FANTASTIC ITS FRIDAY!

Last photo for for Manado bunch - time to move on to something else. I'm sure you can tell - I really do like the place. This is the view we had every day from the hotel we stayed at, with the island (volcano) Manado Tua (old Manado) in the back. And there's a huge coral reef out there too - that people come to, from all over the world to see. Next week they'll be hosting the WOC (World Ocean Conference) and the Coral Triangle Summit. Good on them I think!

So I spent my yesterday hanging out with the TOURIST. The TOURIST is visiting from Australia this week. This is his first trip to this town. First trip to Indonesia in fact.

Just so you know - a tourist guide I'm not. But I tried. And now he's got a whole lot of funky, baggy, batik Balikpapan pants to take back. Even took him to the Gems Blue Sapphire shop. (No I didn't buy anything - not yet, but I'm working on that.) We pretty much did the whole circle trip around this town. And spent the afternoon back at that Crocodile Farm (seems I've been going there a lot). And last night, the TOURIST and some other folks came over for lasagna, darts and rum. Yeah, I know, a bit of a strange mix - really strange actually - but we sure had fun.

...... Blue Sapphires - as well, I do really like those too. Truth is, I just about like anything that's blue. And even though they're not my birthstone - I'm still planning on getting some.

TODAY: This morning - coffee and cake. The afternoon is an errand run, and later tonight me and the TOURIST will join up with some other folks. Time to head into the weekend. Thanks for reading. Have a good one.

Good to Go!

MAGIC

Ok, so just a quick little bit about the lake (photo). This is Danau (lake) Linow in the Minahasa Highlands. Same place as the I PREDICT - DAY NO. 1 photo. New photo though, from the recent trip. Danau Linow is quite a beautiful and strange place. (Just like MAGIC.)It's a sulfuric lake that changes colours. Although I've only ever seen it green (differing shades of green), I'm told it's sometimes red or sometimes blue. I'd like to see that - guess I'm just going to have to make the trip back.

Good day yesterday - got a whole ton of stuff done. Everything on the list and then some. The 'and then some' includes taking care of (repair and paint) a little bit of an scratch (it was small) that we ended up with on the front of the vehicle. And I'm in total shock of the great job they did and fast (less than 5 hours) and cheap. Very nice in fact. There's some things you just gotta love about this place!

TODAY: Up and out of here early this morning. Making a trip to the other side of town. The other Me thinks I need a present from Gems Blue Sapphire. Who can argue with - sounds good to me.

Good to Go!

MINAHASA BUDDHAYANA

Good Morning Wednesday! Suns out!

MINAHASA BUDDHAYANA. Now that's a mouth-full isn't it. Go ahead - try and say it.

You're probably wondering about the photo - no doubt. I love it. I guess every once in a while my weird side comes out. Just about makes a person want to write a fairy tale book about it. Kinda has a Lord of the Rings character feel to him - don't you think?

So this photo, along with all the other little ones at the bottom of the post were taken at the Vihara Buddhayana Complex, a Buddist Temple in the Minahasa Highlands (North Sulawesi) near a place called Tomohon (aka, 'The Flower City' - and for good reason it has that name in fact - flowers galore, everywhere in that place). The mountain in the back, is Gunung Lokon - an active volcano. We were told it last erupted a couple of months ago, but I'm not so certain of that. Depends on who's version of what erupted means I guess.

There's a bit of a funny story, a legend about the earthquakes and the rumblings of volcanoes in this place. And yes they have lots. So apparently when the wild pigs (boars, and no - didn't see one) rub their bodies against the trees - the vibrations cause earthquakes. If a small pig rubs it's back, then the earthquake won't be strong - but if it's a big wild pig then it'll be a strong one. Apparently these guys also have a habit of scratching in the the dirt - and if this happens, then the earthquake will be a really, really big one, causing houses and bridges to collapse. (And that, explains why there seemed to be so much construction going on.)

