Indonesia
Who: Peggy Wagner of Littleton
Where: Lamanggau, a small fishing village on the island of Onemoba, Southeastern Sulawesi. Children were playing in the schoolyard. They loved to have their picture taken and then have you show it to them on the digital camera. Lamanggau was a short walk from the Wakatobi Resort where we were scuba diving.
Best meal: Most of the small, local restaurants in Ubud, Bali, serve very good Indonesian meals for a very economical price ($5-$12), including dessert and a glass of wine. The Dirty Duck and Café Pesto were two of the favorites.
Best deal: Relaxing massage at the Verona Spa for $6 an hour in Ubud, and the batik clothing in Ubud. Ubud is the cultural and artisan center of Bali and has very good shopping. Internet access is inexpensive, usually around 2 cents per minute and very accessible. The Balinese expect you to barter, so sharpen your skills but don’t be too aggressive; be polite.
Best time to go: The weather and scuba diving in Wakatobi were perfect in September. Being very close to the equator, the weather is fairly even throughout the year with two seasons, wet and dry. The best time to go is the dry season, between May and September.
Don’t leave home without: When you enter the temples and in some villages, women will need to have their shoulders and knees covered. Bring or purchase a sarong, which works well for that purpose. Some vendors and artisans will take only crisp new $1 and $20 bills. Bring an electrical converter and adapter plugs. Take an empty duffle bag for your purchases from Bali. Bring a smile and easygoing attitude. The people here are very kind, gentle and friendly.
