Diving at Tawara Point, Bunaken Island

Tawara Point on Bunaken Island.
 Water temp. - 29℃.   Visibility - about 20m.

Ghost pipefish

Shallow reef of Bunaken Island

Diver's bubble stuck inside hole of Bunaken coral wall

Meeting with Dugong!! at Bunaken Cha Cha point.

Our guests met Dugong on Bunaken Island

at 2nd dive, Cha Cha 2 point, 1st of April (It's real, not april fool joke, hahaha)


I was just talking to the guests two days ago about the dugong when/where they can normally see this wonderful creature. Could not have been better  timing, but actually who saw the dugong today, was the other guests on our 2nd boat.  What can I say....?  It is not easy to make everybody happy...  umm....

All guests except one, who had video camera, saw the dugong eating sea grass on the shallow reef at Cha Cha2 point.  so no picture of the today's dugong again.

This one I took at same Cha Cha 2 point while I was snorkeling on 2006.

***Dugong***
"The dugong (Dugong dugon) is a large marine mammal which, together with the manatees, is one of four living species of the order Sirenia. It is the only living representative of the once-diverse family Dugongidae; its closest modern relative, Steller's sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas), was hunted to extinction in the 18th century. It is also the only sirenian in its range, which spans the waters of at least 37 countries throughout the Indo-Pacific, though the majority of dugongs live in the northern waters of Australia between Shark Bay and Moreton Bay. The dugong is the only strictly marine herbivorous mammal, as all species of manatee use fresh water to some degree."      ----  from Wikipedia

More books arrived from Ms.Saori living in Houston, USA.

Library Update.

More books arrived from Ms.Saori living in Houston USA.

Since she's been to Cha Cha with her mother, she started to support our

"Children's library project" which is one of our Mata Biru projects on Bunaken Island.

This is the 3rd box that arrived from her. 

After she went back to Houston, she started to use her beautiful underwater photograph to make some Calendars, talking around to her friends and acquaintances, colleagues, sold the calendars and put some money together to buy Children's books to send for this project.  Saori san herself choose books carefully and send it over to us from U.S.   Truly amazing work and effort. 

Thanks Saori san!!!

At the moment the library is temporally closed due to the very bad weather we had since Xmas but as the Dry Season has arrived it will be opening very soon again.

While the library closed we had bad news, somebody broke into the Library took some Manga (comics). This gave our staff and us a big disappointment especially after we receive Saori san's support from Houston, however we should not give up yet, and  as long as our resort exist, we will support this Mata Biru project collaboration with Book Bound. 

Her Underwater Photograph Calendar 2013

Amazing Fish book!

Nice teeth?!

This fish called "Lizardfish".
Take a look at these teeth!
I have seen this fish having smaller fish in his/hers mouth, will chew it slowly...?? If I am fish size, just want to avoid from being eaten... umm.

Cha Cha Doggies morning snack time

Pink color coral crab??? @ Bunaken Island.

Pink color Crab!!! This crab got same color just like small tiny coral he/she lives in. Amazing!!
Our dive guide found it, Thank you Odnir!!

Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort

A video of a relax diving day at Bunaken Cha Cha.

The First Whale Shark @ Bunaken Park

Our Guests send SMS to us saying they saw "Whale Shark" from boat on the way to go to Manado.

It was around 20 minutes after they left Cha Cha Resort, so must be still very close to Bunaken Island.

Amazing! 

Congratulation to all guests saw their 

"First Whale Shark 2013"!!!!! @Bunaken Sea.

↓ This is our Cha Cha Whale Shark.

by Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort

Happy New Year 2013 from Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort

2013

Happy New Year

Season Greetings from Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2013!!

Pitaya "Queen of the Night" or "Moonflower"???

I got this plant from our friend Fee and Alan.  In the beginning I was not sure which plant is this or how it grow, but just gave it water every day and look after.  Then green thin leaf start grow longer and longer and another one came out and grow longer and longer.

The other day I saw two flowers which came out all of sudden.  I am sure I saw this plant the day before but look like these flowers just pop out next day.

When I checked, it look like this one they call ether "Pitaya (Dragon Fruit)" or "Queen of the Night" or "Moonflower".

This flower bloom only in the night, then close next morning. 

This is why this flower got name above..... nice.

but I did not know until today I checked in the internet, big pity was I did not check the smell of this flower. 

