Rantepao, Sulawesi island (Indonesia)
The village of Rantepao is located in the central mountainous part of the island of Sulawesi.
Here, in the mountain valley of Toraja, lives the people of the same name, whose representatives are known as “mountain people”. This people is interesting for its ceremonies, especially funeral rites. They last for several days and are accompanied by mass sacrifices of buffaloes. The dead are buried in rock caves, and at the entrance to the caves on special balconies carved into the rock, wooden figures are installed that depict the dead. Tourists are allowed to view the burials for a fee, and tourists can also look at the ceremony itself.
The houses where the Toraj live have bizarre roofs that are bent on both sides (similar to horns), and their facades are decorated with buffalo horns. The number and size of the horns testify to the wealth of family members.
The locals are engaged in the cultivation of rice, so the village is surrounded by rice terraces.
The Toraja Valley produces the best coffee in Indonesia.
Manado, Sulawesi island (Indonesia)
According to andyeducation, Manado is the main city of the northern part of the island of Sulawesi. Once through this city there was a lively trade with neighboring Philippines. Now Manado is a famous diving center in Indonesia. The tourist area of the city is concentrated around the seaside promenade, at the end of the 20th century numerous hotels, restaurants, bars and shops were built here, and the southern part of the city, around the large entertainment center Mega Mall, is considered the busiest part of Manado. The city’s beaches are made up of black volcanic sand.
In Manado, for the first time in Indonesia, the Bunaken-Manado Tua National Marine Park was established in 1991.. The area of the park is 89 thousand hectares, of which 97% is in coastal waters, and 3% is on land (the coral islands of Bunaken, Siladen, Monteage, Nine and the volcanic island of Manado Tua with an extinct volcano). This region of Indonesia is famous for its coral walls, which descend to a depth of 1300 m, there are caves in the walls.
The best time for diving in the park is from March to November, visibility at this time of the year can reach 30-45 m. The most popular dive sites are concentrated around the islands of Bunaken and Manado Tua. The Lekuan Wall is considered the most interesting, it is located on the southwestern coast of Bunaken. This wall is covered with sea sponges and gorgonians, which are very similar to soft corals. A huge number of marine life comes here with the northeast currents. Here you can see turtles and Napoleon wrasses, there are sharks and rays. 7 out of 8 known species of giant clams live here. In addition, about 70 species of corals can be seen in the park. In Bunaken-Manado Tua, fish of the coelacanth or coelacanth species (ancient prehistoric lobe-finned fish) have been found. This species was considered extinct. The first representatives of it were found off the Comoros, and in the 90s of the 20th century, such fish was caught off the coast of South Africa. Later, the same fish was found for sale in the markets of northern Sulawesi, where it is located. Manado. This is a large fish about 2 m in length and weighing about 80 kg. Coelacanth can be safely called a living fossil.
On the southwestern coast of Monado, not far from the coast, in addition to coral gardens, a 60-meter German merchant ship is interesting. It sank here in 1942, now it lies at a depth of 23 m, visibility near the ship is 15 m.
In the vicinity of Manado, in addition to diving, you can go hiking. To the south of the city there is an active volcano Lokon with a height of 1595 m above sea level. Its smoking crater is located 600 m below the Lokon peak itself. Directly opposite Lokon stands the volcano Minhasu. It is slightly lower (1372 m) and easier to climb. There is a lake in its crater.
East Along the coast of Manado is the Tangkoko Nature Reserve. Visiting it, you will see small black-tailed monkeys (Tarsius), which are the smallest primates in the world, black macaques, couscous, rhinoceroses, Anoa wild boars, deer, various birds and snakes. The area of the park is 8,700 hectares.
Bitung, Sulawesi island (Indonesia)
Bitung is a transit city, located in the northernmost part of the island of Sulawesi. This is a large port, as well as many factories. There are no attractions in the city.
