Bunaken Cha cha resort

Kungkungan Bay Resort to Bunaken Cha Cha and Back in exactly 24 hours. You wouldn’t believe the mission.

In the morning we were taken on a market tour and school tour with one of the ladies from the KBR (Kungkungan Bay Resort), nutty that she was we saw a lot of things you wouldn’t normally get a chance to see if you just stayed on resort. For those who are interested, and have a strong stomach there are some pictures of a certain mans best friend, which appears to be food in this country. The fish market was great, all the local fisherman go out on a 12 hour shift at 6.00pm and arrive back in port in the morning with whatever they caught and trust me they caught a lot.

The primary school we visited seemed a little military but you can see where the Indonesians get their discipline from. Very strict, I think we might have got some of them in trouble for not facing the front, they were much more interested in the two white men who had come to visit. Tourists don’t often visit, which in my mind just isn’t good enough, don’t come to these countries and not experience the local life, you will just be visiting a resort and you might as well stick to the package holidays and save yourself the flight time.

After KBR have seen us off we are off to Bunaken Cha Cha ( BCC ) the notes that follow were made on the following morning and I make no excuses for not editing them, I refuse to re-write a review of the place.

Drive to Bintang - Change money and Apoteka, funny how some of the latin still makes it through to these far off cultures.

Arrive Manado Port

Boat waiting.... wooden, tidy, not what we expected perhaps.

I was in the mood for a bit of adventure, Tom wasn’t too sure about putting customers on a boat like this, but this is Ultimate Diving, only for the adventurous though.

Wet landing at Bunaken Cha Cha, easy peasy and the resort looks beautiful, set in a forrest of Palm Trees. Having some difficulty focussing on the direction of conversation already and feeling a little lost.

Random is the word that sums it up so far. Not too sure what the pitch is here.

Arrived to coconut drinks on a veranda which is a fantastic view of the bay. 2 3/4 hours of conversation in a montage leads us to start to question where we are and why there are currently no guests.

For paradise, which ultimately is what you find when you visit BCC there seems to be some trouble that we cant quite put our finger on, the staff don’t seem as happy as the other resorts we have visited though the facade is as good if not better than the other resorts we have visited, as you scratch the surface you find irritations that not even Toms wonderful Tiger Balm will stop you wanting to itch.

There is something about travelling to these places and diving that involves trust, consistency, professionalism all of which are detached from the resort, it's staff and it's sustenance. It is the brand leader which drives the customer experience overall and what we have ended up with is the perfect location, which is being spoilt, not from lack of effort from staff, not from poor food, certainly not from lack of quality, this is the one resort on Bunaken island which has HOT water. But it isn’t a place we want to stay, we don’t want to dive here, we don’t want to send customers here.

Under new management, this place would be a diamond site for those willing to take that extra step. Well worth the visit and a jumping board to some of the amazing dive sites of Bunaken National Park. In its current state I wouldn’t recommend it. Any PADI qualified Diving Instructor willing to confess to putting divers through a difficult dive swimming into current because they kept him up the night before, is not somewhere we would ever want to send customers to and certainly not someone I want to dive with. My foot is firmly down on that one.

First thing in the morning we are busting a groove. Toms left his mask at KBR so we will head back that way and try to get over to Gangga Island, let’s find the normality of Indonesia we have come to expect, happy staff, safe diving and less of the "let me tell you why"

That sums it up…. No more needs to be said about BCC. Good bye and good luck.

LIDS 2008 Special - Bunaken Cha Cha

LIDS 2008 Special - Bunaken Cha Cha

Check out this great deal for Bunaken Cha Cha Resort for LIDS 2008:

Situated on Bunaken Island, the most popular of the five islands that comprise the world famous Bunaken National Marine Park, this relaxing and unpretentious dive resort is ideally located if you want to stay right in Manado's premiere diving destination.

LIDS Offer: 20% off packages in May and June 08




E.G. 8 Days 7 Nights with 12 dives:
Superior AC Cottage. Price was US$ 1080 NOW US$ 871
Superior Cottage non AC was US$ 975 NOW US$ 787
Standard Cottage was US$ 835 NOW US$ 675

More Information on the resort:

For bookings, please contact , or call our PADI 5 Star Dive Centre in

Bunaken and Lembeh Island

Equipment: Due to luggage constraints I left the 5D behind and used 2 40D bodies with my Subal housing. Lenses Canon 60mm EFS, Sigma 10-20 and for the first time Sigma 10mm fisheye. I love the FF Sigma 15mm fisheye so I thought I would try its new brother. It did not disappoint - very sharp in the corners at all apertures I used. Also slightly less fishy making it great for topside and split shots.

