Manado is a big city on the northern tip of Sulawesi. It’s a busy port and business centre but banarkin island just out from the city does lure some foreigners for its diving and snorkeling opportunities. There are some nice reefs here. My local friend knows of a better place for viewing the corals and fish of this part of the world.
It’s an early start. I’m greeted at the hotel by our driver for the day. Then we pick up my friend Ali and make way for his little known location. It’s just across the other side of the narrow finger-like peninsula from Manado but it takes hours to travel because the roads are narrow and the landscape mountainous.
It’s a small Muslim fishing village. Fishing is it’s heartbeat but changes are afoot. They’re now realizing their waters have potential for something more than catching fish. Tourism. Foreigners are discovering the reefs here and all they have to offer. A French man has built 3 houses on one of the islands and he is luring foreigners.
Ali’s organised a boat and for the next few hours we explore the underwater life off the coast here. It’s impressive. The colour and variety of corals and fish is easily the equivalent of what I can remember of the Great Barrier Reef. And there are little ‘petit’ reef sharks. This area has many apparently. I saw one in the distance. The other guys saw more. Of all of the wonder under the water, it was something I saw while walking up a small island peak. There’s a few trees making home for some birds. There’s a flash of brilliance and I recognize this bird. It’s a kingfisher. It looks like our azure kingfisher. What a treat.
It’s back to the village for lunch then back to Monado. Weekends on the roads through the villages can be unpredictable. Main thoroughfares can be closed for weddings or funerals, forcing traffic into slow narrow side streets. We’re redirected many times. Then the traffic closer to manado thickens to a standstill. Short distances take hours. I get back to the hotel around 6:45pm. What a spectacular day.
angusmccoll 