Ha, and I thought last week was hot!

I thought it was hot last week! It must be over 100' here. We are at a diving resort on Bunaken Island Indonesia. A 3 1/2 hour flight from Singapore to the north east end of Indonesia. Tim did 6 dives on three trips out. He is amazed at the diversity of fish. He saw giant turtles flying through the water, one big fella sleeping on a shelf of a cliff( underwater of course)

I went snorkelling and I had a guide who was wonderful, pointing out clams, shrimp, lobster, sharks. NO! But the things that were on the bottom lying still I would not have seen. The fish were wonderful. Every colour under the sky. Every size. Beautiful coral. It was really terrific. One of the sites had a huge current. The tides. I didn't go in there. I was the only snorkeller and was intimidated by the tide current.. But the second location one of the boat guys came in with me and that was great. I feel like we are in the middle of nowhere but then we get to these dive sites and there are many boats. I was happy to have a guide, so I wouldn't get run over by another boat!

This place is on Bunaken Island of which most of the island is a national park. The town of Bunaken has a mosque for a very small community of Muslims, and has a very ornate Protestant church. They stand out on the shore when going by on a boat.

It is very distressing to see the litter in the ocean. Plastic plastic and more plastic. Actually it was funny (almost). When coming out of the harbour of Manado to get across to this island, the boat trip was interesting. First to get to the boat, we had to walk across three other boats. I could not have done this a few months ago. After four ins and outs of boats we finally got to the boat we were taking, we took off, and the driver had to gauge where there were lines under water, anchoring other boats tied up, and he would have to lift the propeller over the ropes. About four times. Then we set off and he stood at the back of the boat, looking over the roof of the cabin we were sitting in, going around big litter, standing there steering with his big toe!

All of a sudden the boat lurched to a stop, we were thrown around and he grabbed the handle to turn the motor off. Lifting the propeller, there was a huge plastic woven-like bag wrapped around the prop. So he untangles it AND THROWS IT BACK IN THE WATER! OY.

The resort is on a steep hill. After landing, with the boat getting to within a few feet of the beach, we jumped (me gazelle-like) in to the water and (again I would have had difficulty doing that a few months ago) we walked up steep stairs to our resort. I am a counter, and we were 52 BIG steps up to our cabin, and another 57 to the dining room area. A large space with a roof, open on the sides. With stairs like that you have to think carefully about what you want where, to not have to make a second trip!

Our cabin is like a little old Muskoka cottage. Very creaky wooden floor, bead board walls and ceiling, minimal lighting, single pane windows held open with rusty old hook and eye latches, but then a balcony looking over the ocean - 52 steps below!

The one drawback is the heat. There is air con but only from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. Nice to sleep by. But during the afternoon, with us getting the full afternoon sun, there is no relief. It is stinking hot. Today I lay on the bed, had a shower and lay there wet, thinking that might help. Nope, only if there is a breeze, or power for the fan. So as of 5:30 when the power comes on all is well.

On the other hand, after enduring the full afternoon sun, we have superb sunsets from the hammock on our deck.

The lounge area is with the dining space. We sit on cushions on the floor. Again I couldn't have done this a few months ago. I can now. It ain't pretty but it doesn't involve a crane to get me up off the floor.

The ocean was glassy water. Not a breeze. No lapping of waves on the shore. And all the boats there had 40 hp engines. It sounded like at the cottage. Not the sound of ocean boats, but small water craft on a small lake. It sounded very Muskoka. With our cabin seeming quite like 4 Oaks cedar lined cottage, it was nostalgic.

Our cabin in the jungle

Capt Tim heading for the deep sea.

Our resort, cabins up the hill to the common area on top of the hill.

 After the heat of the afternoon sun, we were treated to sunsets off our balcony.
Notice how still the ocean. One of the many volcanoes, off in the distance.
It is inactive. What you see are clouds!

Our deck. View out over the ocean. Notice the lovely bead board wood.

 Our boat trip out to the island. Manado, singularly ugly city in the background.
Very adept steering by our driver, until the prop wrapped around litter, and the motor lurched to a standstill. He almost fell out.

Back in Singapore now, back to heat but a BREEZE! Learning what is really important.