Manado Local Customs

Most of the Manado people are Christians and you may see churches all over Manado and the Highland. Attending church services on Sundays is still mandatory here, especially on Christmas, New Year and Easter. There will be 3 church`s service times. First one at 05.30-07.00AM, second one at 09.00-11.00 AM, and the third one will be at 06.00-730PM. The second one (09.00-11.00AM) is used to be attended by most of the people and in some Highland areas, it will be the only service they have on Sunday. If you are a Christian and plan to travel during Christmas, New Year, or Easter on your relatives/friends in Manado, you are expected to be in the church. Bring a formal dress for the church service and be aware that wearing short, t-shirt.sandals (men) or snickers to the church is inappropriate. Most of the stores will be closed on Sunday mornings, even the roads will be having less vehicles. If you are planning to go out on Sundays, try not to be at 0830AM when the people go to the church or at 11.00AM when the people go to their homes from the church.

You will be served like a king when you will be the guest in Manado.Dont be hesitant to ask help from anybody. You may be upset with some people in the airport but most probabably it happens because they cannt understand you. Please dont yell at them (the westerners used to do that in the airport). Just try to ask anybody who can speak English well and explain what you want. This picture was taken in a seaside village, Pondang, Amurang. I was touched with the way they welcome us. No matter who you are, where you come from, how much money you have, you are the guest here.When you are the guest in Manado, you are the king. :-))

Yes, you will be treated like a king when you visit a house in Manado.No matter how poor the family are in here, they will serve you some tea or coffee with cookies or even food.Do not be afraid with the coffee or teas, they will prepare them for you with the boiling water, so you will be safe.Be nice.:-))Drink some of them and praise or thanking the family for the service.It will be a tremondous happiness for your hosts.

When they serve you food, ask their help or guidance or assistance on choosing the right food for you.The food will be hot and spicy or you may find dogs, rats, or bats meat on the table.

Shaking hands will be greatly appreciated here.Shaking hands and kissing by pressing both cheeks one an other is common among ladies here.Men could do that to your Manadonese relatives.Tapping or rubbing shoulders while shaking hands among men is common greetings here.

When somebody greets you, just raise your hands or smile and say hello.Harrassment to the women is very rare here.Main roads will be safe during night in the city but be careful in some small roads past 11PM.Many youngster drink alcohol here and they will hang around the intersections drunk.No guns involved though.

There is your answer to the barber shop woes.

This guy operates from a "hole-in-the-wall" shop. Haircut here wouldn't cost a hole in your pocket, but it doesn't guarantee that you got no hole in your new haircut, or have your throat cut.

This barber had just changed his shaving blade, but his hand is still shaking from an overdose of local whiskey during yesterday's Easter party.

The woman with painted white face was the hairdresser. The guy by the window, just had his new haircut - skillfully cropped at the crown.

Beckum, eat your heart out. This guy beat you hands down on creative hairdo.

Wondered why her shop was empty though.

The people in Manado love to sing. The schools start every morning with prayer and singing, there are lots of karaoke-bars and at weddings and birthdays, everybody is invited to sing a song. (Usually they even almost oblige you to sing.)
Manado people also love poco-poco. This is a sort of folk-dance and everybody knows it. There are even schools that put the dance in their examination-program. The basic steps are simple, but there are numerous more complicated variations.
Sometimes when you walk down the smaller streets of Manado, you can spot a group of people dancing the poco-poco. I'm sure they would love to teach you the dance.

In Indonesia cars ride at the left side of the road. But in Manado there is a spot where all traffic rides on the right side of the road.
There are no signs or billboards on the road to make this clear, but Manadonese people just drive on the right side overthere.
I honestly don't know why they do that. It is a true Oriëntal mystery....
You want to know where you can find this strange phenomena?? It is on the Jalan Sudirman, on the part where Texas Chicken and Sam Ratulangi University are located.

It is considered impolite to eat while standing or walking around. So sit still and finish your food before moving on.