This is not Dubai - much nicer

Although the hotel in the 2nd photo has similarities to the famous hotel in Dubai, we are somewhere rather different.

Here, too, there are mosques, and maybe a 1/3 of women wear headscarves, and it's hot, hot, hot but there is plenty water, and tropical forests and we are surrounded by volcanoes.

We are in Manado, Northern Sulawesi, one of the larger but seldom visited islands of Indonesia. Of course we're are not really visiting, just stopping over en route to Sorong and then Raja Ampat. Nevertheless, it's interesting to visit places off the beaten track.

I was expecting a rather poor shabby place, and certainly, most people are poor by European standards, but the city is young and bustling. There has been huge investment in a new, massive shopping centre in the middle of town. People are all smiles and helpful, very helpful.

The only bad point is we have to get up, yet again very early. Yesterday, we were up at 6. Today, it's 430am , and due to the time shift from Uzbekistan, I only fell asleep at 0130. Oh well, the beautiful green scenery is uplifting, but I expect I'll be having a nap before too long. It's something I am rather skilled at. The attached video proves the point.Läs mer