The first available Gunong Mas van ride to my next destination - Bajawa - was at 2pm, which meant I would get in after dark. I hadn't booked a hotel room in Bajawa and I am usually comfortable looking for a room if I arrive in the daytime. But, arriving at night is a different story.
The morning of my departure, Sister Agnes at MBC tried calling a few places without success. I then went to the Gunung Mas shared ride office and asked them for help in my halting Indonesian. They called and found a room for me at Hotel Silverin. Phew.
With this business done, I walked around Ruteng, had lunch at Spring Hill Resort (a higher end accommodation) and then I returned to MBC to wait for the Gunong Mas van. While waiting, a French woman arrived hoping to get a room. She was turned away.