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Health & Sports

Local Time Manado:

	After your diving experiences and your Highland Tour, you may think, what next? For those who like the game of golf, a visit to Manado's only public course would be another true Minahasan experience. Wenang Golf Course is located on the road to/from the airport (any taxi driver will know). It is set in the typical countryside of Minahasa generally planted with coconut trees. Here, of course, most trees have been cut but there are still plenty around so that harvesting the coconuts is still practiced and naturally contributes in a small way to cover the operating expenses of the course. This 9-hole course was opened in 1978 and from the looks of the clubhouse and facilities, it would be fair to say that not much may have changed. Functional would be a good word but then all you need is there, including a well stocked pro-shop, restaurant(Mie Bakso only!), various drinks, etc. You can also rent clubs, shoes, etc. There are changing facilities, showers, etc but as stated earlier they are dated. So, even if you left your gear at home, and you feel like to play there is really nothing to hold you back. The course itself is laid out in a very tight straightaway manner so that fairways are close together, and at times you may have to duck (you will be warned by your caddy) as a ball may be approaching from say tee-off at 6 onto your 5, or from 2 to 5. The 9-hole challenge consists of 2 holes at par 5, 2 at par 3 and the rest at par 4. Each one has a water hazard. The fairways are well grassed with native species and the greens are covered in Japanese grass (local name). It is kept short and well watered (writer's observation) but they appear as the main challenge as the grass grows in different directions, and this variation is random by green and among greens. A golfer with a low handicap may easily get the ball on the green in 2 shots on a par 4 hole then expecting a birdie! However, the surprising green may only reward with a boogie. That's the challenge. After you stamp your feet (or whatever else you do to vent your frustration) you look around, observe the scenery - look at the towering mountain Klabat - and it's over. Next one better. Listen to your caddy; they are expert greens readers. The course is open to the public every day from sunrise to sunset. It gets a bit hot from 10 to 2 so you can practice during that time on the covered driving range if you wish. A bucket of 50 balls costs Rp. 6,000. Each hole also has a little shelter (pondok) where you can find reprieve from the rain or shine. And on weekdays you don't have much competition. Green fees are Rp. 175,000 for foreigners and Rp. 125,000 for Indonesian/domestic guests. This includes a nominal amount for a caddy but you must tip him afterwards. Of course, you are not limited to 9 holes only. The course has double marked tee-off areas for both male and female players. So you can do your 18 holes if that is your standard. Source: "What's Happening?" Manado Safari Tours Newsletter Hash House Harriers & Harriettes Club Manado Are you a visitor to Manado who is looking for a little bit of adventure on a Saturday afternoon? Do you Hash? No it's not what you think. Hashing has nothing to do with smoking and alot to do with running. Manado boasts its very own Hash House Harriers & Harriettes Club, which is a small but perfectly formed group of outdoorsy types who like to "Hash". To the uninitiated, "Hashing" is primarily orienteering through a course set by a "Hare". The innocent bunch of followers gallop over the terrain following shredded paper or arrows sprayed on rocks or coconut trees. For a touch of adventure, courses often include hills, rice paddies, rivers to ford, dead ends (check-backs) or "circles" where you have to search around a radius of 100 metres to find the paper trail again. Some "Hares" are tougher than others so it's luck of the draw on the day. There are two runs set, one long and one short. If you're just off the plane, and you're not quite as fit as you'd like to be, we suggest you join the short run to enjoy the area at a slightly leisurely pace (ideal for families). For those of you a bit more acclimatized to the heat and with a moderate fitness level, you could tackle the long run which invariably is a bit more challenging. Both runs should take approximately one hour. Whichever run you participate in, it's a sure bet you'll arrive at the end with a pretty mean thirst? Luckily this is the part of the hash experience, which involves the imbibing of much fluid, generally of the amber colour. "The Circle" is conducted once all the runners and walkers have arrived back safely. It largely involves alot of songs which stem from the traditional Hash first conducted by a group of Expatriates in Malaysia. Not unlike bawdy University drinking ballads, most of it is light-hearted and all participants have the chance to have fun poked at them. Each regular Hasher is generally given a silly Hash name and it's all pretty harmless fun. If you've got the time and the energy, "The Hash" is a great opportunity to see some of the out of the way sites in the area. The views on some runs can be spectacular and you pass through small villages tucked away behind the