Title: Weaving Wonders: Falling in Love with Labuan Bajo Beyond Komodo

TheIndonesia.co - When you think of Labuan Bajo, odds are your mind drifts straight to dragons—Komodo dragons, to be exact. This small port town in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) is globally known as the jumping-off point to explore Komodo National Park, from the Jurassic views of Padar Island to the wild terrain of Rinca and Komodo Island itself. But there’s more to Labuan Bajo than giant reptiles and Instagram-worthy cliffs.

Hidden in plain sight, just a few steps away from the sea and the swaying palms, is a rhythmic world of color, tradition, and devotion—the world of tenun, the traditional woven fabric of eastern Indonesia.

And perhaps, instead of only chasing Komodo, it’s time to fall in love with the people—and the weaving—that breathes life into Labuan Bajo.

A Craft of Memory and Muscle

Walk up to Puncak Waringin, a small hilltop viewpoint overlooking Labuan Bajo's bay. There, you’ll find Rumah Tenun, a weaving house where women sit gracefully on the floor, their waists cinched into traditional backstrap looms. One of them is Desi, a local weaver who has turned her mother’s daily activity into her own full-time calling.

With nimble fingers and focused eyes, Desi moves the shuttle through layered threads. Her feet push against wooden pedals while her torso remains tightly secured—her body forming part of the loom itself. Every tug, every knot, is deliberate. Every motif tells a story.

“I started weaving when I was 19. It was natural—I watched my mother weave every day,” Desi stated, according Antara News Agency.

Now in her mid-twenties, she spends hours a day on the loom. The result? Pieces of art that can take up to three months to complete.

Natural dyeing is the most time-consuming process. Indigo, for example, requires special ingredients that aren’t always easy to source. But the results—a spectrum of deep blues, earthy browns, and sunset reds—are worth every effort.

“I can earn up to Rp5 million (about $300) from a single piece with natural indigo,” Desi explains. “The hard part? Sitting in the same position from morning to evening!” she laughs.

Weaving as Collective Power

Desi’s story is not solitary. Across the islands of Flores and beyond, weaving is a collective force. What started as five small weaving groups with 120 members has grown into 522 weavers across 31 villages.

In Desa Repi, a coastal village near Labuan Bajo, a woman named Florina Sayuti leads one of the weaving collectives. Most of her group’s members are older women—mothers and grandmothers who weave to support their families. They work together to maintain traditions while ensuring sustainable income.

With government support through Dana Desa (village funds), their efforts are beginning to scale. In 2023, only around 1% of the village budget went to weaving. By 2024, it rose to almost 13%, and in 2025, their weaving group will receive dedicated funding.

Florina hopes to eventually build a dedicated weaving house and improve marketing reach. "We want tenun to grow into a full livelihood," she says.

Natural Threads, Global Reach

From the remote island of Alor, a legendary weaver named Mama Sariat Tole is taking tenun global. She grows her own cotton, uses natural dyes from squid ink, turmeric, morinda root, and even moringa leaves. Her work has reached Tokyo, the Netherlands, and even fashion shows in France.

Listed in the Indonesian Museum of Records (MURI) for developing the most natural dye variations for weaving, Mama Sariat isn’t just a craftsman. She’s also a mentor, guiding 77 weavers—mostly women—through a national program to preserve traditional techniques.

Her philosophy is simple but powerful: the land provides, and weaving keeps the culture alive.

National Support, Global Dreams

The weaving industry in NTT is increasingly recognized not just as a cultural asset but as an economic engine. Government and financial institutions like Indonesia Eximbank (LPEI) are backing weaving groups through the Desa Devisa program, which helps increase income, improve exports, and bring traditional crafts into the global marketplace.

In parallel, Labuan Bajo has been named one of Indonesia’s five Super Priority Tourism Destinations (DPSP). Backed by nearly Rp1 trillion in blended funding, development in the area is now being carefully integrated with local industries, like weaving.

The flagship hotel Meruorah Labuan Bajo plays a central role in this strategy, not only accommodating tourists but also featuring and selling local tenun products. Since 2021, the town has seen a sharp rise in visitor numbers and export activity.

By building demand, these initiatives ensure that traditional weaving is not only protected—but thriving.

What to See in Labuan Bajo (Beyond Komodo)

If you're planning a visit, don’t skip the dragons—but make space for Labuan Bajo’s cultural heart. Here are a few must-sees:

• Rumah Tenun at Puncak Waringin
  Meet local weavers like Desi. Watch them work, ask questions, and purchase ethically-made fabrics that tell stories older than any written book.
• Kampung Ujung Culinary Night Market
  Fresh seafood, grilled fish, local sambals—flavors that taste like the sea itself.
• Cunca Wulang Waterfall
  A hidden paradise just a short drive from town. Great for hiking and cooling off in nature.
• Mirror Cave (Batu Cermin)
  A cave with glistening mineral walls, offering a unique geological experience.
• Local Handicraft Stores
  Many shops around town sell tenun-based fashion, accessories, and home décor—made by women's cooperatives from across the region.

How to Get There: The Easiest Routes for Foreign Travellers

Labuan Bajo (LBJ) is now easier to reach than ever.

Via Bali (Denpasar)

• Frequent daily flights from Bali to Labuan Bajo (1 hour, 10 minutes).

Ideal for travellers already vacationing in Bali or connecting through Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS).

Direct from Jakarta

• Direct flights from Jakarta (CGK) to Labuan Bajo operate daily.
• Flight duration: around 2.5 hours.

Good option for international travellers landing in Jakarta without stopping in Bali.

Tips for Arrival:

• Choose morning flights to maximize your time in Labuan Bajo.
• Book flights early—especially in high season (June to September).
• Visa-on-arrival is available for most nationalities.

Beyond Souvenirs: A Living Heritage

In a time when travel often becomes a checklist of photos and places, tenun offers a different kind of souvenir—a story, a connection, and a piece of a living tradition you help preserve by simply appreciating it.

In Labuan Bajo, the dragons will dazzle, the sunsets will stun, and the islands will stir your spirit.

But perhaps the moment that stays with you the longest will be in a quiet room on a hill, where threads meet rhythm, and a woman’s hands weave the soul of a people into something you can hold.