Major towns along Trans Sulawesi

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A detail look at the map of Sulawesi(Celebes)including the physical features of the landscape might deter travelers from trying to make an overland journey from Makassar(the capital city of Sulawesi Selatan(or Sulsel)to Manado(capital city of Sulawesi Utara(or Sulut)

Can you imagine the road distance from Makassar to Manado is approximately 2,000kilometers which might take couple of days to arrive in Manado.
Except for good roads out of the capital Makassar to Pare-Pare,further than this point will be the long and bumpy narrow roads through the hinterland.
Sulawesi is quite an enormous island with tough terrain and rich virgin jungles.

Trans Sulawesi highway is not an actual expressway like those in modern cities.There will be instances of unpaved roads,narrow and winding through the rugged mountains.
To adventurous backpackers,overland travel is quite a good marathon attempt.

The northern routes bus terminal  is at Panaikang aka Dayak Terminal.in eastern suburbs of Makassar to catch the buses :

1) Pare-Pare,
-the hometown of third President Indonesia-B.J.Habibie
-population about 132,000 (2012 consensus)
-about 3 hours journey(200km),road condition excellent.Fare:22,000 Rupiah

 
2) Rantepao
-the gateway to Tana Toraja
-about 8 hours journey.Fare:55,000Rupiah(normal),70,000 Rupiah(aircond)

3) Tana Toraja
- about 8 hours,near Rantepao.Fare:70,000 Rupiah.
-Bintang Prima,a luxury busline direct booking at Makassar Mall.
LIST of bus companies and phone numbers for booking


4) Poso
-facing Gulf of Tomini,main port north eastern coast Central Sulawesi, situated on the Equator Line.
-Population about 40,000.Year 1998 sectarian violence flashpoint,Christians and Muslims(JI groups)
-situation now normal and expect security checkpoint within the vicinity.
-the shortest route to Manado in the northeastern tip has to pass through Poso.


5) Tolitoli
-capital city Central Sulawesi(Sulawesi Tengah)
-population about 200,000 human capital.
-main agricultural produce is pepper.

6) Gorontalo
- the 32nd Province of Republic Indonesia administered by provincial governor.
-main hub to Tongean Islands
-accomodations Hotel Quality ,City Hotel, Hotel Tenteram, Liberty Hotel,Prasanthi Magna Hotel Resort

7) Tomohon
-Tomohon city website
-Wonderful Indonesia Official Tourism Website

8) Bitung
-ferry to Ternate in North Moluccas.
-best diving spot adjacent Lembeh Island.
-captivating Lembeh Straits.the world's number 1 eco-diving paradise.


9) Manado,capital North Sulawesi also the main gateway to Bunaken Island.


Taxi services South Sulawesi

Centrally located New Legend Hostel.

New Legend Hostel
Located less than 5 minutes walk from the Chinatown arch off Jalan Ahmad Yani road.Tel:+62 411 3632123
Dormitory bunk beds are on the highest floor access by a spiral metal staircase as there's no lift in the building.
The bathroom during my stay was still under repair so I need to use an alternative one on the second floor.
Western breakfast inclusive in the room rates and starts from 8:30am till 10:30am.
Well it won't be noisy despite many vehicles passing by the road below.
In the afternoon after school,students will be playing futsal at nearby D'Jampea Futsal arena and you can hear their echo.

In fact the dormitory bunk beds are on the rooftop and directly infront below is this old Dutch style colonial mansion.

This is really luxurious during the olden days and only the wealthy can afford it.

Typical style during this period include large roof overhang, high roof and ceiling, and front and rear verandahs that opened on to gardens.

Beside the hostel is an ethnic Chinese coffeshop(kopitiam)  name Phoenam established since 1946.
Wow,that's a year after the Japanese Imperial Army surrendered to Allied Forces during World War II.
Even Ujung Pandang(Celebes) has undergone the Japanese Occupation
The Hailam people form Hainan Island,southern China brought along with them their signature trade,that is the kopitiam business.
This is the most famous coffeeshop in Makassar and you should not miss to taste the superb coffee flavour.

