Taking Local Transport to Bitung
I headed from Manado to the local terminal to catch a bus to Bitung! I decided to rely entirely on local public transportation for this leg of the journey.
- Long-Distance Bus: It covered a good 24 to 25 kilometers, and the fare was only 20,000 Rupiah (about 200 JPY). Being able to travel that distance for so cheap was a huge help.
- Shared Taxi (Mikrolet): The bus dropped me off in a slightly inconvenient spot about 5 kilometers away from the town center, so I hopped on a blue shared bus. This only cost 7,000 Rupiah (about 70 JPY) and got me safely to the center.
The town of Bitung is spread out horizontally, and it was much larger, livelier, and more attractive than I had imagined.
For lunch, I went to a food stall right in front of my hotel. I had a fun time communicating with the local staff and residents, even though neither of us really understood what the other was saying!
Mount Tangkoko and a Friendly Fishing Village
While walking around the town, I noticed a large mountain within a 10-kilometer radius.
This is Mount Tangkoko, an active volcano located about 10.3 kilometers away. It's the main sightseeing spot in the area, and I'd love to visit if I have the time.
Later, I walked east and stumbled upon a local fishing village. I took some photos and interacted with the villagers. Everyone was incredibly friendly, positive, and genuinely kind.
The Town of Skipjack Tuna and "Tongkol"
Bitung is famously known as the "Town of Skipjack Tuna". You can see monuments of tuna and skipjack scattered all over the town.
At the fishing village, the locals kindly showed me their fresh catch of the day.
- Tongkol: A small tuna/mackerel-type fish measuring about 40 centimeters.
- Local Life: I learned that the fishermen go out to sea every single morning. Tongkol is a staple ingredient frequently used in local home cooking.
Exquisite Seafood and a Sleepless Night
For dinner, I headed back to the stall in front of my hotel to enjoy some local fish dishes. The area was bustling with energy, and the fish was unbelievably delicious!
However, getting to sleep proved to be a bit of a challenge. Since it was a Friday or Saturday night, a nearby club was blasting music. The bass was so loud that my hotel room felt like the inside of a live concert venue! I suppose that's just part of the authentic, vibrant weekend experience in Southeast Asia.
