#159 February 10, 2016
Story & Photography by Gail G. Collins
Divers dig the underwater magic of Bunaken’s world class reef. The biodiversity is unmatched, but even divers needs 24 hours of decompression before flying out. Many wonders lie above the water line in the countryside surrounding North Sulawesi’s provincial capital, Manado. The city itself hosts a public museum—filled with traditional costumes, weapons, ceramic ware and independence history—plus a broad range of hotels and restaurants. Still, nothing can beat the lofty views three volcanoes provide of the old city and sapphire sea. Only an hour’s drive from the dock, the cooler climes of outlying villages offer diversions ranging from kit wooden houses to a Buddhist temple to fresh fish dinners on the lake, and of course, markets filled with local goods. The warm, welcoming Minahasa people create an inviting place to lose oneself or to breakaway and linger longer. Continue reading “Beyond Bunaken: Touring the Minahasa Highlands”