The natural landscape of Komodo National Park is stunningly beautiful and you should not take it for granted. There’s a reason why this destination is protected by UNESCO and Indonesian government. Not only for the prehistoric Komodo dragons, but also the precious marine life, wild exotic animals, and the surrounding ecosystem. When you are travelling to Komodo, it’s important to keep conscious travel in mind. Especially if you are embarking the famous liveaboard Labuan Bajo sailing trip, where it’s easy to contaminate the nature without even realising the act. Here’s how to have fun in Komodo and doing good things to nature in the same time.
Be Careful on Sunscreen
More often than not, we are unintentionally damaging the sea with daily products we use. You might have never know that your sunblocks, diluted and got carried away with the seawaters, is disrupting coral’s growth and reproduction. It will be a great irony to be an admirer to Komodo’s vibrant marine ecosystem and be the one who brings toxic materials that would be damaging the very ecosystem we love itself. Also, the sunscreens could also go down with the water when you take a shower in liveaboard Labuan Bajo. Thankfully, you could protect the ocean without sacrificing your skin: bring only sunscreen with zero oxybenzone on the ingredient list—or purchase one on green cosmetic line that you trust. Another good news: zero waste and green living issues has become increasingly popular in Bali and you could easily find legit green cosmetic line in this island before heading to Komodo, Flores.
Watch on Hygiene Products on Liveaboard Labuan Bajo
Our thought about hygiene product often stops at disposing our soaps to travel-sized bottles. But green travelling takes more than that. Take a closer look to your hygiene products and dismiss anything that contain paraben, chlorine, SLS, triclosan, and other harsh, toxic chemicals. And yes, we are talking about detergents that you are about to bring, too. Opt for natural soap and shampoo bars that are mainly using natural oil and other plant-based ingredients.
Feminine Menstrual Products
I know female travelers are mainly avoiding trips to Komodo during that time of the month. You don’t want to draw attention to blood-sensitive Komodo dragons in the land and the sharks deep in the water. But if you must travel during menstruation, consider to switch into menstrual cup. They are a great investment for the next dozens of years, they are washable, and leave almost no waste. You don’t want to be the one who flush tampons or menstrual pads right to the ocean. That’s a great amount of paper, plastics, and chemically bleached cotton going straight to the face of the fishes.
Don’t Bring Items with A Lot of Plastic Wrappers
We all want little snacks and little month during our time sailing in liveaboard Labuan Bajo. I meant, not everyone could last the time between lunch to dinner and dinner to breakfast without munching anything at all. But that candies wrappers, biscuits, and those individually wrapped teas could do more harm than good to our precious Komodo National Park.
Go Clean Up the Shores
We have heard a lot about concerning amount of trash in some of Komodo’s most popular beaches and we would remind you the same. Whenever you have the time, take the initiative, gather those trashes, and collect it in giant bin. Bring it back to the liveaboard Labuan Bajo and dump it in the nearest local waste station. The beaches, the fishes, and future visitors would thank you a lot!