"Hylocereus blooms only at night; the large white fragrant flowers of the typical cactus flower shape are among those called "moonflower" or "Queen of the Night". Sweet pitahayas have a creamy pulp and a delicate aroma. It is also grown as an Ornamental plant, used in gardens as a flowering vine and a house plant indoors." (from Wikipedia)

This is the condition now ↓

The other flower already fallen on the floor, pity, but can you see the right bottom of the flower look like "Mini Dragon Fruit" looking??? or just me...? 

I hope we can see the fruit someday. 

To be continued.....

The first homemade "Lemoncello" by Raf @ Bunaken Island

The first HOMEMADE "Lemoncello" by Raf.
We are looking forward to taste it on 20th December.

The Visitor in the Cha Cha office??

One day at the office in Cha Cha.

Raf looked up the ceiling inside office and found a hairy thing sticking out.

That was a sleeping kitten paw!!!

After Raf touched the paw, it disappeared so fast, then few seconds later he could see a very curious kitten eye looking down the office through the hole. so cute and so funny!!!

Sailfish caught in front of Buanekn Cha Cha Nature Resort!!!

Fisherman brought huge "Sailfish"!!!

Very happy Fisherman.

What's happened to Venezia "The Water Metropolis" in Italy??

In Japan we call Venezia also with another name "The Water Metropolis".
But everybody must surprised to see today's news about Venezia in Italy.

This is June 2010, we had nice drink at this cafe.

and this is the latest picture in the today's news.

umm...

Bunaken Beach combing with Professor Chiko.

This morning I did beach combing with professor "Chiko" to the famous sand bank left side of the resort when it's very low tide. 

First I thought I found Meteorite cause it look like golden color on the surface of the rock.

But maybe NOT ....

It must be a peace of coral fossil rock which recently fell off from the wall.

Then our "Beach combing professor" Chiko disappeared int the rock hole and wake up two Bats that sleep inside there. I was very surprised, it was the first time experience to meet "Bat" in this way in the morning in a long time beach combing experience.  It is a great discovery by professor Chiko, especially good information for the "Bat researcher" guests they will visit our resort soon.  

Also found a Chiragra spider conch, is a species of very large sea snail.

 

Usually this conch shell has this shape.↓

This conch was staring at me with tiny spy eye sticking out from the shell.

You will go crazy surprisingly, Beach combing around Bunaken.

Even at such a shallow water, there are lots and lots of marine life you will find.

Chiko the "Beach combing Professor"

"Manado Talent Show" held at Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort

So much fun!!  "Manado Talent Show" Father and Son/Daughter Group Trip from Singapore held at Bunaken Cha Cha Nature Resort.
The group donated lots of books to  "Bunaken Children's Library" project on Bunaken Island run by "Bookbound" and "LSM Mata Biru".

Flatworm, Pseudobiceros fulgor at Bunaken Island

Flatworm - One of the most beautiful flatworm I ever seen around Bunaken.

Flatworm - Pseudobiceros fulgor - Bunaken Cha2 point - Indonesia

Bicolor Blenny at Bunaken Cha Cha 2 Point

Blenny at Cha Cha 2 Point

How are you everybody?
Bunaken is still hot as peak season. Today we had just little bit rain, but finish in 5minutes. Our garden looks still dry..  We need water for our plant...!!!

Anyway...  we want to introduce cute Blenny at Cha Cha 2 point.

Bicolor Blenny (Ecsenius bicolor)

The bicolor blenny (Ecsenius bicolor) is an interesting little marine bottom-dwelling fish.This fish is called the bicolor blenny because its front half is blue to brownish in color and its back half is yellow or orange.

It belongs to the family Blenniidae. All members of this family have small projections protruding from their heads called cirri. They feed on marine algae.

Bunaken Porcupine fish

Mona Lisa Smile??

Porcupine fish at Cha Cha 2 Point. 

Beetle - Prosopocoilus occipitalis at Cha Cha

Prosopocoilus occipitalis

Cool!! 

Cha Cha Staff Odnir found this amazing beetle I never seen for 25 years since I visited Indonesia.

Snake eel and Baby squid, Manado, Bunaken National Marine Park

Snake eel and Baby squid video.

Puffer fish, Bunaken Island

Big puffer fish lives in Cha Cha 2 point, Bunaken Island.

Blacktip shark in Cha Cha2 point, Bunaken Island

Blacktip Shark in Cha Cha 2 Point at Bunaken Island, Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Today's Sunrise - Bunaken Island, Manado

Sunrise 5:38AM Bunaken Island, Manado

Manado,Bunaken, Crab eyed goby movie

Crab eyed goby, Twin spotted goby.