SULAWESI " SEE TORAJA'S SCENIC BEAUTY"

 SEE TORAJA'S SCENIC BEAUTY

A short flight or a scenic and interesting eight-hour drive through Bugis villages, coastal fishing villages and the Toraja foothills brings visitors up to the verdant Toraja highlands or Tana Toraja where the almost flourescent green of the rice fields are dotted with distinctive saddle backed houses. Known as Tongkonan, these houses are said to echo the horns of the buffalo, that are an inseparable part of the Torajans

Toraja people enjoy great longevity-surely something to do with the cool climate and active lifestyle from infancy to old age. They spend their lives growing excellent fragrant rice, raising magnificent buffalo, especially the highly valued pink albino strains. Their work is interspersed with dramatic ceremonies. Harvest festivals and house warming festivals, are times for feasting and a gathering of the clan, times to wear their best costumes and jewellery, bring out the tuak (a local brew) and party for days on end, times for singing and dancing and, of course, eating. These are also times for neighbours and clan members to pay their respects and to pay back obligations that may date back generations.

While funeral ceremonies occur all year round, the best time to see them is in the drier months of August and September. Some of the big ceremonies are so large that over 100 buffaloes are killed. Although it may seem to visitors an abundance of buffaloes are sacrificed, few Torajans eat meat every day, and festivals are one of the rare chances to enjoy the opportunity.

The Torajans believe that aristocrats must be buried between heaven and earth - hence their spectacular grave sites. High up in the limestone cliffs are set tombs, carved out of solid rock, and guarded by human effigies called tau taut Watching sightlessly over the rice fields, they guard the souls of the deceased.

Some of the most impressive grave sites are accessible from RANTEPAO, most of the sites are easily accessible.

LONDA: The best-known site is Londa (4 km from Rantepao), where a balcony of tau tau guard the entrance to two impressive caves filled with brightly decorated coffins, while all around them skulls and bones lie on the rocks.

LEMO: At Lemo (12 km from Rantepao), the towering cliff face is filled with graves and tau tau of high-ranking aristocrats, best viewed very early in the morning before the sun gets too high.

KE'TE KUSU: The village of Ke'te Kesu (14 km from Rantepao) has become a living museum. Here a whole tongkonan, or village of traditional houses, and their distinctive rice barns, looks out over a sea of rice fields. At the back of the village are some beautiful tau tau and intricate old coffins.

BATU TUMONGA: One of the most scenic sights in the whole of Toraja is Batu Tumonga, high on the slopes of Mt. Sisean. The village overlooks Rantepao far below, and quite often the whole valley fills with mist. It is especially pleasant to spend the night there in one of the simple but adequate accommodations, and then, in the early morning walk the eight kilometres or so down to Tikale where your transport can pick you up.

FORT ROTTERDAM: Built in 1545 by the rulers of the powerful Gowa kingdom, this impressively solid fort was later taken over by the Dutch and rebuilt in 1667. Within the solid walls is the dungeon where one of Indonesia's national heroes, Prince Diponegoro was imprisoned for 27 years until his death in 1855. To-day the fort serves as a museum and cultural offices.

THE ISLANDS: Offshore, dozens of tropical islands come complete with white sand and the ubiquitous shady palms. Pulau Samalona is the most popular for swimming and snorkelling, while the friendly fishing islands of Lai Lai and Barrang Lompo are great to visit for a day or two and you can even stay overnight. Several of the islands are surrounded by spectacular coral reefs just made for diving and snorkelling.

PAOTERE HARBOUR: Walk along the roads and see sharkfins drying in the sun, and boxes of dried black trepang, salted fish and squid awaiting shipment to the markets of Hong Kong and Taiwan. In the small but busy harbour, Bugis pinisi lie at anchor, their unfurled black sails drying in the sun as they await cargoes of electronics and provisions for far flung ports of the archipelago.

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South Sulawesi

North Sulawesi

SHOPPING AND SEAFOOD

SEE TORAJA'S SCENIC BEAUTY

SULAWESI "SHOPPING AND SEAFOOD"

SHOP FOR GOLD, ANTIQUES AND SILK

In Ujung Pandang the streets are lined with gold or at least with gold shops! Jalan Somba Opu is the place to go, right in the centre of town behind the Makassar Golden Hotel. Here, the superb craftsmanship and reasonable prices of the glittering gold jewellery make it a haven for people from all over Indonesia. Also keep a look out for the lovely filigree silver jewellery and beautifully crafted models of pinisi, becaks and various other icons of Sulawesi life, all at reasonable prices.

There is also a plethora of souvenir shops and shops selling antique Bugis silver, antique celadon stoneware from China, brilliant Bugis silks, carved wooden figures and carved Toraja crafts. Cheaply-priced clothes, bed linens, shoes, travel gear and denims are all available at unbelievable prices at the main shopping area of Sentral.

New star-rated international hotels and first-class facilities are making Ujung Pandang increasingly attractive as a place to stay and to enjoy especially the shopping, which is eclectic and varied. It is also an ideal base from which to appreciate the many sights of the Province.

JALAN PASAR IKAN - LONGEST RESTAURAN IN THE WORLD.

Night - time transforms the palm-line waterfront into Sunset Strip, the', longest restaurant in the world. As the sun sinks into Makassar Bay, stallholders appear wheeling their food carts, and soon the air is filled with appetising smells of barbequing sate, frying mee goreng or pisang goreng and a host of other delicious dishes and drinks ready to be enjoyed. The stalls stay open way into the night as customers sit at tables or on the sea wall to enjoy the cool evening breezes while they eat.

Ujung Pandang is best known for its fresh and delicious seafoods, especially the Bugis style ikan bakar or barbequed fish. Try the specialty fish of the region, the Baronang- its tender white flesh and subtle taste is a favourite especially when eaten with the tantalising Bugis sauce, a taste-tingling blend of palm sugar, basil, green tomatoes, chill) and other secret ingredients.

Other Sulawesi favourites are the tangy marquisa fruit from the cool mountain areas of Mamasa and Malino. Even if the marquisa is out of season, you can take home the delicious bottled syrup. Toraja kopi (coffee) is much appreciated by the Japanese and both arabica and robusta strains grow in Toraja mountain plantations

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South Sulawesi

North Sulawesi

SHOPPING AND SEAFOOD

SEE TORAJA'S SCENIC BEAUTY

ABOUT SULAWESI "South Sulawesi"

 South Sulawesi

The strange orchid-shaped island of Sulawesi, can be recognised at first glance on any map of Indonesia. No other island is quite like it. The result of ancient geological upheavals, Sulawesi's twisted, elongated limbs have given rise to unique landscapes and an abundance of nature. Home to diverse and fascinating cultures, it is a land of exciting travel experiences.

The scenic seacoasts, rugged mountains and verdant rice-growing plains of South Sulawesi have their own unique fascination. With few sites of historical or artistic importance, the charm of the region lies in well-kept towns, and the extensive seacoasts where master shipbuilders construct massive wooden schooners, essentially Portuguese galleons, using only simple hand-tools and designs passed down by rote through the centuries.

The area around Ujung Pandang holds several sites of interest, from a spectacular coral reef and blinding white beaches offshore, to colorful highland market towns and the evocative ruins of vanished kingdoms.

The road leading up the west coast from Ujung Pandang to Pare-Pare is filled with awe-inspiring scenery and glimpses of Sulawesi's venerable traditions. A limestone range dominates this area, marked by intricate patterns of ridges and sheer cliffs honeycombed with caves.

The South Coast is the homeland of the Makassarese, the proud, indefatigable master seafarers who once regarded piracy as an honourable profession. The beaches are a forest of masts from the hundreds of fishing boats drawn up on the sand. The fortunate may witness exciting boat races and festivals to mark the departure of the fishing fleet. The sense of lost time is still felt in the rows of sturdy pinisi hulls being erected on the beaches.

Remnants of the great Bugis kingdoms of the pre-European era are found in Sulawesi's central fertile plain. Scattered throughout the region are reconstructed wooden palaces and gravesites, but the greatest attraction is the area itself, with verdant fields, attractive, colorful towns and glimpses of net fishing, buffalo-powered field preparation, hand threshing and other ageless activities of rural life.

Hanging like a teardrop off the southern tip of the peninsula, Selayar Island offers fine beaches and a glimpse of colonial life in the preserved Dutch architecture and general preindustrial ambiance of the towns and villages. A splendid 2000-year-old Vietnamese DongSon drum, perhaps washed up from a nearby shipwreck, is kept in a wooden shed near a former royal palace.

Luwu, the horseshoe-shaped region capping the Gulf of Bone, is at once the most ancient and most modern region in South Sulawesi. Believed the site of the first Bugis kingdom, Luwu became an open frontier. with Javanese and Balinese transmigrants mixing with long-isolated local tribes to generate _ fascinating mixture of peoples and cultures. The most incongruous addition to the region is a relocated Canadian mining town at Soroako, built for expatriate mining experts but now populated mostly by Indonesian managers and professionals. The nickel mine and associated facilities have brought good roads and other modern facilities to Luwu, but the air of an untamed land, reinforced by the looming presence of the Central Sulawesi mountain range, remains.

UJUNG PANDANG

The gateway to Sulawesi is the historic port of Ujung Pandang. Long known as Makassar, Ujung Pandang is one of the few Indonesian cities to embrace the sea. The focus of the town is a long esplanade curling along the bay, with swaying palms, wide sidewalks and colourful shophouses their second-storey terraces offering a commanding view of the beach, bay and tropical sunsets. While this growing city has sprawled into the surrounding hills during recent decades, commercial and social activity remains centered within a few blocks of the waterfront. In the late afternoon and early evening hours most of the population seems to gather along the esplanade, strolling and chatting, snacking at any of the scores of teashops and roving food stalls, or simply enjoying the fresh sea breeze as the setting sun touches the horizon, silhouetting the masts and billowing sails of the schooners cruising the bay.

In modern Indonesia, Ujung Pandang has become the primary port and airline hub of the eastern archipelago, the thousands of remote islands being developed and incorporated into the mainstream of Indonesian society and economy. As in previous centuries, when Makassar was the commercial heart of Southeast Asian trade, Indonesians, other Asians and Europeans rub shoulders in the narrow alleys and jostle in the shops and markets. A trained ear will pick out dozens of languages on the streets, and a casual browse through the shops on Jalan Sumba Opu will reveal goods, handicrafts and antiques from all corners of the archipelago. More than any other Indonesian city, Ujung Pandang evokes the great age of maritime discovery, trade and adventure.

Makassar was for centuries the main port of call for spice carrying ships. This harbour town most famous in the 15th century, has lost none of its allure. Today renamed as Ujung Pandang, this colourful now modern city is the capital of the Province of South Sulawesi, has first class hotels and is the entrance to many attractions in its hinterland.

For centuries the name Makassar has conjured up images of all that is exotic, of sailing ships and spice traders, and fortunes made and lost, of gold and bloody wars. It is home to the buccaneering Bugis, master shipbuilders whose elegant pinisi schooners can be seen in many harbours of Indonesia. These navigators and fearless sailors roamed as far as Australia and Madagascar long before their history was recorded.

TORAJA

Hidden away in verdant mountains is the fabled Tana Toraja, or Torajaland, where phenomenal funeral ceremonies draw visitors from around the world. While further south. where the hospitable and staunch Muslim Bugis are the largest population group, older pre-lslamic Hindu traditions surface in elaborate wedding rituals and their customs. Around the Bugis heartland of Bone, Soppeng and Sengkang, women sit at handlooms fashioning hand-processed silk into dramatic checked textiles of iridescent pinks, luminous greens, golds, yellows startling combination that seems to work magnificently well together.

The long drive from the lowlands to the mountain stronghold of Tana Toraja opens up a breath-taking new world. The rugged mountains and verdant valleys are home to a people whose love of religious spectacle is equaled only by their hospitality. With majestic panoramas, captivating villages and dramatic ceremonies, Tana Toraja is the undisputed highlight of any journey to Sulawesi.

Upgraded roads, an airport and several star-rated hotels have opened the Toraja highlands to visitors of all interests, budgets and schedules. The essence of the Toraja beliefs and way of life can be experienced without undue effort, as many interesting sites are clustered around the town of Rantepao, easily accessible by road.

A few minutes from Rantepao, artisans at Kete Kusu, a model Toraja settlement, produce bamboo carvings and other traditional handicrafts. The village itself has several well maintained tongkonan houses and rice barns.

Visitors unsure about the propriety of tramping around someone's village will be relieved to know that Kete Kusu has been converted into a living museum with the express purpose of displaying Toraja architecture and daily life. Other villages within sight of the roads, often sitting in an emerald sea of ricefields, display the Toraja penchant for baroque architectural adornment.

If the Toraja way of life is interesting, the way of death is a fascinating mix of ritual custom and spectacle. For the Toraja, the dead are as much a part of society as the living. At Lemo, cliffs rise precipitously from the ricefields like stonework condominiums. Crypts carved with prodigious manual labor high into the solid rock house the mortal remains of Toraja nobility. Set amongst the crypts, the striking tau-tau, wooden effigies representing the deceased, look impassively on the world below.

At Londa, a network of coffin-filled caves reaches deep into the limestone hills. Visitors expecting a solemn, well-kept grotto are often shocked and disturbed by skeletons tumbling out of rotten coffins, skulls and bones arranged, to Western eyes, according to some gruesome aesthetic. But the Toraja feel that since their ancestor's souls are residing in heaven, ensuring continued fertility in farm and field, it is appropriate that their earthly remains be on display for the pleasure of honored foreign guests.

While the valley between Rantepao and Makale provides a glimpse of Toraja life, the real Toraja lies in the surrounding mountains, accessible only on foot. In treks ranging from an easy day to a strenuous week, those with a moderate capacity for adventure can experience authentic Toraja village life in charming mountain hamlets. Even in the most remote mountain villages, visitors are welcomed openly. Long accustomed to foreigners stumbling unannounced into their settlements, village leaders will generally arrange overnight accommodation with a local family for a modest contribution.

South Sulawesi's natural beauty is a paradise of white sand beaches and undisturbed coral reefs, cool highlands and rushing waterfalls flecked with the technicolour yellows and shimmering blues of wild butterflies. The upland lush forests, filled with endemic species are made for trekking and thrilling white water rafting expeditions along the Sa'dan or the Lore Lindu rivers. Deep in the interior of the island are mist-swathed primeval mountains where clear and placid lakes are concealed within majestic highland forests

South Sulawesi is part of a huge island with so much to discover While two or three days is enough to see some amazing sights, here, more time is definitely advised.

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North Sulawesi

SHOPPING AND SEAFOOD

SEE TORAJA'S SCENIC BEAUTY

ABOUT SULAWESI "NORTH SULAWESI"

NORTH SULAWESI

Situated on the northeastern peninsula of Sulawesi, this province stretches further north to smaller islands which almost look like stepping stones to the Philippines.

Covering an area of about 27,487 sq. km, it is divided into four districts: Minahasa, Bolaang Mongondow, Gorontalo, and Sangihe Talaud islands, all of which having their different cultures. The capital, Manado, is reachable by air from Ujung Pandang, Jakarta, Surabaya, Balikpapan, Ternate, Ambon, and Jayapura. Other airports in this province i.e. Gorontalo, Tahuna and Talaud are served mainly by domestic feather- line traffic.

It is also accessible by sea. The port of Bitung is undoubtedly the most important port, serving shipping lines of the peninsula and the eastern part of Indonesia.

The area is highly mountainous, culminating in 54 peaks, some of which are volcanic and still active. The coast is made up of long stretches of virgin white sandy beaches with magnificent corals and colorful tropical marine life.

Despite their proximity to the mainland, the coral-fringed islets are among the most virgin in Indonesia.

One of the most western-oriented people, the hospitable and open-minded Minahasan people are Christians. Their first contact with the Europeans came in the 16th century with the arrival of Spaniards and Portuguese spice traders. However, it wasn't until the Dutch landed on their shores that they became totally Christianized.

Dutch influence grew, subduing indigenous traditions. Minahasa refers to the confederacy of tribes. Monuments bear evidence of ancient systems of tribes and clans.

The western part of the province, Bolaang Mongondo and Gorontalo were formerly small Moslem principalities till the turn of the century. The southern coast is inhabited by sea nomads, a separate ethnic group which originated in the west coast of the Malay peninsula, now slowly disappearing. Remains of the Mokodompis kingdom are found in Sangir Talaud where the people are Christians as well. But there are distinct differences among these four large ethnic groups which are each composed of several tribes using their own dialects, as well as having different staple foods.

Sago is to the people of Sangir Talaud, what corn is to the people of Gorontalo, and rice to Bolaang Mongondow and Minahasa. This already proves wide differences. It is one of Indonesia's richest coconut, cloves and nutmeg producers.

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PLACES OF INTEREST

Manado

This municipality is the capital and commercial center, the main gateway to North Sulawesi Province. The land structure shows a morphology of wavy slopes and hills in the northern and central part of the city. The southern part is made up of the mountain foot of volcanoes in central Minahasa.

The principal deep-water port of northern Sulawesi, however, is at Bitung, about 48 km from Manado. This seaport carries trade between one island and the others, as well as with Singapore and the Philippines.

For inter-city traveling the road are good, particularly the network linking Minahasa, Bitung, Bolaang Mongondow and Gorontalo.

Bunaken

About half an hour by a motorized outrigger canoe from Manado, Bunaken island is a veritable paradise for snorkelers and scuba enthusiasts. The coral reef off Bunaken island is particularly good for that and shouldn't be missed while you're in this region. The drop-off wall at Liang Cove is rare in the world, as it's described by international divers as being spectacular with caves, gullies, and caverns harboring an immense wealth of marine life. The water averages a balmy 28 degrees C and visibility is sensational (over) 30 m. The Bunaken sea garden is rich with colorful tropical marine life.

Manado Tua Island

Manado Tua is the main island of its sister islands group: Bunaken, Siladen, Mantehage and Nain, situated just off Manado city in the Bay. The path to the top takes several hours to climb but the view takes in all the islands in the Manado Bay. Superb for snorkeling and skin diving, and ideal for corals and sponges. The beach is a mixture of white sand and coral formations. Beautiful reefs and coral gardens are also found around the islands of the northernmost tip of the Minahasa peninsula and along the east coast.

The reef lines the coast of Tangkoko Batuangus in the area of a nature reserve.

A permit should be obtained from the Sub Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam (Nature Conservation Office) in Manado, before heading for this reserve.

Tasik Ria

Tasik Ria is situated about 20 km southwest of Manado and has a beautiful sandy beach, with coconut trees. Ideal for sunbathing, swimming, fishing, diving and snorkeling. Tasik Ria seashore resort has a four-star "Manado Beach Hotel" with 205 rooms, swimming pool, bar & discotheque is a lush seashore resort. Easily reachable by public bus or taxi from Manado.

Tara-tara

15 km further southwest from Tasik Ria this village has traditionally been the center of Minahasan culture and arts. In Tara-Tara traditional dances can be enjoyed in the open air at Kemer Garden. There are World War 11 Japanese caves at the Ranowangko dam, and the Kemer natural bathing spot nearby in the shadow of the volcano Lokon, mount Kasehe and mount Tatawiran. Easily reachable from Manado by public bus or taxi.

Watu Pinabetengan

A megalithic stone of the ancestors of Minahasa, its surface is covered with crude, mysterious live drawings and scripts which have never been deciphered. According to Minahasa history, this is the place where the ancestors first divided up the land among the people (Watu Pinabetengan means "The stone of discussion about the division").

The ruling was made in order to ensure a peaceful and harmonious life. Seven divisions were made amongst different areas of Tombulu, Tonsea, Toulour, Tontemboan, Tonsawang, Ponosakan and Pasan Ratahan. This is located in Tompaso, about 45 km from Manado.

Waruga

An ancient cemetery of Minahasan ancestors consist of 144 Sarcophagi, which is a remnant of the Megalithic age. It has special historical value. Specific Sarcophagus known as "Waruga" are unique square stones with holes in the middle and prism shaped lids. The artistic aspect of the Sarcophagus is known by the decorative sculpture and carving around the tombs and the lids with various motifs such as of human beings, plants, animals, and traditional geometrical motifs like clouds, strings, curls, double braids. Located in Sawangan village, about 24 km from Manado.

Tangkoko Batuangus

A nature reserve on open grassland covered with a great variety of plants. Located on the slopes of mount "Dua Saudara", the area is composed of impressive green hills and valleys with amazingly scenic views of natural beauty. There are black apes, maleo birds, snakes, wild pigs, hornbills and rusa deer. Located north of Bitung, it covers an area of 3,196 ha. This nature reserve has several cottages and small restaurants nearby. It is only reachable by four-wheel drive jeeps from Girian village over a rough road.

Dumoga Bone National Park

Located on the border between two districts, approximately 260 km from Manado, this park covers Dumoga in Bolaang Mongondow and Bone in Gorontalo. Its mountains and hills covered by dense forests and vegetation make it an ideal reserve of rare and specific animal species like maleo birds, anoas, hornbills, wild pigs tarsius spectrums and fruit bats.

The rainfall favours a very rich flora. A entry permit should be obtained from the Sub Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam (Nature Conservation Office) in Manado. This National Park has several cottages and small restaurants nearby.

Lake Tondano - Remboken Tourist Site

About 36 km southwest of Manado is lake Tondano, 600 m above sea level. The drive to Tondano passes through picturesque villages and clove plantations. Situated right on the edge of the lake is the Remboken Tourist site, an ideal place for water skiing, fishing, and boating. Bungalows, hot water swimming pool and restaurants are available.

Karumenga

Hot baths with water originating from hot volcanic springs attract people for relaxation and health reasons. Located in the village of Karumenga, Langoan, about 50 km from Manado.

Otanaha Fortress

A shelter and defense base of Gorontalo kings during the colonial era. It is said that the fortress was built with a mixture of sand, calcium and eggs of Maleo birds. Located in the western part of Dembe village, reachable by local transportation.

Sarone Island

A beautiful tiny island with its white sandy beach for swimming, boating, snorkeling, diving, and water skiing. It is located in the district of Gorontalo.

Lake Mooat

Situated in the highlands about 900 m above sea level, makes it a cool and nice place to visit. The lake is surrounded by dense forests, abound with birds of various species. It is located in the district of Bolaang Mongondow, reachable by bus.

Ranopaso

This hot water bathing spot is surrounded by rice fields. The hot water sources lay scattered on the ground. Bungalows are available at Koya village, about 3 km from Tondano.

Wale Papataupan

Situated at Sonder village, about 37 km from Manado, Wale Papataupan is a flowery tourist spot which has bungalows, swimming pool, steam bath facilities, restaurants, fish ponds, and an open stage for cultural performances. It is easily reachable from Manado by public bus.

Japanese Caves

A cavernous hill side area along the road between Kiawa and Kawangkoan. The caves were built by the Japanese during World War II, used as supplies storage.

Kasuang

This place is situated about 3 km from Tomohon which has a souvenir shop and restaurants offering Minahasan food. Easily reachable from Manado by public bus or taxi.

Japanese Monument

Since Bitung played an important role during the Pacific War as a home base for the Japanese Imperial forces, it became the last resting place of their soldiers who died in the war. Both the

Japanese and North Sulawesi Government jointly founded this monument.

Shopping Hints

Ornaments of intricately carved wood are common in all districts.

In Sangir the wood used is ebony. In Gorontalo, however, it is rattan. Krawang is a special kind of embroidery from Gorontalo, which is well-known throughout Indonesia.

