26.02.20 - 06.02.20 Makassar

After just under 1 1/2 hours of flight at a very low altitude, we finally arrived in Makassar, the largest city in Sulawesi, and took the bus to the city center. We were very surprised by the quiet airport and the easy handling of transportation. As is common in Indonesia, the airport bus was also used to be dropped off exactly where we wanted to go, so that no one had to walk 10m too far. Very pleasant, but it does take time, especially when you're one of the last to disembark. We then checked into a room for 5 nights at a fairly fancy hotel and were delighted with a very pleasant room where we could relax and rest.

But before the relaxation could fully begin, we had to visit the immigration office to extend our 30-day visa for another 30 days. We were well prepared and our visit went without any surprises, and we were informed that we could pick up our passports 7 days later.

Then the relaxation could begin. Our radius was quite small, but we still managed to do some small explorations. Makassar is quite extensive and we mainly focused on the neighborhood around the waterfront. Here in Makassar, there are very few Western tourists, so we stand out quite a bit and are regularly greeted from all sides, asked for photos, and questioned. During a walk through a quiet residential area, Lea was even handed a baby for a spontaneous photo shoot.

We found a nice cafe where Lea could spend a few hours working and even got a vegan cake once.

Makassar is known for its cuisine, so Mathias had several dishes to try.

After the first 5 nights, we moved to a slightly cheaper hotel. There, we had a small, stuffy room without a window and had to get used to it again, even though it's become the norm for us. We were supposed to spend another 6 nights there. After half of that time, it was finally time to pick up our second visitors we had on our travels from the airport. Lisi and Julie will accompany us for the next 4 weeks through Sulawesi. After a long flight and many temperature checks, the two arrived safely. #highlight

We took it easy on their arrival day and introduced them to our favorite food, Nasi Campur, before they had to catch up on some much-needed sleep. The next day, we were able to pick up our passports and officially stay in Indonesia until mid-March. During a coffee/breakfast at a nearby warung (small restaurant), the four of us were immediately photographed and even ended up on Instagram (with over 200 likes - haha). The four of us stand out even more. After that, we tried to organize a bus ticket for our onward journey north, which worked wonderfully on the second attempt. For lunch, we went to a Padang restaurant, which is known for serving a wide selection of small dishes on the table and you can choose what you want to eat. A great opportunity to try some new Indonesian dishes, but also somewhat overwhelming. But definitely very delicious.

On the way back home, we made a detour to the market to buy some fruits before spending the afternoon in our favorite cafe to plan our journey together.

The next day, we planned a trip to Rammang Rammang, which is about 50km away. We successfully reached there with two bemos (small minibuses serving as buses).

Once we arrived there, we walked 1km to the river where we were taken by boat to the village of Rammang Rammang. We were greeted by a beautiful green panorama.

In Rammang Rammang, there are a few paths through the rice fields that lead to the 'attractions'. But we all agreed that the area itself is the attraction and we didn't necessarily need to see the 'King Kong and Elephant Stone' and the Diamond Cave. But it provided some variety. Including climbing.

After a few great hours in this small village, we were taken back by boat. Although it started raining heavily during the ride, it didn't last too long, thankfully.

Even the journey back went smoothly with public transport, but the mood was somewhat dampened by urgent need to use the bathroom and unfortunately strong headaches due to dehydration. After a little rest at home, we went to a slightly fancier seafood restaurant for dinner, which unfortunately didn't live up to the photos and reviews. But it was still delicious. As dessert, we had a Makassar specialty on the promenade - grilled bananas.

Although Makassar is not necessarily the city we would choose for an 11-night stay, considering the circumstances, we had a great time and it's good that the visa extension went so smoothly. But now it's also good to get out of the city again...