Rusman's space

PLACES OF INTEREST

(3 - 6 Nov 2008)

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 marin

e 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.

Manado Traditional Food

The type of food that becomes distinctive usually consists of fish in its ingredients. Many types of meals made from fish can be easily found in restaurants in the downtown or along the seashore areas in Manado City, Bitung City and other cities and regencies.

The already popular one is "Woku Belanga". This type of meal is enriched with spices such as: lemon basil, turmeric leaf, lemon grass, tomato, chilly paper, and lemon. The other unique main menu which also can be made from many types of fish is namely

"Ikan Bakar" (Grilled Fish). This meal is made by using sea-fish, such as: Tuna, Groper and Kuwe Fishes and even plain water fis

such as:

Carp Fish and Mujair Fish. Prior to the grill with spicy chilly, shallot and ginger sauce, the fish is marinated with lemon juice and salt.

This type of meal is sold in Seafood Restaurant area in Kalasey Manado, North Sulawesi.

The most popular vegetable in North Sulawesi is Papaya Flower with Pakis Fern Menu and Pangi Leaf Menu. Papaya flower

with pakis fern is suitable to consume along with spicy grilled fish. Pangi Leaf Menu is a typical Minahasanese Traditional Food. It consists of Pangi leaves, pork and spices, and is cooked using bamboo as container. This type of food is sold in The Minahasanese Restaurants spread all over the regencies and cities in North Sulawesi. (MR08)