List of branches:
Jl. Boelevard Blok F 32-33 Panakkukang Mas, Makassar, Indonesia

Phoenam Jampea, di Jl Jampea

Phoenam Tamalanrea, di Bumi Tamalanrea Permai (BTP)

Pheonam Ratulangi Jl Dr Ratulangi, Makassar

Phoenam Mal Panakkukang




Hotel Yasmin,Makassar is just next door of the Phoenam Kopitiam.
Jln.Jampea No.5 Makassar
Tel. 0411 320424, Fax. 0411328288 42
e-mail.Yasmin@indosat.net.id







Chinatown Arch Gate,Makassar,Sulawesi Selatan.

 Simple design structure,missing out are the pair of dragons on both side of the roof top unlike the better ones in Surabaya,East Java.

The busy road in front is Jalan Jenderal Ahmad Yani.
A short walk towards the left is a 24 hours convenience store followed by the Polwiltabes Makassar(Police HQ)



Gerbang(Gate) China Town ini Dibangunkan tahun 2002,(constructed 2002) by Sdr.William Effendy.a renown building contractor in Makassar City.
Offical opening February 2003 by Drs A,Achmad Massalissi.

Just a 15 minutes walk at the end of Jalan Ahmad Yani corner is Makassar Karebosi Trade Center.
A huge modern shopping mall with Carrefour Hypermarket among the anchor tenants.
Foodcourt on the third floor.
Along Jalan Haji Oemar  Said Cokroaminoto from MTC Karebosi another 15 minutes walk is the Makassar Mall.







From the Chnatown  Gate,travelers wishing to head for the Losari Beach area can walk towards the right till this Welcome To Makassar Monument and walk left passing by Fort Rotterdam.along Jalan Ujung Pandang.

Jalan Ujung Pandang is the seafront road.












Losari Beach Hotel

The seafront is just across the Jalan Penghibur road but hardly any nice sandy beach along this stretch.
You need to go further up for a more decent beach.









Penginapan Wisma Pelangi Indah,guesthouse same row with Losari Beach Hotel.
Room rates around 200,000 Rupiah
The word Wisma is an Indonesian term  often use for accomodation. They are quite cheap in most instances and from my experience in Pekan Baru,Sumatera ,they don't accept foreigners.
Maybe those in big cities like Jakarta do accept.











Near Makassar Golden Hotel was a side road where I stumbled into this boat landing pier

The heading says:
You Are Heading For
"Harmoni Pier BTN"
* BTN denotes Bank Tabungan Negara or National Funding Bank.

Lae-Lae Island,Ujung Pandang District,Makassar.

About Lae-Lae Island:
About 9 hectares in size,near the Straits of Makassar.
Lies between Samalona Island on the west and Makassar City on the east.
On the  island south is Tanjung Bunga  while in the north is Gusung Tangayya
Population 1,780 and main economic activity Fishing.



 The distance of Pulau Lae-Lae from the mainland is only 1.5km so a small boat like this is quite accomodative for maybe eight passengers.
The 10 minutes motorized boat ride cost about 15,000 Rupiah
I would suggest backpackers should make it a point to visit this beautiful island as there are bamboo huts easily  available for rent around 30,000/40,000 rupiah.
Food stalls and shops are also available.Not to miss out are the white sandy beaches ideal for snorkelling and a great scuba diving spot.
The deepest diving spot is about 9 metres

Dutch bastion Fort Rotterdam Sulawesi Selatan

The Dutch East India Company seemed to be one of the greatest maritime colonial powers of the 17th century.
Malacca,my hometown was once known as The Sleepy Hollow where the Dutch booted out the Portuguese conquerors in 1641.
It's all about the monopoly of spice trade route.
Imagine the Dutch ruled Malacca for 183 years (1641-1825) before they finally gave in to the British in exchange for a new capital Batavia (now known as Jakarta).
Batavia being strategically located on the maritime route between the Straits of Malacca and South China Sea provided a valuable asset base for further expansion within the hinterlands of the Indonesian archipelago.More seaports were established by the Dutch  which included Manado(North Celebes) and Macassar(South Celebes).
A visit to Fort Rotterdam gave me further historical insight on how the Dutch defended Makassar.(formerly known as Ujung Pandang)against any invading forces.This will be the Dutch East Indies battalion bastion.

As I entered the main compound,there's an open air stage with the theme Pagelaran Seni,some sort like cultural performance but that's in December 2012.
The Tourism Board also has a theme below saying Let's Visit South Sulawesi.
The program line up includes traditional karebosi dance,musical Ansam Bel,sketches Calling Back the Spirit Parody.
The guest star was Miss Sulawesi Utara 2012,Nathania Lukman(age 21,Height 5'8")