Soroako Travel Blogs

I woke up at 4 and prepared myself straightaway. I was still sleepy because I didn't have enough sleep. Yamin and I had breakfast at 5 because Bapak Djelly would pick us at 5.30. It was our last dine at the dorm restaurant. Actually, I felt kind of bored with the menu. It didn't mean that the food…

Yep, this is my work place. PT INCO's Nickel Process Plant. However, I work for the good guys - Beca. Currently Beca are cleaning up half the smoke stacks. The other half we hope to clean up next year.

I am an electrical engineer by profession and I had an opportunity to be seconded to PT Inco, Nickel Mine and Refinery as a plant engineer. I spent 3 months only at this exotic remote area but its impressions are still so strong in my mind. Get out from the armchair dreaming suddenly I found myself in the middle of jungle with its overhelming mountain views,tropical plantations, strange smells and sounds.

What happens when productivity is high and nickel prices are even higher? Well, firstly the local workers get great bonuses and then they take some time off work to gather together at the front gates of PT Inco. It is here that they sing & dance to festive music played over speakers for 4 days and 4 nights(and counting) - All under the guise of a Union Strike. A strike to get even greater bonuses. On the fifth day they lose their jobs if they continue. Interesting Times.

62 years ago the Indonesians kicked the dutch out which gave them a little bit of freedom, but more importantly it gave them Independence of Indonesia Day. I spent this day off work on the lake.

A bunch of stuff. Drinking seems to be a common theme. (Please drink sensibly and never drink and drive).

A great little spot with a nice little coral reef to snorkel around. Just a pity that the coral has been somewhat obliterated by explosives fishing and that there is still no escape from the trash that litters the furtherest reaches of Indonesia. Come on guys - be a tidy Indo. Spots like this make you realise that Indonesia is a truly beautiful place - but I fear that unless something is done about the trash issue, these beautiful spots will inadvertantly become dump sites.

What a journey! 4 months ago there was a man with a dream, a dream to take the best of Sulawesi to Bali to challenge them at a good old game of Rugby. This Easter Captain Andy Kelman (the aforementioned man) realised his dream as he took his team, the Matano Miners, to Bali to play the Chilli's. The game was great & the journey phenomenal. A huge thanks to Andy K, the team, our supporters & sponsors, and of course everyone in Bali - especially the anti-mining activist in McDonalds I met @ 5am

A bunch of photos from around the place, but most significantly Idul Fitri.

Nothing beats a day at the cricket. Especially when it's Australasia Vs Indonesia and, of course, an unlimited supply of cold beers on a warm Saturday afternoon in Wowondula.

A little bit more about Soroako.

On the right is my spanky new Toyota Kijang, complete with CD player & tape player & fake walnat dash (rare in Indo). On the left is Shane's (beca guy) Toyota Kijang which I had borrowed half an hour before I got my new Kijang. It was clean before I got my hands on it.