Manado, The Capital Of The Province

There is a province of Indonesia in the northern part of Sulawesi famous with the name “The Land of Waving Coconut”. It is North Sulawesi. Well, the capital of this province is Manado. Geographically, The city of Manado is situated by the gulf of Manado. So, yes it is by the sea. The gulf of Manado is on the west side of the city. However, there are several high mountains and volcanoes surround the city.

Manado has already been famous to Europeans from long time ago. It is written that in 1623 the European people came to Manado. Very well, we know that this was the Age of Discovery Period. Here, the Spaniard and the Portuguese were the first European to land on this city. Afterwards, came the Dutch and English. Along with the Dutch, came also missionary from german speaking country to spread Christianity on the land. Thus, christianity become the majority of the religion of the local people nowadays.

Now then according to the history, Manado wasn’t the first name of the city. Manado was named later. Even, the cartographer Nicolas Des Liens placed Manado at an island on the world map in the 1500. Some people say that the first name of Manado was Wenang. Other people say, it was called Pogidon. Both names were old names of the city. Why so? Well, Wenang was the name of Manado from the downtown to southward. While Pogidon was the northern region of the city.

As the capital, Manado is one beautiful city in North Sulawesi. The people are friendly and the city has many modern facilities. The food is one of the most delicious among Indonesian people too. As many other capitals of Indonesian province, Manado is a place where many ethnic groups meet and mingle.

Following are several places of interest in Manado.

• Ban Hing Kiong Temple
• Taman Kesatuan Bangsa
• Museum Negeri Provinsi Sulawesi Utara
• Oude Kirk and Second Word War Monument
• Jesus Blessing Monument
• Malalayang Beach
• Kawasan Megamas

Minahasa Land

Minahasa land is the name of the region that locates on the northern part of Sulawesi Island. Well, Manado is part of it. Now, suppose that you are in Manado. And, you can see the mountainous region. That is called the Minahasa Highlands.

Different from Manado, Minahasa highlands are full with many beautiful villages and small towns. There live the people of Minahasa peacefully. They enjoy the beautiful nature that surround them. Even then, this beautiful nature become attraction among other Indonesian people.

Here, we call it highlands. But as a matter of fact, the highest point of the land is not even 2,000 meter from sea level. It is the the top of Mt. Soputan. Most regions range around 600 to 750 meter from sea level. However, this is the peculiarity of the highlands.

Long ago, this highland was part of a super-volcano. Later after the super volcano erupted, it created big lake and new vents, which are the volcanoes. Nowadays, there are three volcanoes on this highlands. They are Mt. Soputan, Mt. Lokon and Mt. Mahawu. The last two volcanoes are visible from Manado. As they are around Minahasa and Tomohon region.

Having volcanoes and lakes that were the result of volcanic eruption, this highlands is extremely fertile. Thus, the people who inhibit the highlands live from agriculture. Some people plant rice paddy around the lake, some other plant vegetables while other live from clove plantation. Well being volcanic, the highlands also have many spring with hot water. Most of the spring were result of the volcanic activity.

The places of interest in Minahasa Highlands are following:

• Bukit Doa Mahawu
• Pagoda Ekayana
• Traditional Wooden House Industry
• Pasar Beriman Tomohon
• Lake Linow
• Lake Tondano
• Batu Pinabetengan

The Culture of Minahasa People

The ethnic group of people remains in this land call themselves as people of Minahasa. Legend says their ancestor came from the north as far as Mongolia. Now, people of Minahasa divide themselves into nine groups. They are Tonsea, Tombulu, Tontemboan, Tolour, Tonsawang, Pasan, Ponosakan, Babontehu and Bantik.

It was believed that people of Minahasa almost never had any kingdom. They always live in groups according to the division. However, one group of Minahasa people called Babontehu was a kingdom in the past. History said that this kingdom was called the Kingdom of Manado. And, it supposed as the result of the Spaniard. Due to the title of the king was called Mestizo. However, the in-lander of Minahasa people was never so.

As an ethnic group, Minahasa people certainly has unique culture. And although the people live in groups, but the pattern of the culture is similar to one and the other. Nevertheless, each group of people speaks a dialect that different from the other. The dialects are so unique that people can distinguish them as different language, instead of mere dialect.

Well, the culture of people in the Minahasa land are visible in dances, folklore, folk songs, traditional costumes, languages and dialects and many more. Also, the people of Minahasa lands live in strict tradition. Nonetheless, sometimes the strictness of the tradition is not being spoken or shown.

Following are products of culture related to people who live in Minahasa land:

• Kolintang
• Maengket
• Mahzani
• Mapalus
• Kain Tenun Bentenan