Manado Warnings and Dangers

Drinking water is not safe for most of the foreigners here.Some mineral dispenser water machines will be refilled only,using the previous water containers.Small mineral bottles, still with seals on them will be safe.AQUA brand is the better one among others, though more expensive.When you want to taste some drinks with ice, just confirm that they dont use unboiled tap water for the ice.USE MINERAL WATER FOR BRUSHING YOUR TEETH.

Local people dont eat raw and fresh vegetables here, they will steam or slightly boil the veggies.Do not try to eat unpealed skin fruit (apples,grapes) here without washing them with BOILED CLEAN WATER.

Warung tenda or MOBILE RESTAURANT is the small mobile restaurant on the side roads or at the beach side of Boulevard area. I would not recommend you to eat in this kind of restaurant. You will be most probably ended with diarrhea after eating there. The hygiene standard is really bad and you should see how they wash the dishes to believe it. Do not be fooled with the aroma and the taste. Stay healthy during your trip and do not take any risks by eating there.

Watch out your steps when you walk on the side walks in Manado city. There will be many holes there and you could be soaked in a stinky blackish sewage. Some vendors or motorcycles will be there too to block your way. The street lights are not good at night time so you have to be careful while walking on the side walks here.

The dress code will not be a problem in Manado. The Manado people are more opened to the foreign cultures than in other places of Indonesia. Nevertheless, do not wear any shorts, T-shirts, jeans for ladies, or sandals when you will go to the church or government offices here. It is considered as the disrespectful dress for those places. Dont wear the bikinis in public beach where no tourists around. Wear the light cotton clothes because the weather could be humid and hot. Umbrella could be found anywhere with the cheap price. Flip flop will be a good choice for the road trip here.

There is no strict rule or registration for the automobile engine capability or the terrible amount of gas fumes produced by any automobiles in Manado. As long as the automobile can still run on the street, it is considered as a good automobile. Besides that, the premium gasoline will be less likely to buy and only sold in a few gas stations. No wonder you will still see the old year series cars with unbelievable noise and unbearable gas fumes. More old cars can be seen in Pasar Pinasungkulan Karombasan, called as ST20 cars. These types of cars are not running in the main streets though. Some people may be feeling dizzy or having eyes irritations for the gas fumes, perhaps it will be ok for the other travelers.

Renting a car could make a convenient travel time, but there are things you should know for your pleasant trip too. Firstly, GET TO KNOW ALL THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS. Find out if the fare will include the fuel and driver meal. In touristic areas, they will provide you water and umbrella during the rainy season. If you have to buy the fuel, find out which type of car you are going to use. Some will give you a cheap rate but you will spend more in fuel. Renting a car with the driver will be better but you have to get all the terms and conditions from the car rental company from the first hand or the hotel transport desk. Find out who will be responsible in case the car crashes or damaged during your renting time. In case you rent the car along with the driver, the driver will be responsible for it. Make everything clear before you rent the car. Secondly, BE CAREFUL WITH THE DRIVER. Do not leave your things in the car unattended. When your things will be lost, nobody will be responsible for that. Few drivers may even be the mastermind of the robbery. When you need English speaking driver, find out if there will be an additional fee for that. Thirdly, DO NOT RENT THE CAR BY HOURS. You can not expect the traffic on the streets and many drivers will try their best to expand the miles and hours. You may see the sign SEWA MOBIL or MENYEWAKAN MOBIL on the main street or local newspaper. Other places to look for the car rental are in front of Bethesda Hospital Tomohon; and the parking area between the BNI 46 and TKB-Taman Kesatuan Bangsa Pasar 45.

The electricity voltage in Manado is 220V 60Hz with two rounded prong plug (see the picture). All of the receptacles here will be provided for that kind of plug. You may find the adaptor for three squared prong plug in the supermarkets/shopping centers BUT IT YOU CAN NOT FIND THE US PLUG TYPE (THE TWO SQUARED PRONG PLUG) ADAPTOR. Make sure you will bring the adaptor from your home country. A domestic flight (Garuda Indonesia) will sell the universal adaptor onboard in case you forget to bring it. The universal adaptor could be found in the business center of 3+ stars hotels. Check your appliances power too (hair dryer, chargers, razors or other electronic devices), especially if you are a backpacker or going to stay in a home stay/Indonesian relatives-friends houses. Some houses, especially in the villages will just have less than 1000W of electricity supply. Furthermore, in some areas there might be a schedule of the brown out due to the heavy rain, power crisis, or power source maintenance. In fact, the Director of PLN (National Electric Center) was questioned for the frequent brown out in 2005-2007 in Manado area. Charge your electronic devices whenever you can once a day; do not wait until the battery is finished/low. Who knows the brown out will come and you will be out of supply.

You may be surprised to see the hens, the goats, the ducks, and even the pigs on the streets here. In some areas here people have their own little farm, as long as the neighbors dont file the case to the police. One relative came to visit to Manado before and was surprised to see a boy tried to catch the chicken, her prospective lunch, running on the street. They are not dangerous though, just want to inform you so you will not be surprised.