Wayfaring Travel Guide. Interesting vacation places, spa and resorts » Search Results » Sulawesi

Komodo

misha — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:48:23 +0000

Komodo Island is a part of the Lesser Sunda chain and lying between the neighbouring islands of Sumbawa to the west and Flores to the east. Komodo is one of the many island, which make the Republic of Indonesia. The inhabitants of this barren volcanic land are descendants of former convicts who were exiled to the island and who have mixed themselves with the Bugis from nearby Sulawesi. Photo by: Dave_Davies

However the island is most famous not for its heritage of convicts, but for the unique fauna which inhabit it. The Komodo dragon (in the picture below), the world’s largest living lizard, takes its name for the island. A type of monitor lizard, the dragon inhabits Komodo and some of the smaller surrounding islands, attracting thousands of tourists every year. Photo by: ScottS101

The lizards are active during the morning and late afternoon, but burrow into dry steam beds during the heat of the day to keep cool. Guided tours take visitors to see the lizards and this is good bet if you want to guarantee spotting one. They can grow up to 3 m in length, and despite their short legs, they can run as fast as a dog. Visitors are advised not to wear red and to keep an eye out for their footprints while visiting the island, as they can bite. They can also swim form island to island, so even the sea is not a safe place. Photo by: Nelson~Blue

Komodo dragons were only discovered by Western scientists in 1910 when a Dutch officer, Van Steyan van Hensbroek, heard rumours of giant crocodiles and went to investigate. Today their range has contracted due to human activities, and they were listed as vulnerable by the World Conservation Union. Photo by: chillntravel

The Komodo National Park was set up in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon, and the area is also now on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The national park features three large islands of Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller one. Later it was dedicated to protected other species as the three islands have a high marine biodiversity, inckuding whale sharks, ocean sunfish, manta rays, eagle rays, pygmy seahorses, false pipefish, clown frogfish, nudibranchs, blue-ringed octopus, sponges, tunicates, and coral. The coral reefs, seamounts, seagrass beds and mangroves make the island a popular place for diving. Photo by: Joachim S. Müller

When to go: April to October. Population: 2,000. How to get there: By air to Labuanbajo from Bali, then by boat. You should know: All visitors to the Komodo National Park have to pay a contribution to protect the wildlife and support the local communities. Photo by: Nick Hobgood

Skuba Diving In Bunaken

misha — Mon, 25 May 2009 12:51:35 +0000

Bunaken is an island, which attracts many scuba diving visitors. The island is a part of the Bunaken National Marine Park and has a tremendous biodiversity in the world. Bunaken is located at the north of the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. The waters of Bunaken National Marine Park are extremely deep (1566 m), clear and refreshing in temperature (27 to 29 °C).

The park has around 70 genera of corals; compare this to a mere 10 in Hawaii. Bunaken National Marine Park is such a treasure trove of biodiversity. A snorkeler or diver may spot over 33 species of butterfly fish and numerous types of groupers, damsels, wrasses and gobies.

Biologists believe that the abundance of hard corals is crucial in maintaining the high levels of diversity in the park. Hard corals are the architects of the reefs, without them, numerous marine organisms would be homeless and hungry. Whether you prefer wall dives, drift dives, night dives, muck diving, critter diving; whether you are an underwater photographer in search of the elusive pygmy sea horse, a fan of big fish; Rays, Sharks, Barracuda, Napoleons, Turtles or just enjoy diving in general, then you will not be disappointed with what you will explore in Bunaken.

Around 20,000 people live on the natural resources of Bunaken National Marine Park. At the wmoment you arrived in Bunaken you will be charged to enter in the park, it’s a fee system, the first of its kind in Asia, and is being held up them as a model system by marine conservationists around the world.

Sulawesi, Indonesia

Asya — Sat, 17 May 2008 11:29:49 +0000

Some of the world’s most beautiful underwater environments are located in Sulawesi, Indonesia. There’s the Bunaken Marine Reserve with white sandy beaches, a dense population of fish, coral and deep underwater gullies and valleys; Lembeh Straits and its WWI shipwrecks and unusual black sand bottoms; the Togean Islands which host all major reef formations (fringing, barrier, patch and atoll); Wakatobi in Tukang Besi Archipelago and its fascinating fossil reef formations and a myriad of marine species, such as sperm and pilot whales, spinner, bottle-nose dolphins and dugongs; the sea garden of Takabonerate National Park, southwest of Selayar Island, which is the third largest coral atoll in the world, as the Banggai Archipelago, the Makassar Straits, Kapoposang, Bira and Selayar islands… the list of amazing location is endless.

