We checkout and rang Captain Riski to say we were coming and
caught a taxi to the Marina Pasar. We loaded the gear on the boat and had a
pleasant 40 minute ride to Bunaken. The tide was high enough to get the boat up
to the small beach in front of the hotel.
We checked in and settled ourselves into our room. The room
was nice being about three metres from the small beach.
I had a snorkel in front of the guesthouse while the tide
was still high enough. I swam out past the sea grass and shallow corals to the
drop off wall and drifted with the current. There were so many fish swimming in
and around the coral. Getting in to the shore was difficult as the tide was getting
very low. I strolled up to the road/path and walked back to Jonath's.
Lunch was ready - fish, vegetables and rice with a tasty not
too hot sambal.
After lunch, we walked to the village and had a beer at one
of the rustic seaside restaurants. After that, we strolled around the village
and bought a few things in one of the local shops. The people were friendly
around the village and smiled and said hello. We looped the two streets back to
the pier where we sat at the end and watched the boats arrive and chatted to a
few local kids. Next stop was another beachside restaurant where we sat back,
watched the world go by and had a few beers.
Back at Jonath's dinner was served and we had a long chat
with the other hotel guests. Thomas and Marian from Germany who worked in
education and Pola from Spain who lived
in Paris. She was here to do a masters rescue course. We stayed up late (well
late for me) and talked about our lives and travels. An excellent first day.
1 AUGUST 2018
A good sleep though the power cut out a few times.
After breakfast, we walked to the village to board a boat
for a snorkeling tour. There was only to be the two of us but they did a bit of
a 'swifty' and there were two more. I was going to cancel out but decided to go
along with it.
The boat ride was fun and the snorkeling good. We drifted leisurely along the edge of the wall. There were many
fish and corals. The best part was the turtles. At one point, there were several
turtles feeding along the wall. I managed to get very close to one turtle and
was even able to touch it.
It was a long snorkel and so after lunch, we had a
sleep. I felt a little disoriented from
so many deep dives. We spent the afternoon doing nothing much but sitting and
chatting.
We met a local lady Mey, who had a bigger small boat for
snorkeling tours.
2 AUGUST 2018
A great night's sleep.
Started the day with a mountain bike ride around part of the
island. Even early in the morning it was very hot. I followed the road/path and
veered off on a number of very narrow dirt tracks through the jungle. The
people were friendly and I loved being back on a bike.
I got back just in time for breakfast with Jacinta. After
our stomachs had settled, we had a snorkel straight out in front of the hotel
and drifted along the drop off wall for an hour. There were heaps of fish,
coral, turtles and a few unidentified critters. The walk back was fun along the
path/road. We had to run from shade spot to shade spot as the bricks on the
road were so hot.
Back at the hotel just in time for a freshen up and lunch.
After an afternoon rest, Jacinta and I walked into the
village and sat down in front of one of the restaurants near the pier and had a
few beers while watching the world turn.
Back at the hotel we had dinner and then Thomas, Marian,
Jacinta and I walked towards the village and sat in the MC Bar. It was
basically an open walled hut with a bar in one corner on the beach. The local
guys entertained us with music and singing. We entertained them with our
dancing, music and singing. It was a fun night.
3 AUGUST 2018
My plan was a bike ride and a snorkel but I was feeling a
little ordinary so we hung around Jonath's, siad out goodbye's to Marian and
Thomas then boarded our boat (500 000R) for Manado.
.JPG)
No comments:
Post a Comment