The trip: Tailored to family diving vacation ( two adults and two teenagers )and organised by Jeremy Barnes from Safari Tours and Travel in Manado - very highly recommended. Everything went very smoothly.

Accomodation: Bunaken- Cha Cha resort. Simple but very comfortable with fantastic atmosphere. Our kind of holiday. Kids loved the dogs and the jungle and mangrove exploration. Diving very well organised and very relaxed. Some serious current on a few occasions but all part of the fun. Owner Raf is a hoot and goes the extra mile for you.
Lembeh- Kasawari Lembeh Resort. Beautiful classy resort. Amazing diving set up with best UW camera room I have ever seen. Expensive but worth it. First time to dive in Lembeh for me and it certainly lived up to its reputation.

Bunaken Cha cha Fried Rice (Testimonial)

My husband and I had this fried rice for lunch when we stayed at Bunaken Cha Cha, a nice relax resort in North Sulawesi. As usual, I would ask the recipe where possible since it would be a nice alternative to the fried rice with sweet soy sauce that I usually make.

When you see the colour of the fried rice, it is with fresh green tinge. Also, the base ingredients are very simple but oh my.... it's like you want more and more. Good thing, the chef is not stingy to share his precious recipe. Thanks, Rinto.


Editing note: I made this fried rice again today (20/7/08) and used more vegetables and had to add more chicken stock and a dash of salt. Otherwise, the taste would be a slightly bland.


Ingredients:
This ingredients have been modified just slightly according to the stock in my pantry.

Rice: 360 mL uncooked rice; cook according to the instructions on the packet but with slightly less water. Cool the rice. (original - 2 bowls of cooked rice)

Scrabled egg: 5 eggs + a dash of white pepper + a pinch of nutmeg + a pinch salt, cook to soft scrambled egg. Put aside. (original - 2 eggs)

1 Tbsp sesame oil
(original - use 2 spring onion but i didn't use)
4 tsp mince Spanish onion (original - 4 shallots)
4 tsp mince garlic (original - 4 garlic)
4 pieces rindless short bacon, cut finely (original - use 2 streaky bacon)
16 stalks baby choy sun, mince finely (original - use 2 stalks choy sun)
3 tsp chicken stock powder, Massel (original - use 2-3 Knorr chicken blocks)



Directions:
(Saute spring onion for 1-2 minutes)

Saute onion and garlic with sesame oil until the garlic is slightly brown. Add bacon and cook until fragrant.

Add rice and buck choy, stir. Then, add chicken stock powder and egg. Stir until well mixed.

Serve warm.



This is the fried rice that I had for my lunch in Bunaken.

Bunaken cha cha Snorkeling

Bunaken is part of the Bunaken National Marine Park, which has some of the highest levels of marine biodiversity in the world.[citation needed] Scuba diving attracts many visitors to the island. Bunaken is located at the north of the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. It belongs administratively to the municipality of Manado.

The Bunaken National Marine Park was formally established in 1991 and is among the first of Indonesia's growing system of marine parks. The park covers a total surface area of 890.65 km², 97% of which is overlain by sparkling clear, warm tropical water. The remaining 3% of the park is terrestrial, including the five islands of Bunaken, Manado Tua, Mantehage, Nain and Siladen. Although each of these islands has a special character, it is the aquatic ecosystem that attracts most naturalists.

The waters of Bunaken National Marine Park are extremely deep (1566 m in Manado Bay), clear (up to 35-40 m visibility), refreshing in temperature (27 to 29 °C) Pick any of group of interest - corals, fish, echinoderms or sponges - and the number of families, genera or species is bound to be astonishingly high. For example, 7 of the 8 species of giant clams that occur in the world, occur in Bunaken. The park has around 70 genera of corals; compare this to a mere 10 in Hawaii. Although the exact number of fish species is unknown, it may be slightly higher than in the Philippines, where 2,500 species, or nearly 70% of all fish species known to the Indo-western Pacific, are found.Oceanic currents may explain, in part, why Bunaken National Marine Park is such a treasure trove of biodiversity. Northeasternly currents generally sweep through the park but abundant counter currents and gyros related to lunar cycles are believed to be a trap for free swimming larvae. This is particularly true on the south side of the crescent-shaped Bunaken Island, lying in the heart of the park. A snorkler or diver in the vicinity of Lekuan or Fukui may spot over 33 species of butterfly fish and numerous types of groupers, damsels, wrasses and gobies. The gobies, smallish fish with bulging eyes and modified fins that allow them to attach to hard surfaces, are the most diverse but least known group of fish in the park.

