Sulawesi Voyage Tips and guide

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Sulawesi (formerly Celebes) is one of the main islands of Indonesia, and the eleventh largest island in the world. With four spindly arms spinning outward, Sulawesi's spidery shape is easily recognizable.

This enormous island has much to offer the visitor from extraordinary unique cultures, to an under-explored mountainous hinterland, and several truly world class diving spots.

• -5.133056119.4136111 Makassar (Ujung Pandang) — capital of the South and Sulawesi's largest city
• 1.447222125.1977782 Bitung — main port town in the north which is the gateway to excellent diving spots
• 0.542222123.0613893 Gorontalo — capital of Gorontalo province, an incredible marine tourism city.
• 1.493056124.8412614 Manado — capital of the north and the gateway to Bunaken
• -0.895119.8594445 Palu — capital of the Central Sulawesi
• -2.678611118.8933336 Mamuju — capital of the West Sulawesi
• -3.9675122.5947227 Kendari — capital of the South East Sulawesi
• -2.969119.98 Rantepao — gateway town to Tanah Toraja
• 1.324421124.822549 Tomohon — cool, fresh town in the northern highlands
• -1.782222120.64944410 Tentena — pleasant little lake-side transit town on the way to Ampana

• 1.792967125.1504191 Bangka — island group in the north with world-class diving
• 0.560556123.682 Bogani Nani Wartabone National Park — forest park in the north near Gorontalo which is home to tarsiers and much other wildlife
• 1.622986124.7652423 Bunaken — marine park with some of the world's best diving
• -1.23119.854 Lore Lindu National Park — important forested national park in the central highlands which is home to some 77 endemic bird species and some remarkable megaliths
• -3.166667119.755 Tana Toraja — highlands famed for their elaborate burial rites
• 1.518056125.1861116 Tangkoko Nature Reserve — home of the tarsier, the world's smallest primate
• -0.3333331227 Togian Islands — diving destination way off the beaten track
• -5.31934123.59488 Wakatobi — a marine national park, yet more world-class diving

From the point of view of biodiversity, Sulawesi is part of Wallacea, a transitional ecosystem between the East Asian and Australasian ones, identified by both the WWF and Conservation International as a global conservation priority area. The name commemorates the naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace, who travelled through the Malay Archipelago from 1854 to 1862, age 31 to 39, setting up bases on Makassar and Manado, to collect specimens for sale and to study natural history. He noted the differences in mammal and bird fauna between the islands either side of the now-called "Wallace line". West of it, Sumatra, Java, Bali, and Borneo share a mammal fauna similar to that of East Asia, including tigers, rhinoceros, and apes, whereas those from Lombok and eastward are mostly populated by marsupials and birds similar to those in Australasia. Sulawesi shows signs of both.

Human beings have been living in Sulawesi for at least 39,900 years, as archeologists determined in 2014 that a hand stencil painted in Leang-Leang cave in Southern Sulawesi dates to at least 39,900 years ago. The island almost certainly formed part of the land bridge used for the settlement of Australia and New Guinea.

In Central Sulawesi there are over 400 granite megaliths, which various archaeological studies have dated to be from 3000 BC to 1300 AD.

The first Europeans to visit the island were Portuguese sailors in 1525, sent from the Moluccas in search of gold. The Dutch arrived in 1605 and were quickly followed by the English, who established a factory in Makassar. In 1905 the entire island became part of the Dutch state colony of the Netherlands East Indies until Japanese occupation in World War II. Following the transfer of sovereignty in December 1949, Sulawesi became part of the federal United States of Indonesia, which in 1950 became absorbed into the unitary Republic of Indonesia.

Sulawesi's tough terrain, massive size (174,600 km²) and great marine traditions, have combined to cause a wildly divergent set of peoples and cultures, speaking eight major languages and professing Muslim, Christian, Hindu and animist beliefs (not to mention various mixes thereof).

Islam is the majority religion in Sulawesi. The conversion of the lowlands of the south western peninsula in South Sulawesi to Islam occurred in the early 17th century. Most Sulawesi Muslims are Sunnis.

Christians form a substantial minority of about 19% on the island. Christians are concentrated on the tip of the northern peninsula around the city of Manado and around Poso in Central Sulawesi. The famous Toraja people of Tana Toraja in Central Sulawesi have largely converted to Christianity since Indonesian independence.

Though most people identify themselves as Muslims or Christians, they often subscribe to local beliefs and deities as well. It is not uncommon for Christians to make offerings to local gods, goddesses, and spirits.

Sulawesi has been plagued by Muslim-Christian violence. The most serious violence occurred between 1999 and 2001 on the once peaceful island, with heavy involvement of Islamist militias such as Laskar Jihad. Over 1,000 people were killed in violence, riots, and ethnic cleansing that ripped through Central Sulawesi. In 2003, 13 Christian villagers were killed in the Poso District by unknown masked gunmen. And in 2005 three Christian schoolgirls were beheaded in Poso by Islamic militants. Riots erupted again in September 2006 in Christian-dominated areas of Central Sulawesi. In 2017, militant Islamic guerrillas are no longer a problem, as the head of the guerrillas was shot dead in 2016 and the rest of the group number no more than 10. As a result, people no longer fear or support them.

Sulawesi's main port of entry is Makassar's Sultan Hasanuddin Airport (UPG ^IATA), which has frequent flights throughout the archipelago. Manado's airport (MDC ^IATA) acts as a secondary hub, with some interesting connections eastward to Halmahera and Papua. Both airports are international airports with visa-on-arrival facilities, with international flights to Kuala Lumpur from Makassar, and to Singapore from both airports.

Other airports with direct flights from Jakarta include those of Kendari, Gorontalo, and Palu.

The sheer size of Sulawesi and the poor state of its roads make plane the transportation method of choice. Flights radiate out from Makassar and Manado to all points on the island.

The Trans-Sulawesi Highway stretches about 2,000 km from Makassar to Manado. Despite the grandiose name, the road is narrow and twisty and can be dangerous for drivers who are unfamiliar with the territory.

The area around Tana Toraja is a fascinating one and well worth a visit. The Torajans are Christians but still maintain strong connections to their Indigenous culture and religion. Locals welcome visitors to take part in their elaborate funeral ceremonies which are interesting but involve animal sacrifices and are not for the squeamish.

Ikat weaving is Sulawesi's best-known craft, with different styles all around the island.

Sulawesi cuisine is quite varied, but the best-known is Manadonese cuisine from the north, an interesting mix of Dutch influences, incredibly spicy chillies and unorthodox ingredients like bat and dog.

Previously there were riots with bombing and guns in Poso area, Central Sulawesi. Tension also happened in Southern Sulawesi and South East Sulawesi, but with no violence. Northern Sulawesi is generally calm. After some years battling the insurgency group in the jungle of Poso area, the head of insurgency group, Santoso (Abu Wardah) was shot in July 2016. There is no more violence in Sulawesi; nowadays all of it is safe. But awareness is still needed in the Poso area, because about 5 insurgents are still alive, although not active anymore.

• To the west, Borneo.
• To the north, Philippines.
• To the east, Maluku Islands.
• To the south, Nusa Tenggara.