I went to Manado last week 18th-21st November 2008, to celebrate the 15th great years with someone only known as B. I stayed at Hotel Sedona. Fronted by a beach lagoon and resting on a sprawling 24-hectare site, Hotel Sedona Manado sparkles as the city biggest and most distinctive resort hotel.
The tropical paradise of Hotel Sedona Manado is located 45 minutes from the international airport, 30 minutes from the city and 30 minutes boat ride from breathtaking diving sites off the Bunaken and Siladen Islands. (Promotion to Sedona Hotel, the Boss gave me free airport pickup and transfer).
Beautiful photo.. who's the photographer? hehe
The hotel was nice and breezing and very relaxing. They provide 3 times city shuttle but have to let them know in advance coz the transport might be not available. They also provide tours such as Volcano Trekking, Tomohon Tour, Jungle Tour and also Beach Adventure Tour. For those who love diving, this is your heaven, Bunaken Island.
Cleo at Restaurant Wisata Buhari
On my first day, I took a shuttle to town, to visit their shopping mall (Mega Mall). As usual, if you are in Indonesia, never miss their massage. I went to Tikala Shiatsu Massage centre in Mega Mall. I tried their 120 minutes Body Treatment (Massage & Body Scrub). It was nice and good, the masseuse is from Surabaya. After the massage, we took Angkutan Kota (Rp2300) to Restaurant Wisata Buhari. It was a recommended by the driver, but the foods are very disappointment. I felt like eating rubber fish. We headed back to MegaMall with Angkutan Kota and wait for the shuttle pickup to hotel. I played pool and as usual I lost again and again. I lost my skill, how could that happen?
Steam fish at RiaRio Restaurant
2nd day is a lazing day. I woke up very late, and had breakfast (not much of choices) and walk around hotel and beach. We did some computer work in the lobby (complimentary WIFI) and later in the evening, swimming in the pool and at the lagoon. At night, we took Angkutan Kota to one of the cozy wooden stall about 3km from the hotel for Ikan Bakar. I have to be very careful with the meals coz they have extra ordinary meals such as RW (dog), Paniki (bat) and Kawok (forest rat). After one Ikan Bakar finish, we move to another restaurant (RiaRio) for another fish meal, steam fish, no rice only fish and vege.
Linow Lake
3rd day, we hired a driver (one of the hotel staff quietly offer us a transport plus driver cheaper then hotel rate). The tour is Tomohon Tour. Tomohon is City of Flowers, located in the Highland. Our first destination is Linow Lake (Danau Linow), small, highly sulphurous lake whose colors change depending upon the light and viewing perspective. Large white birds and beautiful small songbirds can sometimes be seen in the area. Along the way, we can see Manado beautiful scenery, the flower market and vegetables fields. After that we went to Woloan Village to see the Minahasan House. See traditional wooden houses being built, this is where they build the house and people choose and buy and then they will arrange to move the house to the location you want it. We went to another Lake called Tondano Lake, in Tondano Town. Large, scenic lake beautifully situated between paddy fields and the Lembean Mountains. But I only saw a couple in that big area, all the restaurant closed; it’s like a haunted place. I believe they need to do something to make Manado a city of tourism (Bandar Wisata). My driver do not know well and how to organize the tour. He only depends on places I mention. We said, this is your town and you are Minahasan people, you should know well the places, where to bring your clients. We stop over at one of the stalls selling corn, for “Jagung Bakar”. We ask the driver to take his lunch. After lunch, driver took us to one of the Buddhism Temple in that area, the view of the Volcano is beautiful. After that he drove us to one hell of a place, in the (almost) jungle, I was so scared, he said the place is called Terjun Kali (it’s a waterfall area). When we stop, I can only hear the sound of the river but I cannot see. The path going towards that area is so slippery and it seems like nobody going down. Decided not to go and before anything happens. We headed back to town and stop at Jesus Christ Statue; they claimed the tallest in Asia and second after Christ Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro Brazil. That’s end the Tomohon Tour. For hotel tour, you have to pay Rp620,000 per person but with this driver we only paid Rp500,000. You got what you paid, so stop complaining.
Minahasan House
at Paddy Fields for Jagung Bakar
at Tondano Lake
Hotspring swimming pool
Mt Mahawu at the back
Buddist Temple at Tomohon
Big Ben Tower
After reaching hotel, refreshing a bit and had dinner in the room (bought something on the way back to hotel) and doing work again in the lobby until midnight. Work! Work! Work!
4th and final day. It’s time to go home. I miss Owen. Hotel’s driver drove us to Airport for our flight home.
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