Indonesia, June 3 -- It was still dark when the quiet hum of a speedboat engine broke the morning silence at Labuan Bajo ASDP Port, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province.

The clock had just struck 5:30 a.m. local time, as the moist sea breeze brushed the face of each passenger boarding a speedboat bound for one of NTT's natural wonders, Padar Island.

The eastern sky gradually turned golden, painting streaks of orange across the hills. The port then came alive with activity-local and international tourists, tour guides heading to Padar Island, and local fishermen starting their day.

Mornings in Labuan Bajo, NTT, felt like stepping into a living canvas --- serene, beautiful, and full of new hope.

The port's transformation wa...