Anyways back to the Buddhas - it's a really cool place and definitely worth the look. If you take into account that the main houses of worship here and all over this area are churches (loads and loads of them - hardly a mosque about) this Buddhist Temple is some what of an interesting phenomena. Seems a little some what out of place, as do the Many Faces of Buddha, a whole row of Buddha statues that line the entrance road into the place.

YESTERDAY: Was busy. Just all sorts of stuff. Unpack. A visitor (tourist) that needed to go out. First trip to Balikpapan - first trip to Indonesia in fact. A Stal Kuda stop. A whole bunch of Photo-shopping. Emails - a whole whack of that. ....... and a nice great big bunch of WANT-TO-DO stuff. It was a good one. Gotta like it when you have days like that!

TODAY: Ah well, once again you start out the day with a plan and not long into it - it gets all re-arranged and blown about. Now I need to re-think and re-org a whole bunch of stuff. No worries though - we'll get it.

....... and I have this incredible urge to get some fresh flowers in the house.

Good to Go!

AWED

Made it. I'm back. Blogger worked great on the pre-post stuff but having all kinds of trouble with it today. Must think I'm still out having a holiday or something like that. Ok well. I don't know - but I guess.

The Mini Trip - turned out fantastic, as always and of course. Except for the 4 a.m. wake-up to get the plane back - I had a fabulous trip with lots of sun, shopping, and of course, eating. Very good trip.

My predictions? Did I get it right? - not quite. I did get to have all of those views just not even close to that order and NO white water rafting at all in fact. (booked completely - no spot for us) The first day turned into the last day, the last day was the first and the second day was almost right. In fact that little island on the second day was the view we had every day. ....... and then there were the sunsets. It's funny how great sunsets make a person want to whisper. Totally AWED and PERFECT. Gotta like that.

Mini Trip highlights: Many many flowers, full bloom everywhere - in gardens, in pots, lots and lots of flower pots, on trees, and in your hair, great views - so green, volcanoes, lakes, rice paddy after rice paddy, veg gardens every where, lots of little horse carts, and cows and coconuts, great people, good food (including the corn on the cob cooked in the hot springs), shitty local vodka (oh well, lesson learnt about that), a nice fat rat that joined us one night out on our deck (didn't even get an eek out of us) and total sun (zero rain - not even one drop). We had a great trip!

TODAY: Well, looking like the day is in fact, pretty much done. And it was, as usual another busy one. Catch-up. And I'm done (sleep awaits me). More tomorrow everyone.

Good to Go!

I PREDICT - DAY NO. 3

Day 3. Ok, if we've managed to get this far - that means the scheduler worked and I'm on my
last full day of a really awesome trip. See you soon other Me.

TODAY'S PREDICTION: Good day to get the the city. Manado. (and get some shopping done) Heaven knows we've got to get our shopping done.

Note: We might have already done this part, but, today we'll most likely be back on a return trip. (and if I recall correctly - the other night, someone might have said the credit card was paid off - right?)

P.S. Happy Birthday to a special someone!!!

I PREDICT - DAY NO. 2

Day 2 of the great escape - and testing out the Blogger scheduler thingy - here's hoping it works.

TODAY'S PREDICTION: Out to sea. I think today we'll be out to sea. Soaking up the rays and enjoying some sun. Out of all the guess work - this is will most likely turn out to be my best guess.

I PREDICT - DAY NO. 1

Ok, so officially on holiday today. This is as good as it gets for an out of office reply. And I'm trying something new in fact. Testing the Blogger scheduler thing. I have no idea where I'm at today or right at the time this will actually post - but here's my best guess ........

TODAY'S PREDICTION: Maybe we'll be in the Minahasa Highlands today near this lake. We want to try and do some white water rafting (yikes) - and it just might happen that we'll end up close to this place?

Note: If this actually rings true - this will certainly be a first. Cause as you can see I've got no photo of ever doing that.