Travel Adv: You’ll never have enough in Manado!

Manado, a paradise for divers and food seekers, is located on the northern part of Sulawesi island, Indonesia. Due to its location, Manado is rich with various flora and fauna, both on the land or under the sea. Here are several tips that you can do in Manado to make sure you don’t waste your time while you are in there.

It is a place for refreshing, you can just relax and enjoy the beach and sunset, while interact with the locals. Pantai Malalayang will be perfect for your relaxing spot, where you can see the sunset while you be able to interact with the locals. You will be amazed when you see the ‘busyness’ of the city, especially around sunset when they interact with each other in the wet market around the area. Manado is also famous with the hospitality of the locals in welcoming the visitors, local and foreign. They are more than happy to interact with tourists, to show the way around as well as helping people from finding good accommodation until a good place to eat. So, do not be hesitate to ask around if you are not sure.

Are you looking for a place where there is a harmony between people, no matter the ethnicity, religion, culture and social class? You will be amazed when you find it in Manado. As part of Indonesian society, people in Manado also have five different religions that are nurtured among the people. This diversity does not mean people will be separated nor isolated with each other. On the opposite, people in Manado feel this variety is something that makes them unity. This is represented by a place of tourism called Bukit Kasih (English: Hill of Love) in Manado. This place is built as a symbol of religious harmony in Manado, where different religions can be together and perform their worship side by side peacefully. If you climb the hill, you will eventually be able to look at the beautiful scenery of the beach and island in Manado on one side or Tomohon city on the other side. At its peak, there is a huge white cross which can be seen from the beach in Manado, or try to peek from an Air Asia plane prior to your landing in Sam Ratulangi Airport. There is also slogan from locals that shows the unity in Manado, “baku-baku bae kong baku-baku sayang”, literally means to share the love and peace to each other.

Manado is the paradise for divers, simply because there is Bunaken Marine National Park. Rated as the top ten dives spots in the world makes Bunaken as a favourite spot for diving and snorkelling in Manado. Due to the tropical weather, the water in Bunaken is warm and clear so tourist have choices to snorkel, to dive, or just to stay on boat and enjoy the live experience from the bottom glass motor boat of thousands of fishes and corals underwater. Camera is essential because you will be stunning with the panorama and will want to take thousands of pictures.

As I said, you’ll never have enough in Manado, yes, especially with the food. Bubur Manado or known as tinutuan is the most popular food in Manado. It is a combination of rice and vegetables which usually eaten with a kind of fish and chilli. Although you will find the picture is not comfortable, wait until you taste it, it is supremelyfreakinlicious, not to forget that it is healthy. Not just until that, there are lots (yes, lots) of foods available in every corner of street in Manado because people in Manado love to eat. Manado delicacy are varies from grill, fry, steam or traditional cooked of chicken, pork, fish, until rats and bats. The traditional dishes are cooked with spices and chillies, so I have to warn you that dish in Manado is normally spicy, but you can ask to get the non-spicy one if you don’t eat spicy food. Don’t blame yourself if you gain weight during your visit in Manado because it is normal, ha ha. Do remember to buy the traditional kueh as a souvenir for your family and relatives at hometown.

Did I miss something? Oh yes, I mentioned about Tomohon earlier. It is a mountainous city 45 mins off from Manado, and it is cooling and a perfect spot for relaxing and to be away from crowd.

Enuff said, what are you waiting for? Go online, book your ticket from Air Asia site, pack your belonging and get ready to visit Manado. Hurry, before others take your seat! Make sure you don’t forget your sun lotion cream.


[updated: this entry is for a competition purpose]