To Internet
café and Shopping Center of Manado
Since there was no conventional telephone network on Bunaken, we
had to go by boat to Manado at least once per week to receive or
send our e-mails in an Internet café.
Our standard route until 2004 went from the harbour to
the main street Jl. Sam Ratulangi in the centre. Within approx.
15 minutes we reached the department store "MATA HARI",
to be recognized easily by its size. Obliquely opposite the
post office was located. Since the new shopping centre "MEGA
MALL"was opened, the Mata Hari has lost its preferential
meaning, however.
There is the new Internet café GATAWAY since 2008. It is
50 m northeastern of MEGA MALL in a little minor road (N 1.48498
°, O 124.83489 °). The connection was very slow like everywhere
in Manado. But already something faster than in the previous years.
It could happen around the lunchtime that it got extremely slow.
Sometimes foreign web pages could not be reached any more at all.
One also should be never surprised when the internet connection
is broken completely on a day. The Dutch owner Rob is very helpful
and also puts a Wi-Fi connection for you here. It is a very pleasant
atmosphere there, quiet and primarily without computer playing teenagers
.
Hotels and Restaurants in Manado
Following the Jl. Sam Ratulang from the "Mata Hari" to
the south you get to the "VICTORY INN " . it is a reasonably
priced little hotel, just recently with a little Internet café.
It serves many newcomers as a good address to receive useful information
and is an alternative to the no longer quite so cheap "CELEBES"
directly at the harbour. It is often claimed there to the incoming
guest that the cheap rooms are already occupied. If we had to spend
a night in Manado this year we regularly spent it in the "MINAHASA
HOTEL"(picture on the left). The rooms are situated as single
buildings on a slop to the right and left of a stair and cost around
250,000 Rp.
Before 2008 we often dined at a reasonable price in the Chinese
restaurant "GREEN GARDEN" just besides the Victory Inn.
The menu was miscellaneous and the service very friendly. A friend
who lives in Manado then recommended us the RAJA SATE (N 1.482266
°, O 124.835169 °) last year. This restaurant was our favourite
haunt from then on. One can eat very well and good value for money
also in the La TERRACE (N 1.48764 °, O 124.83473 °). Moreover,
one has a lovely view over the sea from there (photo below)
Who is in the mood for a breakfast will find very delicious pastries
near the entrance of the MEGA MALL. One can watch the making behind
a glass plate and can hardly resist the smell arising in this process.
In the café BAMBU EXPRESS (the name could have changed by
now again, though) nearby at the ground floor you can sit down and
enjoy a good cappuccino then.
Many times we paid a visit to
the small restaurant "MM" nearby the harbour on our way
back. Stenly, the son of the owner operates a small computer shop
(open at 11 a.m.) at the same place. The extremely kind and helpful
man was always pleased about our visit and used to join us drinking
a bootle of "Bir Bintag". His nasi groreng and Bami goreng
can can be very much recommended . If you however desire for something
quite special once, then you should order "Sate " (marinated
meat on skewers , delicious cooked on the grill, with peanut sauce)....
on recommendation of Papa Klaus.
Pictures of Manado
With the following photos I would like to convey
you an impression of my experiences of the last years on Bunaken:
|