S u n s e t

Sunset @ Bukit Kasih , Tongkeina , Manado
Sulawesi Utara , Indonesia

JOURNEY TO THE LAND OF UNTOUCHED SHORELINES AND ACTIVE VOLCANOE : Manado to Ulu

      

          Both my parents born in Siau Island part of Sitaro Archipelago  in the North Sulawesi Province. ( Sitaro : Siau Tagulandang Biaro formerly known as part of  Sangihe Talaud Archipelago ). The book of Daniel Brilman  'Onze zendingsvelden  De zending op de Sangi - en Talaud - eilanden door' said that this area are lying on the crater of Pacific Ocean.
          Frankly , I have been to Siau Island twice...but the best journey was with my parents on October 2004. We started from Manado. There are regularly scheduled ships from Manado Harbor to Siau Island as well to another destination like Tahuna and Tagulandang.
          By ten past 5 p.m , Valentine 2 MV  took out its anchor and started to move.  The weather was clear and bright. Over the loudspeaker we heard a voice asked all passengers to join for praying. For the next few minutes , there was a silence around us...we kept our  fingers cross. Since my Dad rent a room on second deck,  so three of us stayed in cabin for about 20 minutes but after that I urged my parents to sit on the bench out of our cabin. As I remembered , we spent our time  talked many topics just to forget my nervousness. I didn't want to get sleep either  'cause I was so sure... I was going to get 'sick' on that board.
          After few hours, I noticed black shaped  ahead  towards the ship. My Dad pointed out and said: "That's Siau Island !". Oh...what a great relief... my nervousness seemed to cease.  At about 11 p.m, we saw a dark shadow with  a sparkling light like a cigarette...  My Dad pointed again :"Mount Karangetang ". I stuck at my feet.  As I said before...I have been to this island twice but everytime I looked at Karangetang Mt  I always amazed.
          At about 12 p.m , Ulu Port  had seen clearly. Even in the dark night, that little jetty looked very busy for welcoming the ship. Beyond the darkness I could see my Aunt - Dad's sister -  and her daughter. They were there to welcome us. After some baggage stuffs , we got on the rent car  which brought us  to my Aunt's house in the nerarby village , Kahetang. 
          Well , this is just the beginning story...

...untouched shorelines

Mount Karangetang