Time to meet with Jeremy, across the street at Safari Tours & Travels my “go-to” tour operator who did such a fantastic job coordinating Sulawesi for us. … View image…

Decisions, decisions. Should we white water raft or visit the Tangkoko Nature Reserve to see the Black Crested Macaque and Tarsier Spectrum (the world’s smallest primate). A chance to see a Tarsier won out even though both of us chickens were a little nervous about jungle trekking. ex-Marine’s mantra is…snakes, damn it…snakes! We needed to take a good flashlight/torch, cameras, wear long pants, shirts and slather up with insect repellent. There are lots of “no see ums” in the forest, gooknownee, part of the mosquito family but not malarial. Met new guide Freddy, settled logistics and went off to do a few things since we didn’t have to leave for Tangkoko until noon..

Jeremy and Freddy, Safari Tours in Manado
A walk over to the 24-hour pharmacy, Kimia Farma for a needed prescription. …View image… HINT: You don’t need a Doctor’s prescription for medicine in Indonesia, Thailand or India. Go on the internet to get the generic names of your medication and take it to a reputable pharmacy. (I don’t have to tell you to stay away from the pharmacies that have medication sitting in the sun!) Extremely cheap compared to U.S. prices. At home, I recently refilled, paid $67 U.S. WITH INSURANCE. Sulawesi price? $15 U.S. for the same drug. Next trip to Asia, I’m filling prescriptions.

Kimia Farma Pharmacy, Manado
Freddy picked us up for the ride to Tangkoko. Stopped on the outskirts of Manado to see a big statue of Jesus Christ. Supposed to be second biggest in the world (Rio de Janeiro is first) with gorgeous, gated mega-mansions clustered almost at Jesus’ feet.

Jesus looking over Manado, North Sulawesi
Continued to a lunch stop where even the local police wanted to be in my video (below). Traffic is horrendous on even the “good” roads and when we turned off on the “bad road” leading into the park…well! It is a bumpy two-hour ride and Freddy would have to drive it returning, in the dark. Consolations? A vehicle in front of us with two old soldiers sitting stoically on chairs in the truck…

old soldiers never die… outside of Manado, Sulawesi
…and a wedding…with the bridal party standing outside a small house. …View image… They wanted us to join them but didn’t have time if we wanted to see the Tarsiers.

happy wedding party along the road into Tangkoko Nature Reserve, Sulawesi
Moving along here…