In pictures: Explore this little-known Indonesian destination

North Sulawesi is the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. Source: Shutterstock

LOCATED on the northeastern of the peninsula of the island of Sulawesi, North Sulawesi is a province of Indonesia.

Bordering Davao and Soccsksargen of the Philippines to the north and southeast of Sabah, Malaysia, the exotic province boasts beautiful people, lush nature, rich culture, and absolutely mouthwatering culinary offerings which are probably not for the fainthearted for it is peppered with tongue-tingling spice.

The province’s capital and largest city is Manado, a destination lined with a variety of terrain with hills, volcanic mountains, and scenic plateaus begging to be taken pictures of.

Visitors will especially love Manado for its opportunities for a chance-of-a-lifetime adventure such as hiking, snorkeling, or even diving. In particular, Manado’s famous Bunaken Sea Garden is teeming with seagrass beds, coral reefs, and varieties of fish such as the Napoleon wrasse, angelfish, turtles, blue ribbon eels, stingrays, eagle rays, snappers, groupers, sharks, and the likes.

When visiting Manado, one should not skip its plethora of local food such as bubur Manado or Manado porridge, usually served with some vegetables and hot chili pepper. Not to be missed is also nasi Jaha or Jaha rice, a kind of sticky rice mixed with red onion and ginger, cooked around bamboo toast and coconut milk.

Excited? Here is everything you can expect when you venture into the Indonesian province of North Sulawesi: