Monday, June 9, 2014

Hello Minahasa

Until now almost all the houses on the edge of Wakeke Road has become a small shop to enjoy a bowl of Tinutuan. Wakeke road whose length is less than one kilometer was crowned the traditional food Tinutuan tourist area, in the year 2004. - See more at: http://manado-tour-hotel.blogspot.com/2010/05/breakfast-in-wakeke-tinutuan-manado.html#sthash.essTJTAG.dpuf

North Sulawesi Bound

Menado is the capital of North Sulawesi. Mainly used by tourists as a stopping off point for spectacular diving and snorkeling in the Bunaken Marine Park.

After years of dreaming about this trip, we finally made it to Menado. This short visit has brought back some good old memories that somehow faded. I was only about 7 years old when my parents took us to visit North Sulawesi. 42 years later, here I am back to visit North Sulawesi, the province well known for their agricultural commodities such as nutmegs, copra and clove spices. This province is also known for their vast coconut plantations and they are also called the land of waving coconut palms or "Tanah Nyiur Melambai". Not only they are rich with their agriculture and coconut plantations, but most of all it's a popular dive spot known for its unbelievably reef wall.


Menado, here I come!!!!

Our short trip to Timbuktu today has brought back memories from when I worked in Mali in the early 1990s. - See more at: http://www.hki.org/blog/2013/07/our-short-trip-to-timbuktu/#sthash.50J9lfjF.dpuf
Our short trip to Timbuktu today has brought back memories from when I worked in Mali in the early 1990s. I - See more at: http://www.hki.org/blog/2013/07/our-short-trip-to-timbuktu/#sthash.50J9lfjF.dpuf
Manadonese food is famous throughout Indonesia for two things: the Minahasa eat absolutely anything, and the flavor of choice is very, very spicy. - See more at: http://www.tourgarage.com/destinations/manado.html#sthash.ro4hUPan.dpuf
First thing first, after we arrived, Sam Ratulangi Airport, was to try their famous rice porridge made with a mix of corns, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, cassavas, kangkungs and a few others, known as Bubur Tinotuan. We were then taken to Jalan Wakeke, where I saw numerous restaurants along the street. The restaurant that was picked called Dego Dego. The dish is usually served with salted dried fish, but here at Dego Dego, it was served with ikan Nike or cakes made from the tiny fish called Nike, found only in Lake Tondano, mixed with flour and deep fried.

The famous "Dego-Dego" at Wakeke district


After breakfast we were taken to The Hill of Prayer or Bukit Doa, a small but peaceful hill located at Kakaskasen, overlook a beautiful mount Lokon.


Bukit Doa with my aunt, sis and bro


Off we went to Kolongan, Tondano, located in the south east of Menado. The village of Kolongan is a place where my grandparents from my mom's side used to live before they moved to the city of Jakarta. Sadly, the narrow, hilly and curvy road to the village has been damaged and left unrepaired. Huge potholes were found all over. It was more disappointed as we enter the village, I acknowledged this village considered undeveloped and lack of infrastructure. Whereas Kolongan is known as one of producing a high quality clove. The hills in the inland are covered in clove trees, definitely this village are not poor, but  lack of development has ensured that Kolongan remain undeveloped.

We stayed one night at my nephew's huge clove plantation. The house style is very unique. It is typical Minahasan stage house made of wooden craftmanship by the people of Woloan. This type of house can also be purchased online and easily assembled. Cool huhhh .... !!!!!

Traditional House at the plantation

We left early morning, and my nephew drove along some part of lake Tondano toward Bukit Kasih or Devoted Hill. Along the way, we saw many churches, as Menado is predominantly populated by Christians, whose inhabitants co-exist happily with its Muslim minority. Every few meters in town you will see churches and places of worship and they are very committed to their faith. As we drove along each town, we saw four different churches in a block.

First stop was Bukit Kasih, located in the village of Kanonang, Kawangkoan. This hill was built in 2002  as a spiritual center where religious followers from various faiths can gather, meditate and worship side by side in peace. Up on the hill, there are 5 worship places that represent the five religions such as: Mosque, Catholic Church, Protestant Church, Buddhist and Hindu Temples which can be reached by walking up the stairs. In addition, this place is believed to be the original place of Toar Lumimuut, the original ancestors of the Minahasan tribe.  His faces was carved on the hillside beneath the second peak. Due to the hot weather, none of us willing to go all the way up, so off we go.

Monument  at Bukit Kasih

On the way to Tomohon, we stopped at restaurant Ragey Kawangkoan, where they served a famous sate ragey. It's a damn good kebab that one must try. We realized after eating, that we haven't take any pictures :) Soooo ..... there you go!!!


We stopped at Lake Linow, Lahendong, where my father originally came from. Lake Linow, that changes its colors throughout the day, is a water-filled volcanic crater. It changes colors depending on the release of gas from the vents underwater and the movement of the current.
It's a beautiful scenery, just to seat by the crater surrounding by grassland, and spend some time paddling just to see the boiling mud. In my opinion it is lack of attraction and places to hang out.


Linow Lake

 As the sun goes down, we drove straight to Bitung, where we stayed the rest of our vacation at my aunt's beautiful house. The city of Bitung is located on the east side of Manado, approximately an hour drive.
My aunt's house located at the green hills slopes of Mount Dua Bersaudara, stands charming overlooking the port of Bitung and Lembeh Island. A quiet, peaceful private retreat with a large porch overlooking the harbor, perfect sanctuary for the body, mind and soul. It relaxes, disconnects and definitely inspires me to build a house over the hill ... if we hit a jackpot .....


The siblings with Mommy Dearest


Our trip included a day to Bunaken island, known as one of Indonesia's most paradise for divers that draws visitors from all over the world.

Bunaken destination

With a speedboat we reached the island within half hour. But before we reach the island, we were transferred to a submarine where we directly were under the water surface. Sights from the submarine is certainly stunning.


Bunaken Submarine

Over looking Manado Tua

As we were closed to the island, I saw the crystal clear water with visibility at least about more than 10ft.


Welcome center at Bunaken


My husband, my brother and my cousin went under water for snorkeling experience. My regrets was that I don't make an effort to go. It's just because the place has no decent place to change clothes. And I saw how they clean the snorkel gear, especially the goggles. My only suggestion is to bring your own equipment.


Snorkeling at Bunaken


We also explored this pricey subdivision called Citraland residential estate, where we found this new icon of Menado city, almost similar to statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, but here in Menado it is called Christ Blessing, in a flying position.







Ria Rio was our next destination, located along the Kalasey beach. With families from Menado, our long table was served with a fresh and flavorful seafood dishes. Some fish was grilled traditionally in a piece of coconut shell and simmered with different kind of herbs. Some was



Don't ask what was ordered .... delicious meal

Before living Menado, we visited a mini zoo located at Aertembaga Village Bitung, where we found this smallest monkey in the world called Tarsier or Tarsius. The length of this cute species is about 5 inches with a huge brown eyes.

A Tarsier is resting on a tree branch


That's concluded our visit to Menado, North Sulawesi.

Next stop helloJogjakarta!
Stay tune!


No comments:

Post a Comment