In this blog I return to the roots of how I began this whole thing. I started this blog as a means to get my groups excited about their upcoming adventure. Come next month I am leading a group to Indonesia to dive the waters of North Sulawesi, so I thought I would use my next few posts to give them a preview of what is to come.
Where in the World is Sulawesi?
Located between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, Indonesia can lay claim to fame, with over thirteen thousand islands, as the world’s largest island country. Some neighboring countries include Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. Among Indonesia’s many islands, you will find its third-largest island, Sulawesi, near the center of it all. It has been said that Sulawesi is shaped like a tropical orchid, with each peninsula being one of its petals. Sulawesi is formed by rigid volcanic mountains, covered with dense jungle, rice patties, lakes, and surrounded by magnificent coral reefs protecting its beaches.
What's So Special About North Sulawesi?
The lush northern region of Sulawesi is home to the friendly people of the Minahasa, Bolaang Mongondow, Gorontalo, and the Sangir-Talaud. The Minahasans are the primary group centered around the provincial capital of Manado. The entire northern area, however, has a strong tradition of trade and contact with the outside world. Just north of the mainland you will find the island of Sangir-Talaud. This island acts like a natural bridge with the Philippines, allowing for many influences of the Filipino culture, including political and religious structure. It was the Filipino influence that encouraged the locals to raise coconuts, nutmeg, copra, and cloves. Economic prosperity today from tourism and agriculture means that North Sulawesi is the most developed province on Sulawesi.
In Indonesia’s colonial days, the first European traders to come in contact with Sulawesi were the Spanish and Portuguese in the 16th century. Eventually, though, the Dutch followed and pushed out their predecessors, leaving a lasting impression on this region. A stronger influence in North Sulawesi than anywhere else in the country, the Dutch language is still spoken among the older generation, and well-to-do families often send their children to study in the Netherlands.
Remnants and monuments to World War II can be found on Sulawesi. With the war came Japanese occupation from 1942-1945. This time in history was a period of deprivation for the island. The Dutch gave up their control without a fight, dispelling any myths of their superiority. Initially welcomed to the island nation as "liberators" in most parts of Indonesia, the Japanese gradually established themselves as harsh overlords. In 1945, Manado was bombed heavily by the allies, driving out the Japanese forces.
During the war of independence against the returning Dutch that followed the departure of the Japanese, there was bitter division between pro-Indonesian Unitarians and those favoring Dutch-sponsored federalism. The appointment of a Manadonese Christian, Sam Ratulangi, as the first republican governor of eastern Indonesia was decisive in winning Minahasan support for the republic.
What More is to Come?
In my upcoming blogs, I will discuss the areas of North Sulawesi we plan to visit and dive, including the Bunaken National Marine Park, Bangka island, and Lembeh Strait, as well as our land adventures to Mahawu Volcano and the Tangkoko Nature Reserve.
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