Wakatobi kite tour

When David first told me about Wakatobi, to me it seemed a distant Polynesian island, never did I know what beauty and splendour, the islands of Indonesia, East Sulawesi, could unfold before me.

I was a pessimist when it came to finding new locations for kiteboarding, as I’ve thought I’ve seen it all around the region, nothing could surprise me anymore, especially to find a gem that I’ve never heard of.

“All right, David, let’s see it” David convinced me to join in the rest of the group, to embark on the first ever “Kite Week” in Wakatobi.

Again being a pessimist when it came to finding new locations for kiteboarding, I was expecting to rough it out a little, even though the website displayed a little luxury at the resort. Upon arriving at Denpasar, Bali after a 4hr delay, due to volcanic ash sprouting out of Mount Raung, in fact, I heard that I was lucky, Denpasar Airport closed several times, on the day of my departure. I was greeted by Made, a staff from the Wakatobi office, the moment I cleared immigration. Wow! I haven’t even collected my luggage yet and it was 4 in the morning. Made looked wide awake, helped me with my luggage and cleared customs in a snap. So I said to Made, don’t the welcome party usually await the guest at the exits of the airport? Apparently, for Wakatobi staff, they carry a special pass that allows them to enter further into the airport, now that’s service.

I wanted to wait around the airport till 630am, as that was the time I was suppose to be at the domestic airport, just 2 more hours, I can rough it out, no problem but apparently the Wakatobi office had arranged a room at Harris Hotel just outside the airport and suggested I get whatever sleep I can get at the hotel again, very considerate of them.

I think I slept for an hour before I got the wake-up call, had the hotel prepare takeaway breakfast for me and off, the hotel driver took me back where I was two hours ago.

Once again I was treated like a VIP, didn’t even had to lift a finger and everything was settled and we were ready to go to Wakatobi. I met the rest of the kiters at the departure area and we were led to the lounge.

They had a breakfast spread at the loung