Indonesia: Sulawesi - July 2010

Travel to Sulawesi, also known as Celebes Island. Diving Bangka and Lembeh (northeast). Visit the Toraja country around Rantepao (southwest).

At the Rantepao market

I like hanging out in Asian markets. During my stay in Sulawesi (Indonesia), last summer, I went for a ride in that of Rantepao, in the heart of Toraja country. Here are some pictures of atmosphere ...

Mola mola-. Bangka Island, Sulawesi, Indonesia. July 2010.

The agony of the mola-mola

It's just a fish, I know. No misery moved. Still, it's sad to see, a mola-mola in agony ...

We must start when we see his flamboyant dress orange and blue patterns, because the second after, it has disappeared into the depths of the coral substrate. (Pulau Bangka, Sulawesi, Indonesia, July 2010)

A mandarin at dusk

The flamboyant little mandarin-fish does not dare to come out of his coral den until dusk. I found it in Bangka (Sulawesi, Indonesia).

Underwater Tour Above the Reefs of Bangka Island

Indonesia, sea of Celebes. Under the surface, life abounds! The proof in pictures, with this small underwater video, made around the island of Bangka, in the north of Sulawesi.

Funeral ceremony in Bori. Toraja Country, Sulawesi, July 2010.

Funeral Toraja: the video

I bring you back to Toraja Country, Sulawesi (Indonesia). After the photos of the traditional funeral ceremony I attended, in the village of Bori, here is a small video that gives a good idea of the atmosphere.

Nudibranch. Sulawesi, Indonesia. July 2010.

Nudibranchs forever

It is one of the treasures of the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, to discover underwater. The delicate beauty of nudibranchs, these small sea slugs with shimmering colors, is a delight!

Kids scooter on the road in front of me. (Toraja Country, Sulawesi, Indonesia, July 2010)

Scooter in the rice fields

Batutumonga. This strange and beautiful name is synonymous for me, a fantastic scooter ride in the heart of Toraja Country, in central Sulawesi. Rice fields sublime ... but rotten roads! I almost stayed in the mountains sleeping because of a flat tire.

Toadfish (antennal). Lembeh, Sulawesi, Indonesia. July 2010.

The mini-monsters of Lembeh

Open your eyes: in the Lembeh Strait in Sulawesi (Indonesia), strange creatures populate the seabed. A treasure of biodiversity, which attracts divers from all over the world.

Hairy frogfish. Lembeh, Sulawesi, Indonesia. July 2010.

Hairy frog fish in Lembeh

Here is a pretty "hairy frogfish" photographed in Lembeh to wait for the next ticket.

Rice granaries, with the roof "tongkonan", typical of the country Toraja. Sulawesi, July 2010.

Tana Toraja, I'm back

Rantepao, finally! Ideal base for shining in the villages and rice paddies of the country Toraja, called here Tana Toraja. We are almost in the center of the island of Sulawesi.

The terminal of the company Litha, in Makassar, from where the buses leave for the country Toraja.

Night bus

The country Toraja, it deserves! From Manado (North Sulawesi), you must first reach Makassar to the south, an hour and a half by plane. Then it's 8 to 10 hours bus ride to Rantepao.

Ornate ghost fish. (Sulawesi, Indonesia, July 2010)

The small critters of the reef

In Indonesia, the word "biodiversity" makes sense. Here in the Sea of Celebes, the underwater world teems with bizarre and fascinating creatures, often tiny.