On the north coast of Flores, roughly equidistant between Ende and Larantuka, MAUMERE was once the visitor centre and best diving resort in Flores. However, since the terrible earthquake of December 1992, it's been a beaten town, still disfigured by heaps of rubble and unrepaired buildings. The majority of the dive sites have been obliterated and those that remain have fairly stunted coral growth. Maumere is the capital of Sikka district, which stretches all the way to the east coast. It's especially renowned for its weaving , which characteristically has maroon, white and blue geometric patterns, in horizontal rows on a black or dark-blue background. The village of SIKKA , on the opposite coast from Maumere nearly 30km south, is the most-visited weaving village in the area, but the weaving is of poor quality; regular bemos run here from Maumere's Ende terminal (Rp1000).