We left at 6 AM while it was still pitch dark and a thunderstorm was going over us. This is the boat and I can tell you that I didn't feel very confident in it... it got better when the sun came out but still... I was glad when we arrived in Sorong after nearly 3 hours...
At the airport Rome negotiated a little bit for me as my luggage was (again) too heavy. But I knew that in advance and the surcharge wasn't really that much. Went into the gate area and waited for my flight to Manado/Sulawesi.
For some reason I had gotten a window seat (normally I prefer aisle) but in this case I was happy about it. While we were still at the airport.
Here you can see the Papua Paradise Resort
This is the entire Birie Island so you can see that I was really in the middle of nowhere...
Once again reflections on the water...
Who would have guessed that this is a volcano?
A driver from TwoFish Divers was already waiting for me at the airport and we were on our way to the harbour. Along the way I saw this sign and thought that this sounded more swiss than indonesian.
When we arrived at the island of Bunaken (took some time since the motor was overheated) it was low tide and we had to walk through the water. I hadn't known that and had put on jeans for the flight. I tried to move the jeans up as high as possible but still had to wash it afterwards...
The manager waited for me and after the formalities I was shown to my room. When I saw it I had the feeling like someone had thrown a bucket of icewater on me. It was broom closet
with shared bathroom. My shock must have shown on my face because I was
immediately asked if something was wrong and I told the manager that I had
thought that I had a bungalow (with my OWN bathroom!). She sent me to lunch and
when I came back the problem was solved for the next 4 days as they had a
bungalow available that I could have.I will continue with the overwater adventures and do underwater afterwards. I stayed in Bunaken 4 nights and stayed out of the water for one entire day since my ears started to hurt. In addition to that I had problems with my sinuses. Earlier this year it looks like I got hayfever but I have never had any problems with it before and didn't think about having problems with it while travelling. I know better now and in the future I will have allergy meds with me whenever I am travelling.
When I started diving the next day I was put into a buddy team with the 'cajuns' Jackie and Hank. We were a good team.
Since Jackei and Hank were interested in the island as well we decided to walk
over to 'Bunaken-city' one afternoon. Which is what we did.The bar at Two Fish Divers
Jackie and Hand at the entrance to the resort
Mangroves
The 'highway' into the city.
I have no idea what this is supposed to mean but I can read the work 'klakson' which is why I think that this tells people that they are not allowed to use the signal-horn.
Children playing in front of a house
This is something I always find funny in Indonesia: they sell gas in cola bottles...
Washing mashine Bunaken-style
Pets...
This looked like 'main street'
This is inside a beautiful church which was rather big.
Not sure what these signs are supposed to say...
And this is the big church. I think it was catholic. There was a writing on it. I think it was 'Jesus loves you'
This is the old entrance to the city that welcomed guests
A B&B
I think this gate was prepared by a school
This is the new pier. The strange thing about it was.... once it was on the beach there was no connection whatsoever... no street leading into the village... it doesn't look like anyone uses it but I think it is in use
Playing around in the sand (of the dirty beach)
Nice house, huh?
And I admired the creativity they used for the flower pots.
On the road back we came by the cemetery as well. This grave was astounding..
