ruteng generally people from Manggarai that always called group of ethnic that most interesting in Flores. Manggarai people known as a shamer but they are very friendly with special character that they always use Sarung Hitam. Manggarai language does not understanding other people except Manggarai itself. About 3 Km from Ruteng there is a traditional village of Compang Ruteng which is quite a lot accepting tourist arrival. One of these place fascinations is called compang that is a area that consist of the altar of ancestor worship encircled by the wall of stone and two customary house facing to altar. One of that custom houses is called Mbaru Gendang that always use by tetua or head village for meeting and place for various custom ceremony. This house also put various heirlooms or inherits that assumed as a Holt thing. One of them is cover head in form of buffalo horn made from gold or silver that called panggal used at the time of fight war dance or Caci in local language. In north of Ruteng there were a hill of Golo Curu and from the top of that mount, visitor can see the beautiful panorama toward hilly area, dale, rice field, and slope of mountain. From Golo Curu visitor can pass by road of Reo to the other hill whereas in its top there was a religious house that has Mother Merry statue. Farther to north, 6 Km from Ruteng there were of Wae Garit waterfall. In Manggarai regency also there were mount of Ranaka (2140m) which can be climed by visitors. This location cans rich by ride public transportation to part of east Flores and stop at turn sign to mount of Ranaka. The journey continued by climed as long as 9 Km to the top whereas there was transmitter station of Telkom belongs. View from top is very fantastic and in this place there was cauldron. About 20 Km from Ruteng, in roadway to Bajawa, there was small kelimutu. Ranamese represent the pleasant tourism location and in its surrounding there was hilly closed by the forest. This tourism location has visitor centre but the accommodation still limit. In this place visitor can trekking along the area around of lake.

DANCE AND MUSIC
CACI is one of the unique cultural attractions in the regency of Manggarai. It is a ritual dance or game in which the opponents try to hit each other using traditional weapons consisting of Nggiling (a round shield) made of buffalo leather, Agang (a half circle form) of bamboo strips and Kalus ( a whip) made of buffalo tail leather or rattan.
Ndudu Ndake is one of the typical dances that is danced widely in the regency of Manggarai. In former times, like many other dances it was performed as an integral part of the ceremony of buffalo sacrifice.
Tiba Meka Dance, the welcoming dance, is a dance representing the attitude of hospitality of Manggarai people in welcoming a guest.
Sae Kaba Dance is a traditional dance which is performed only at traditional rites of the buffalo worship, expressing, thanks to God through the spirit of the ancestor for prosperity and wellbeing. Rojok Dance is a dance stating the traditions of Manggaraian women or girls in developing home industries such as making mats, baskets or hats, as a means of making a living to fulfill their daily life.
Weri Dance is a Dance expressing the art of planting rice or corn on the farm according to the tradition of Manggarai people. The movement of the dance expresses the value of cooperation and hard work in doing something or working together.
Teku Wae Dance is taken from the day to day tradition of the village women or girl who takes drinking water from spring or river. The dance expresses the routine activities of the village women or girls and the actions of taking water from the spring or river.

INTERESTING PLACES
Tonjong Lake is unique lake covered with a special flower called Tonjong (a giant lotus) which cannot be found in any other places Indonesia or even in the world. It is located at nanga Mballing village, 45 km east Reo.
Cepi Watu beach is one of the best white sandy beaches located in Borong subdistrict, right at desa Nanga Labang village.The beach is 4 kms long, with height of wave one to two meters. It is suitable for surfing and other beach sports.
Ulumbu, is a hot spring, just 30 km south east Ruteng, right at Wewo village of Satarmese subdistrict. It is also well known for its geothermal heat as the future alternatives energy for Flores Island.