pelan-pelan
Contributor
December - the weather was excellent. Yes, there was some rain and sometimes the vis was affected but not too much.
Diving Manado-side yielded some excellent diving with sightings including all the usual suspects from pegasus sea moths to nembrotha nudis, bobtail squid etc. Also eagle rays, and of course snakes. I have never seen so many crocodile fish (flat heads) before, and big too. Over at Bunaken the wall is still there (just in case there was any doubt). We filmed a convict blenny, sometimes called a convict goby. A very strange creature. Fortunately filmed because so rare and strange that it would be difficult to convince people of what was seen. Basically it looks like a black and white eel which isn't an eel. A bit like a ling. Actually it isn't a blenny or a goby but is in a genus of its own.
The trip across the bay which to me is part of the trip yielded dolphins, big pod of pilot whales and a very unexpected sail fish leaping out of the water alongside the boat. Those things are like huge silver torpedoes. Makes you wonder what was chasing it.
As always excellent dive service with ratio 1 guide to 2 divers. Experienced guides who are interested in what you would like to see. Lunch (and toilet) on the boat.
Resort gardens are spectacular, kicking back at the pool and looking at the view to Manado Tua. Or gazing at the view from your cottage patio. Cottages are well-appointed. We particularly like the drinking water dispenser, choice of air con or fan, hot water showers, safe, and even umbrellas for if it is raining on the way to the restaurant. Food is mix of Indonesian and European, freshly cooked, buffet with lots of delicious choices. The place is a haven. Everything is spotless, everything works, staff are friendly and helpful - all you have to do is work hard on chilling.
We took an overnight at Tangkoko - can be organised from Lumbalumba. Overnight meant that we could go for a dusk/night walk with a guide into the forest to see the tarsiers, bats and tarantulas and then come back to the homestay (Tarsier Lodge) to an excellent Indonesian supper. Rooms were clean and spacious with big bathrooms and their own little patio and chairs overlooking the river and forest. Cold water showers as expected. Then dawn walk to see the macacques, hornbills, kingfishers etc. It was worth taking the overnight because the walks could be longer and you could get to chat to the guides and the people at the lodge, relax and enjoy the experience.
Travelled with Singapore Airlines/Scoot via Singapore and also side trip to Java. Can recommend the Anara Airport Hotel at Jakarta airport. It is fairly new. Easy to find, efficient, comfortable rooms - they even had windows.
Diving Manado-side yielded some excellent diving with sightings including all the usual suspects from pegasus sea moths to nembrotha nudis, bobtail squid etc. Also eagle rays, and of course snakes. I have never seen so many crocodile fish (flat heads) before, and big too. Over at Bunaken the wall is still there (just in case there was any doubt). We filmed a convict blenny, sometimes called a convict goby. A very strange creature. Fortunately filmed because so rare and strange that it would be difficult to convince people of what was seen. Basically it looks like a black and white eel which isn't an eel. A bit like a ling. Actually it isn't a blenny or a goby but is in a genus of its own.
The trip across the bay which to me is part of the trip yielded dolphins, big pod of pilot whales and a very unexpected sail fish leaping out of the water alongside the boat. Those things are like huge silver torpedoes. Makes you wonder what was chasing it.
As always excellent dive service with ratio 1 guide to 2 divers. Experienced guides who are interested in what you would like to see. Lunch (and toilet) on the boat.
Resort gardens are spectacular, kicking back at the pool and looking at the view to Manado Tua. Or gazing at the view from your cottage patio. Cottages are well-appointed. We particularly like the drinking water dispenser, choice of air con or fan, hot water showers, safe, and even umbrellas for if it is raining on the way to the restaurant. Food is mix of Indonesian and European, freshly cooked, buffet with lots of delicious choices. The place is a haven. Everything is spotless, everything works, staff are friendly and helpful - all you have to do is work hard on chilling.
We took an overnight at Tangkoko - can be organised from Lumbalumba. Overnight meant that we could go for a dusk/night walk with a guide into the forest to see the tarsiers, bats and tarantulas and then come back to the homestay (Tarsier Lodge) to an excellent Indonesian supper. Rooms were clean and spacious with big bathrooms and their own little patio and chairs overlooking the river and forest. Cold water showers as expected. Then dawn walk to see the macacques, hornbills, kingfishers etc. It was worth taking the overnight because the walks could be longer and you could get to chat to the guides and the people at the lodge, relax and enjoy the experience.
Travelled with Singapore Airlines/Scoot via Singapore and also side trip to Java. Can recommend the Anara Airport Hotel at Jakarta airport. It is fairly new. Easy to find, efficient, comfortable rooms - they even had windows.
