Cheap or Demanding Holidays on Bunaken?
(Last Update: December 2012)
Deutsch
Bunaken - one of the best diving areas worldwide
I found my first information about North
Sulawesi and Bunaken with many useful tips in the year 2001 on the
Internet at North
Sulawesi Information Pages . By this I received
the impression that for my diving hobby Bunaken would be of one of the
most beautiful areas of the earth, particularly because of the enormous
variety of species of the sub-water world and of its intact reefs. See video on YouTube
Living as a backpacker on Bunaken For the first time after my student days I had once again plenty
of time at the disposal to allow myself a long journey. However such
a stay meant for me, that I couldn't make any great demands for reasons
of cost regarding accommodation, . I therefore decided to carry out my
snorkel or diving adventures on Bunaken as a "backpacker". After I had my "centre of life"
on the island at that time for almost 2 months, I had enthusiastically
returned home and could persuade my family to accompany me there
in the following year 2002. We spent altogether 5 months there -
mostly again in accommodations of the lower price range. Since then
I spent these kind of cheap diving holidays from 3 up to 6 months on Bunaken every
year. I have gained different experiences
in the Homestays on the island. Of course you cannot have any too
high expectations at a price range of 80.000 - 150.000
rupiah/per person/per night (at present approx. 6 - 11 € )
for accommodation and 3 meals . The price mostly includes coffee
and tea as much as you want. Moreover you can buy cold drinks. There
is also filled drinking water of the brand "AQUA" freely
available in some accommodations. The palatable local food is dominated
by rice, fish and vegetables and. With the meals you get - according
to the season- fresh bananas, papaya, pineapple and mangos. The
breakfast consists of various little cakes , baked in coconut fat
or pancake. You can even get toast with egg in some Homestays of Bunaken. You take a shower in North Sulawesi customarily by scooping
water with the ladle from a big tub and pouring over you. As a rule,
one also expects you not to use any toilet-paper but to master the Asian
technique of cleaning by "running" water. Within the last
few years one could watch that many Resorts with Indonesian owners on Bunaken adapted to
the habits of their guests in this respect, though.
More demanding Resorts on Bunaken
Then in the course of the years there opened new dive resorts with a higher-quality offer regarding lodging and service. With increasing age also our demands rose from year to year. We made the decision to shorten our vacation to be able to spend more money for cleanness, location, furnishings, service and ambience of our lodgings. More detailled you can find some differences between
cheap Homestays and more expensive diving centres on Bunaken on
this page.
Please!
If you want to pass a small comment
on this web site or if you like to write about own experiences,
then take a little time for my Guest
Book. You may help other travellers by this.
Pictures of Bunaken
With the following photos I would like to convey you an
impression of my experiences of the first years on Bunaken: |
|
This was my first accommodation on Bunaken in summer 2001: A modest cottage made of native wood, built
in a traditional way. There was no wardrobe. Therefore my double
bed and several nails on the wall served as a garderobe. I locked
in my values
into the suitcase.
|
|
|
|
There
was my own bath with toilet on the back of the Cottage. The
water came from the nearby well. Because of its proximity to
the sea it was a little salty, though. |
|
View from my balcony
in the direction of the sea. A mangrove zone which serves as protection
is in front of the sandy beach. A law takes care that it is not destroyed.
At every high tide plastic waste and driftwood were washed ashore.
So already early in the morning hard-working hands were engaged in
cleaning the sandy beach. Large wood trunks and joists were pushed
out into the sea again to "please" the neighbour already
a few hours later with that. All other things landed a couple of metres
behind my cottage
to be disposed by a big fire from time to time. This place was by the
way also excellently suitable for haircutting. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
No wardrobe was available
also in this hut of course. Therefore a couple of nails were
beaten into the wood walls and a clothesline put up again.
In the cottages there are mosquito nets. These are often
decorated, however, with more or less big holes. I recommend
you therefore to bring your own protection. When it rained intensely
occasionally (this happened very rare, though) , we had to
stay in a place in the cottage where it remained dry. Or to
call the owner. He then slid a piece of carton between
the "bricks" and the places in question were
repaired the next day. |
|
|
|
Also here
the customary bath. The broom with which one could clean the
floor daily was important. One had only to transport the dirt
through the door to outside with the help of water . This
was also done by the owner from time to time, though.
|
|
When our children had arrived,
the balcony was extended by a couple of reorganisation measures
without further ado. We could therefore take our meals also
with sixth in the family circle. On the right photo one can
recognize where the reef ends. Snorkelling is possible in
many places around the island. There are also homestays/resorts on Bunaken
with a wonderfull housereef. |
|
|
In this much visited diver Homestay with
German-speaking Padi-Instructor I lived in 2005 and 2006. Here you
can frequently meet other guests and the employees for playing
instruments and singing together in the beach bar after dinner. Who
has once celebrated these tropical parties will not forget his
experiences. Sample1. and Sample2. But if somebody lives in a cottage
directly nearby, however, he will often not be able to find any sleep
until midnight or furthermore. And as a participating diver you should
always pay attention, that you yourself and also the local dive guides do
not drink too much alcohol. Don't forget in these happy moments:
The next day you want to dive safely. It is also a matter of your
responsibility for other divers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|