Sulawesi Island, Indonesia

Where else can you find as many amazing places as in Indonesia? Sulawesi Island is one of them. The traditional European name is Celebes. Even from a bird's eye view, it attracts attention with its unusual shape, similar to a blossoming flower. The island is a place of constant pilgrimage for tourists from all over the world, who are attracted by the beauty of nature and the virginity of these places.

Start your acquaintance with Sulawesi in the southern part – in Mascar. This city is filled with Dutch-style architectural creations from the colonial era. A must-see is the Tomb of the Govan Kings, Fort Rotterdam and several local markets to shop for souvenirs for the whole family. It is best to buy batik, wooden tableware and jewelry. Watch carefully so that you do not slip a fake, and also bargain, discount the price to the maximum.

The island of Sulawesi is famous for the fact that many interesting breeds of wild animals live on its territory, which are almost impossible to find elsewhere. For example, babirussa, a kind of fusion of deer and wild boar, can be found here. The same is true for golden snakes, weed chickens, Kuhl's deer and many other animals. In Sulawesi, you will get the opportunity to observe them in the wild. Scientists believe that most of these rare animals will soon become extinct, although they are not attacked by humans. Therefore, now you have a rare chance that tomorrow may already disappear. For tourists, the Lore Lindou Natural Park is constantly open, which includes several large valleys and a large lake at once. But the main feature of these places is that you can quite calmly meet a wild animal right while walking around the island.

If you can boast of strong nerves, then be sure to go and see the local cemetery. The fact is that tribes live on the island of Sulawesi who bury the dead at the foot of the rocks in special boats. Of course, this tradition has long faded away, although in the depths of the island there may be fans of this method of burial. You will also be offered to inspect one of the old cemeteries. There is a whole area on the island where they are very densely located. It is quite dangerous to walk along the slopes of the mountains – you can stumble upon such a sacred place and inadvertently discredit yourself, as well as harm your own psyche, this is not Yogyakarta, where all the sights are guarded.

For diving fans, Sulawesi is a real paradise. The magnificent, surprisingly clear water, coupled with picturesque coral reefs and coastal cliffs, among which representatives of the marine fauna are hidden, will delight any diver. At one time, the island's government strictly prohibited fishing near the coast, which helped the local inhabitants of the deep sea to breed. That is why now the underwater fauna is much superior to the terrestrial one in its diversity. Also, you will definitely like the rocks, which can be completely different – sheer and straight or bizarre in shape. The best places for diving are considered to be Bunaken and Manado-Tua.

In local restaurants, you will definitely be offered traditional dishes from local pork, despite the fact that Islam is considered the official religion. Naturally, local chefs have their own inimitable set of spices, which give the dish a unique flavor. You should definitely try the local delicacies, because they were invented by the locals, the fruit of a long search and experimentation. In short, to complete the immersion in the local world, you need to take in a small part of it. Previously, no one wrote about accidents, poisoning and other troubles associated with local food, so you can treat yourself in peace.