ACCOMMODATIONS

North Sulawesi is a developing tourist destination. However, its capital city Manado has a three-star hotel with modern amenities. It also has facilities for conventions. Two-and one-star hotels have air conditioned rooms with attached baths. Restaurants are available in all star hotels.

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South Sulawesi

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SHOPPING AND SEAFOOD

SEE TORAJA'S SCENIC BEAUTY

ABOUT SULAWESI

 ABOUT SULAWESI

Once called Celebes, Sulawesi was born of a violent collision between two islands three million years ago. As a result, much of it was thrust above 500 meters where, today, 17 active volcanoes still growl. The island's extraordinary shape gives the forested 227,000 square kilometer land mass a massive 6,000-kilometer coastline. On top of that, it also boasts coastlines of more than 110 reefringed offshore islands.

So remote is Sulawesi that its wonders have been largely ignored by the 20th century.

Sulawesi offers excellent trekking, white water rafting, sailboarding, eco tourism, cruises & sailing and scuba diving.

Transport & Accommodation

Flights: Direct from Singapore to Manado and Ujung Pandang; small aircraft from Ujung Padang to Toraja; domestic flights from major cities to Manado and Ujung Pandang.

Land: Cars and minibuses are available; regular intercity mini buses in North Sulawesi. Hotels and resorts offer airport transfers.

Accommodations: International standard hotels up to four-star in Ujung Padang and Manado and three-star in Tana Toraja.

Dive Season: Good from March to November. The best is expected in April and October.

Internet Access: In Manado you can access the internet at The News Cafe in the heart of town. The cost is less than $1 per hour and the speed is usually pretty good for email. While surfing you can enjoy a cup of traditional Turanese coffee or a soft drink or snack. Atmosphere is comfortable and relaxed and the staff is always more than happy to assist you with technical help if necessary. They also have a networked printer that will allow you to print those important messages.

Scuba Diving in Sulawesi - Remote, Pristine, World-class.

In 1989, 75,265 hectares of underwater at the northern tip of the island were made a national marine reserve - the Taman Nasional Laut Bunaken-Manado Tua. The reserve, which is reached by a short boat ride from Manado City, has world-class diving. Steep and pristine walls are smothered with hard and soft coral, and are a dazzling show of fish life. Access to this astonishing marine wonderland has vastly improved with recently introduced non-stop international air connections.

Further north lie the Sangihe-Talaud Islands, dominated by the 1,827 meter Karangetang volcano with its sulphurous clouds. Diving in Sangihe-Talaud is so new, it brims with the unexpected and unknown. The best way to explore these waters is on board one of the live-aboard dive vessels operating trips to either Sangihe-Talaud or the Togian Islands.

The Togian Islands, located off the Eastern coast of Northern Sulawesi, represent every known type of coral within an unusually small area.

Taka Bone Rate in South Sulawesi is the third largest atoll in the world. As for the Tukang Besi islands, it is rumored that Jacques Cousteau once said that it held the finest diving in the world.

On the south side of Sulawesi is located Wakatobi Resort. Said to have one of the best house reefs in the world, they cater to divers who are looking for those remote, untouched reefs.

Dive Resorts in North Sulawesi

Divers can enjoy some of the finest diving in the world from any of three dive resorts or live-aboards. All are driving distance from the Manado airport and each offers its own collection of ammenities to guest divers.

Hotel Santika is the home to Thalassa Dive Center, a PADI Five-Star Dive Center located about 30 minutes east of Manado. For divers who want to enjoy the comforts of a four-star hotel, this is the perfect option.

Murex Dive Resort is about 30 minutes west of Manado. Murex offers a complete dive/accommodation package as well as three different live-aboard options.

The Tangkoko-Dua Saudara Reserve, located In Batu Putih, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Kukunan Bay Resort is located near Bitang in the middle of the Lembeh Straight, about 1.5 hours from Manado.

Quicktime VR interactive tour of Wakatobi Dive Resort

Please select your destination:

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South Sulawesi

North Sulawesi

SHOPPING AND SEAFOOD

SEE TORAJA'S SCENIC BEAUTY