Incredible Bunaken

The latest incredible journey of me at 2011 was when I went to Manado, North Sulawesi at 26th Dec’11. Eventough it was at hardly rainy month, I decided to go to Bunaken, my ever dream island. I stayed at Aryaduta Hotel which is quite expensive but since it covered ( I went there several days based on a business trip there) by my company it’s still oke and fortunately I can longer my stay and went to Bunaken. The price rate about 500 thousand rupiah at minimum. But if you want to stay at Bunaken Island, you can find many cheap motels there, such as Panorama Cottages, Daniel Dive’s Resort, etc.

Amazing Bunaken
It’s so easy to get there, only 45 minutes by boat. You can find traditional boat on the nearest harbour. Boat with three (3) enginees could bring you faster than others with only Rp 800.000 all in. It’ll be extra benefit if you travelling with some friends, more is better. Because I only have 3 friends with me, it’s quite expensive in the end to pay this boat and all the snorkeling tools (even my friends went to Bunaken after I asked them for many times and that was their first time snorkle ^_^ ). You can also use daily transport with cheaper payment (about Rp 40.000 -80.000 once). But the schedule is only several times a day, I couldn’t get enough time if I should wait this regular boat. If you went there on the early morning, about 5 a.m, they guarantee you could meet group of dolphins.

On the way to Bunaken Island, you can see a very beautiful view of three different island: Bunaken Island, Manado Tua (Old Manado) and Siladen Island. Local people said Siladen Island has the best beach and fishes, but I couldn’t go there due to limited time. But it’s oke, Bunaken Island is just good to visit. But, never ever visit Bunaken during rainy season. You couldn’t predict any storm or rain, and the sea was so dirty regarding to many garbage fill in to the sea from Manado city.

After step into the sand of Bunaken, many people will offer you to rent wetsuit, mask, underwater camera and so on to snorkle or dive. And it cost quite expensive than I’ve ever charged before on the other island. Wetsuit, for example, Rp 150.000; underwater camera for Rp 400.000 and frog leg and glasses cost you about Rp 100.000. But don’t worry, you can still bargain for all of those tools and get maximum discount. For example, I bargain the underwater camera and got it only for Rp 100.000 (still expensive but it’s okey for me).

Snorkling into Bunaken’s sea was amazing. Various fishes everywhere run into you, in front of you and sometimes bite your bottom. The sea wall in Bunaken is the most famous sea wall in the world because many sea plant live here and it’s the biggest habitat. Wonderful! Took about 3 hours for me to snorkle and still, I didn’t have enough time. Really want to spend another day at Siladen Island and maybe spend one day more but I couldn’t. Here are also I posted some pictures of my buddys on boat who guide me into Bunaken’s sea. They were good people and even one of them was a scuba master for 14 years! Wow!

Tomohon and others
Beside Bunaken, you can visit so many places in Manado. One of them is Tomohon hill, 2 hours from Manado. You can find Bukit Doa with a very beautiful church and park, Linaw Lake and also Bukit Kasih, a special place build for five religion in Indonesia.

The second amazing place after Bunaken in Manado is Bukit Doa. The church is very great shape of architecture, the view was marvelous, the amphiteater was very good and the ambience was very calm and comfortable. Find peace in here and enjoy the fresh air. The next is Linaw Lake which offer you a great view of sulfur lake with green water and uniquely prepared some coffe shop with traditional biskuit made from cocoa and sago (Indonesia : sagu). No charge for these beautiful place instead of voluntary charge.

Warning for you, food’s price here is expensive than another city (because of its located in East Indonesia)! Just go to Manado and find how beautiful its place, people and also taste delicious food there. Don’t forget to bring a lot of money then ;p