Dragon Tale

There’s no better way to explore the islands, waters and wildlife of Komodo National Park than aboard a luxuriously appointed sailing ship reminiscent of the old spice traders, writes Chris Wood

The big male Komodo dragon has turned its back on the half-stripped deer carcass that hangs invitingly from a tree. Now he has eyes only for me. My fellow travellers show signs of amusement but, as he swaggers my way and guides shepherding small tourist groups edge back, nervously deploying their crooks, I’ve an inkling the threat might be all too real. Growing up to three metres in length, Komodo dragons are the world’s largest lizards and have been known to knock down pigs and deer with a swish of the tail, but it’s the other end that worries me: jaws said variously to contain venomous glands and a noxious concoction of bacteria that will bring down a water buffalo. The name Komodo conjures images of a lost jungle-cloaked island kingdom and…

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Tatler Hong Kong (Digital) - 1 Issue, December 2016

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