The Lariang River, which runs for half its length of the Lore Lindu National Park, is a world-class venue for white-water rafting. Lore Lindu in Central Sulawesi is largest habitat for Sulawesi’s endemic mammals, such as the anoa, babirusa, deer, tarsius spectrum, cuscus, civets, squirrels, rats, and over 55 types of bats and more than 230 species of birds, including the maleo and red knobbed hornbill. See the ancient culture and ceremonies of Tana Toraja. Apart from the wonderful scenery of lush valleys and rice fields sheltered by rocky cliffs, Torajan villages are architectural masterpiece, consisting of the beautifully decorated Tongkonan houses. Coffins containing bones and skulls are kept in the cliffs and cave graves. These unique burial sites are a typical Torajan ritual. At Lemo, carved-out cliff balconies hold tau-taus, wooden effigies of the dead. A pre-historic cave at Miasa Te’ne (Leang Lompoa Cave) has finger painting depicting men and pigs. The cave was once inhabited by the Toalaean indigenous people some 5,000 years ago. In Bada Valley of Central Sulawesi, see mysterious megalithic statues. While the south which is home to the seafaring Buginese, see traditional boat-building techniques at Bantaeng and Bulukumba.150 species of rare butterflies are found at Bantimurung. Known as Turtle Island, Pasoso Island has a high population of green turtle. Between the months of September and October, the turtles lay their eggs in the island’s sandy beaches.

The most varied destination anywhere

Asya — Sat, 17 May 2008 08:43:12 +0000

As the world’s largest archipelago, Indonesia comprises some 17,508 islands that stretch across the equator. There are five main islands and 30 smaller archipelagos. The main islands are Kalimantan(Borneo), Sumatra, Papua, Sulawesi and the most populated island, Java. More than 480 ethnic groups display a rich variety of customs, religious, languages (approximately 583) and dialects. Welcome to Indonesia and enjoy a wonderful journey of discovery. SUMATRA From the north to the southern tip, the island offers vast attractions to see and do. Go trekking at Gunung Leuser National Park, one of the largest parks in Asia and a trekker’s paradise in Sumatra, or try river rafting on the Alas and Wampu River, an exhilarating experience that offers the rare chance to see local wildlife. Avid climbers are sure to find the 100 meters vertical cliff wall at Harau Canyon a challenge. In its semi dormant phases, climb the child of Krakatau, right up to the ridge. Water lovers may experience the exhilarating feeling of swimming or fishing in famous Lake Toba, the world’s deepest lake, and lake Maninjau with warmer and cleaner water. For world professional surfers, look out for Sorake Beach on the island of Nias, which stretches along a perfect horse shoe shape bay, Teluk Lagundri, and offers the best surfing challenge. Other locations to challenge 3-4 meter waves are around the islands of Mentawai. See some of the island’s most famous inhabitants, the Sumatran tigers and elephants, at Lebong Hitam and Sebokor, South Sumatra. On January and February every year, see giant turtles in Bengkaru Island, Aceh. Get up close to orangutans at the Bohorok Orangutan Rehabilitation Station, Bukit Lawang village, North Sumatra. Admire the beauty of the world famous giant flower, Rafflesia arnoldi, blooming between August and November at Pelupuh Village, 16 km north of Bukittinggi, West Sumatra. The biggest ever recorder had a diameter of 120 cm.Sumatra is rich in cultural heritage. An animist religious ritual is still observed by a small group at Laguboti, in Balige, North Sumatra. Batak traditional houses and relics are still carefully preserved in the Siallagan village in Ambarita. On Mentawai islands, isolated communities still retain ancient customs and a megalithic way of life.

Feel the magic of Gangga Island

toun — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 16:54:39 +0000

This exotic resort, built under shady palms and surrounded by tropical gardens running directly down to a beach of pure white sand, is located on the tip of the small island of Gangga in North Sulawesi – from Manado International Airport only one hour by car, then half an hour on our boats.

With its more than 25 world class diving locations the island offers a wonderful variety of marine life. It is also an ideal starting point for diving the sites at Bangka Island, the Bunaken National Marine Park, the Lembeh Strait, and for visiting the Tangkoko Nature Reserve and the Minahasa Highlands.

The resort features bungalows, each with two rooms and built in the local Minahasa style, with a spacious veranda overlooking the beach and neighbouring islands. Naturally, all this accommodation is equipped with every feature and fixture now internationally expected of a first class resort: comfortable furnishings, bathroom with shower, hot and cold water, air conditioning and ceiling fan, mini bar, complimentary coffee and tea maker, satellite television with international channels, and sports facilities including a swimming pool.

The restaurants and bars are featuring international and Indonesian Cuisine.

In Pasung SPA are introduced some wonderful SPA treatments, combining rare therapies from the Minhasa families on Gangga Island; Reflexology and traditional Balinese Aromatherapy, this is the ancient art of using the healing power of aromatic essential oils, distilled from plant sources, flowers, leaves and bark of trees.

Getting to Gangga – International flights connect from Los Angeles to Singapore or Bali. From there fly Silk Air or Merpati to Manado. From Manado International Airport, the transfer is one hour by car, then half an hour by boat.
From a diver’s perspective, the best aspects of Gangga Island Resort are the scuba diving options it affords us. Nearby are the islands of Bangka and Talise. These offer some of the most beautiful soft coral diving to be found. While large fish are somewhat scarce, you will find fields of pristine hard corals, a variety of reef fishes, and forests of large and colorful soft coral trees, truly a delight to behold.

The blue water and healthy coral reefs were a welcome change after a week of “muck diving” in Lembeh Strait. It is all the more enjoyable to be able to do this quality diving with short boat rides, and the ability to return to the comforts of a top notch dive resort at the end of each day. We encourage you to see and enjoy Gangga for yourself!