Biologists believe that the abundance of hard corals is crucial in maintaining the high levels of diversity in the park. Hard corals are the architects of the reefs, without them, numerous marine organisms would be homeless and hungry. Many species of fish are closely associated with particular types of corals (folious, branching, massives, etc.) for shelter and egg-laying. Others, like the enormous Bumphead Parrotfish, Balbometopon muricatum, are "coralivores" and depend on hard corals for their sustenance. Bony mouth parts fused into an impressive "beak" allow these gregarious fish to crunch corals like roasted peanuts.

Some 20,000 people live on the natural resources of Bunaken National Marine Park. Although there are inevitable conflicts between resource protection and use by people, the Indonesian government is taking a fairly unusual and pragmatic approach to park management. The idea is to promote wise resource use while preventing overexploitation. Local communities, government officials, dive resort operators, local nature groups, tourists and scientists have played an active role in developing exclusive zones for diving, wood collection, fishing and other forms of utilization. Bunaken Marine Park has become an important example of how Sulawesi, and the rest of Indonesia, can work to protect its natural resources.

Snorkeling Areas
What else can be the best areas for Snorkeling other than the reefs!
And Bunaken Island is Surrounded by reefs that are more or less easily accessible from the beaches.
At Bunaken Cha Cha we have our own "House Reef" just meters away, in front of our private 60 meter wide beach, we also provide a snorkeling pontoon, a pontoon that floats atop of the reef so that should you get a little tired you can have a rest on it without having to come back to the beach, a good place to get a close up view of dolphins passing by, and then........time for a bit more snorkeling.

Cha Cha "House Reef" is home to 100s of different hard and soft corals and 100s of different types of reef fish not to mention all the other marine creatures such as nudibranchs, shrimps, crabs, sea cucumbers etc.
Looking for bigger fish? move slightly away from the Reef Top and you come to "The Wall", a virtual drop off and here you have the opportunity to see barracudas, tunas, eagle rays, turtles, schooling spanish mackerel , white and black tip reef sharks and of course there are also some surprises
from time to time such as Dugongs.

Need a change of Snorkeling Scenery?
Why not join one of our dive boats for a 4 hour morning snorkeling trip, here you will have the opportunity of viewing the islands around the park, maybe even dolphin watching while we transfer you to two different snorkeling spots, many times giving you the possibility of experiencing snorkeling at other islands within the Park.

You want flexibility?
You can charter one of our Snorkeling boats for 4 hours with a capacity of 6 guests, our snorkeling boat allows you the flexibility to try even more snorkeling points and not have to share a boat with divers.

Don't worry about the Equipment
Bunaken Cha Cha has all the equipment required for snorkeling, thus should you not bring your own you can easily hire it from us.
Masks, snorkel, booties, fins, wet-suits and even life vests or buoyancy aids.

Snorkeling tips
*SNORKEL & MASK

Choose a snorkel that fits easily in to your mouth, and a mask that fits snugly.
Test this by putting it to your face without using the strap and breathe in through the nose. If it fits properly it will not fall off, even when you lean forward.

*FINS

Choose a pair of booties & fins that fit your feet comfortably.


*T-SHIRTS/RASH GUARD/WET-SUIT

Wear a t-shirt/rash guard or wet-suit to protect yourself from the sun and a waterproof sunscreen on exposed areas of your skin such as the neck and the back of your knees.

Ask a member of staff for our "Snorkeling at Cha Cha Guidelines", indispensable information related to sites, how to enter and exit the water without damaging the fragile corals and more tips and tricks to help you enjoy and be more comfortable.

We require all snorkelers to wear booties and use fins, booties will make walking to the snorkeling point more comfortable and fins will help you swim should there be any currents.

And finally, do not walk or step on the corals, they are not stones they are alive and take seconds to damage but many many years to recover.
Be a conscientious Snorkeler.