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An undersea volcano & other adventures in Sangihe Islands
Sunset: People enjoy a sunset on Tidore Beach in Sangihe Islands regency
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Sunset: People enjoy a sunset on Tidore Beach in Sangihe Islands regency.
People sung and chanted 'Tumore Sangihe' in Tahuna, the capital of Sangihe Islands, North Sulawesi, at the launch of an event to commemorate the Sangihe Tourism Year.
The song, composed by Bernard T. Wahyu Wiryanta and Arfin Rizka, was also rendered by Monica Niken Wulandari at a ceremony marking the declaration by Sangihe Islands Regent Hironimus Rompas Makagansa of the tourism year, which has the theme 'To More Sangihe', or visit Sangihe.
'In the Sangir language it's Tumore Sangihe, but in order to enhance its tourist appeal, it's written English-style as 'To More' Sangihe ' to suggest 'a lot more visitors to Sangihe'', said Makagansa. 'With the Sangihe Tourism Year 2015 kickoff, this regency is ready to welcome domestic and foreign tourists.'
The Sangihe Islands regency administration has appointed nature documentary host Drucella Benala Dyahati as a tourism ambassador for Sangihe.
Sangihe Islands, formed from the merger of Sangihe and Talaud Islands in 2000, is a regency with diverse unique spots of natural charm. It also encompasses over 100 islets in the northernmost part of Indonesia, near the Philippines.
Undersea volcano: Divers explore an undersea volcano in Sangihe Islands regency. Courtesy of Drucella Benala Dyahati
With natural and marine beauty likened to the Fiji Islands of the South Pacific, Sangihe has been entered in the Tourism Destination Management Organization (DMO) list of the Tourism Ministry.
The decision to include Sangihe in the list followed a meeting between the Sangihe regency administration, the Tourism Ministry and the Foreign Ministry in Jakarta.
In this way, Sangihe will be on the central government's agenda so that tourism in the regency will make headway.
'Those who are fond of adventure will find Sangihe's natural scenery with its gorgeous hills. The call of adventure was already felt when I arrived at Naha Airport with Mount Awu in the background,' said Windy Ariestanty, the author of Life Traveler, who also attended the Tulude ritual.
'It takes an hour's flight from Manado to Sangihe Islands regency and around eight hours by ferry to enjoy its nature, culture and the hospitality of the Sangir community, who are mostly fishermen or farmers with cloves, nutmegs and coconuts as their prized commodities,' Windy said.
Vindhya B. Sabnani, manager of Trip Organizer in Jakarta and a diving hobbyist, referred to Sangihe as a place of maritime adventure. 'Among its marine attractions is the undersea volcano Mahengetang ' or Banua Wuhu as locals call it, which is a rare destination ' the only one in Indonesia.'
'The first thing we saw as we dove into Sangihe's waters were the rocks tapering upward from the bottom of the sea, emitting air bubbles from within the Mahengetang volcano, with a number of holes gushing warm water at about 30 degrees Celsius. It's fantastic,' Vindhya said.
'The other diving locations offer sea parks not inferior to Bunaken, with their coral reefs and colorful fish, as well as white sand beaches, such as those on Kahakitang Island, the Nusa Tabukan marine tourist spot and various islets in the Sangihe archipelago,' Vindhya said.
The ladies also enjoyed a Tahuna city tour, visiting its traditional market in the morning and fish market in the evening.
One Sangihe snack not to be missed is pisang goreng (fried bananas), which Windy and Vindhya said was delicious, unmatched in taste by similar dishes they had in other parts of the country.
While Minahasa, North Sulawesi, is famous for Lake Tondano, Sangihe boasts its own crater lake, Mount Awu. Tourists can climb the 1,320-meter-high mountain to relish the magnificent view.
As one of the 129 Indonesian volcanoes along the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, Mount Awu takes its name from the word for ash or residue in the Sangir tongue.
'Apart from mountaineering, tourists who like trekking are offered different tracks to hike across in Sangihe, one of which leads to Sura Kakewang waterfall in Kendahe district. Along the 2 kilometers from the parking lot to the waterfall, hikers can feast their eyes on a pristine forest with clear water streams untouched by anyone,' said Bernard T. Wahyu Wiryanta, a wildlife and travel photojournalist.
'If we wish to watch and listen to various songbirds, we can visit Tamako district, an ecotourism zone with six unique bird species endemic to Sangihe out of about 114 species. Bukide Island is the habitat of the maleo and Liang Island is home to the kumkum putih [imperial pigeon],' noted Bernard.
All smiles: Children pose for a photograph on Mount Pusung, with Mount Awu in the background. JP/P.J. Leo
'From the top of Pusunge Hill not far from Tahuna, we can view the city, located adjacent to Tahuna Bay,' Bernard said. 'At night, the adventure in Sangihe is more exciting, as we observe the sharp gaze of the tarsiers, tiny primates with very large eye.'
While there are other waterfalls in Sangihe, the islands are also known for Gua Burung Walet (Swallow Cave), the Tomb of King Bataha Santiago, the mansion of King Mokodompis and other artistic and cultural attractions.
