Sulawesi

Sulawesi is a prime example of Indonesia's thrilling diversity. Throughout the island are National Parks bragging a range of beautiful creatures from macaques to round-eyed tarsiers. Many of the parks are popular with bird enthusiasts.

In the South, you can visit Tana Toraja where locals welcome strangers to observe their burial rites. The delayed funerals (bodies may be kept for years before a family can afford the proper burial) can be a gruesome spectacle especially when combined with animal slaughtering, but one cannot deny the rare cultural experience.

Up North on the way to the famed snorkel and dive spots of Bunaken and Lembeh, travellers stop through Manado. Though it may seem unimpressive, it is the food that is famous. The exotic dishes include every animal species you can think of, rat and monkey to name a few, and the brazen can visit the animal markets. For the enthusiastic and flexible diver, try to reach the Togian Islands, possibly one of the great divespots that remains less touched because of the effort required to reach it.