Thursday, November 3, 2016, 6:16 pm

90°. Sun. The lengthy wood-planked pier signals change. I recall leaving this shore in the wake of a dinghy returning to the Evening Star. (October 24 On Board The Evening Star). In my arms, the teak Komodo dragon (pictured left top open air Studio) hand-carved by Mr Nuhun, that I acquired during our interview (October 18th Legend of Komodo). I hope to find him – say how much we admire his sculpture –  and invite him to make carvings as part of the fabric of space and time.

(Pictured top) My view from the deck of Salacia 2; tying up to the new pier. The village was not visible from the window (select Oct 15, 1999) as the plane descended through the cloud cover landing at the new Komodo Airport in Labuan, Bajo, Flores from Denpassar, Bali yesterday. Today's four-hour motorboat ride over crystal clear blue waters lessens my concerns of finding extensive coral bleaching as reported in the Great Barrier Reef to the east. But: waters washing up the once pristine sand beach surrounding the village are clogged and choked by plastic refuse ringing the shoreline. As are the freshwater streams from the hills: the sole source of drinking water now framed by cement. Then by forest: when we watched women gracefully balance tubs on their heads back and forth to the village. Now water is ported by boat from Labuan Bajo in plastic bottles. 

Satellite dishes powered by generators line every street in front yards of tin and cement houses because wood is no longer plentiful to construct traditional housing. Our “homestay” has mattresses rather than traditional bamboo mats. The ceramic-tiled Village mosque is newly enlarged; recorded sermons and calls to prayer are heard throughout the day and night

Signs of the past inhabit parts of the present: some villagers cook over fires set along walkways where goats, dogs, and chickens forage freely. We find Mr. Nuhun (pictured to my left with his wife) in his new family home: due to a fall, he can no longer walk up the steps of the wooden house I'd filmed him in. He remembers my visit and answers “yes” with his apprentice son-in-law Mr Sae (pictured left) to my proposal to collaborate. Many pictures are taken to celebrate our reunion. Then Mr. Sae takes us to the home of his brother-in-law to discuss the legend of Komodo (still-frame from recording).

 The length of Visible Light is 13h 09m; the length of Day is 12h 25m.