Mr. Toad's Wild Ride - We've arrived!!!

Trip Start Oct 30, 2008
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5
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Trip End Nov 15, 2008


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Flag of Indonesia  , Sulawesi,
Saturday, November 1, 2008

The flight was yet again uneventful and on time.  We flew Silk Air this time, which is the Asian branch of Singapore Airlines.  Still our new favorite airlines!  The flight was beautiful and gave us great views of Bunaken, which would be our primary island dive sites for the week.
Flight to Manado
Flight to Manado
 Flight to Manado
Flight to Manado
That's a volcano on the left, and Bunaken is on the right. Bunaken Island (on the right)
Bunaken Island (on the right)


How to describe the taxi ride from Manado to our remote location about an hour and a half away?  If anyone has ever been on the ride at Disneyland called Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, they will kind of understand what the car ride was like.  Craaaaaaaazy scary!  Andy had the honor of riding in the front seat and was certain he was going to witness death on the road first hand, if not his own.  Other than the numerous taxi's (some illuminated with tacky neon lights), most Manadoians got around by scooter or dirt bike.  And there are no traffic laws like speed limits or right of ways.  If there was an opportunity to make a turn or pass another, they went for it!  We've never heard so much use of a horn.  Pam kept her eyes either on our friend sitting next to her or just simply closed tight!  Miraculously, we made it to the Minahasa Resort (http://minahasalagoon.com/) without incident and were greeted by Pimm and served a wonderful fresh coconut punch still in the coconut.  To finally be here was quite a relief!  Tomorrow we dive!
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