main roads and get the chance to see some of the everyday lives of the local Minahasans. The local Hash crowd is a mix of Manadonese and Expatriates and the group recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. For details on the next hash (generally held every 2nd Saturday afternoon), pick up a Hash sheet at Green Garden restaurant on Jalan Sam Ratulangi, or ask Ruben Simon at the Ritzy Hotel (Email: ritzyhotel@manado.wasantara.net.id) or Ninny Barnes at Safari Tours (opposite Green Garden). Happy Hashing! Source: "What's Happening?" Manado Safari Tours Newsletter		Not all visitors to Manado are here for the diving and what do you do if you're visiting with a partner who prefers to spend their holiday 20 metres under and you've had enough of sitting on a boat? What about treating yourself to a little pampering and easily filling in a morning or afternoon or a whole day! The current rupiah woes may well provide you with the perfect opportunity to treat yourself to a much longed for pedicure or facial that you may never be able to afford at home. We visited a few of the better-known salons in Manado to check out what was on offer. First on the list was the newly opened Steiner Salon & Naturale Day Spa (Jalan Tikala Ares No. 11, Tikala - Tel: 851 147). We were greeted and shown around by the very charming Pak Hanny who is naturally very proud of this stylish establishment. The interior is very tastefully decorated with objects from Bali and Java and is pleasantly air-conditioned. Aside from all manner of haircuts, dyes, facials, pedicures and manicures, the sumptuous Massage Room is well worth a visit to indulge in massages and steam baths. The list ranges from the Javanese Massage (Rp 35,000) to an Aromatherapy Massage (Rp 50,000) through to the Java Body Polish (Rp 90,000). My guest for the day proclaimed her Spa Pedicure (Rp 80,000 with Gehwol products) very professionally executed and her feet felt (and looked) fabulous. I was in need of a haircut so opted for the "Cut-Blow-Styling" (Rp 30,000). Although the blow-drying did take longer than I normally would like, the final result was very flattering. Pak Hanny and his team are running a very professional operation and the key members speak great English so overseas visitors can feel confident in booking and visiting Steiner for an enjoyable few hours. I have previously visited Christania Beauty Salon (Jalan Sudirman No. 41 - Tel: 851 926) on a number of occasions for a cut and blow dry and took relatives for a Cream Bath. The Cream Bath is something I have only experienced in Indonesia and largely involves having your hair shampooed and treated with a rich cream, which is left to sink in while your head, neck and shoulders are massaged and pummeled. Certainly at the end your shoulders are a bit sore but your hair smells and shines gloriously. The products used for the Cream Bath at Christania are from Wella and cost Rp 40,000 for short hair and Rp 50,000 for mid to long hair. The manicures and pedicures are Rp 30,000. Prices for the facials depend on the products used and range from Rp 35,000 for locally produced products through to Rp 60,000 for Lancôme. Ms Siska is the proprietor of Christania and frequently visits Singapore to keep up with international trends. Her English skills are confident but the staff speak only Indonesian. However, all are extremely friendly and would gladly welcome foreign guests. I would suggest you ask an Indonesian-speaking friend to help with your booking if your Bahasa Indonesia is not quite up to it. Conveniently located on Jalan Sam Ratulangi, next to the News Café, is Clarins. Their prices are certainly reasonable although they didn't seem to have any English speaking staff. A creambath is RP 35,000 for short hair and Rp 40,000 for long hair. A manicure or pedicure is RP 25,000 and the facials were Rp 50,000 for Clarins products and Rp 50,000 for Oriflamme products. The recently opened Puri Spa is a sumptuous venue located beside the pool area in the Gran Puri Hotel. The tastefully decorated interior is cool and inviting with soothing lighting and welcoming staff. The services available range from Traditional Massages to the unique Aroma and Music Therapy through to the standard Facial, Body & Skin Care, Hair Treatment and Manicure and Pedicure treatments. The price range is certainly at the upper end of the budget scale with the Massage packages starting at 150,000 rp and moving up to the Executive Package at 900,000 rp, however these can take a number of hours and meals are included in some of the top of the range packages. The prices do reflect the attention to detail given to the facilities and amenities available and certainly well worth the pampering. Cary Yanny from Eco Divers is a frequent visitor and finds a visit to the Puri Spa an essential stress buster in her busy life. She describes the venue as "brilliant" and has found the staff to be extremely helpful and their English good. She feels the main attraction for her is the clean hygienic surroundings, lovely music and good showering facilities. As the venue is comparable to any she has found in Europe then the Rupiah price she pays here in Manado certainly represents excellent value for money. Visit the Puri Spa at the 5th floor of the Gran Puri Hotel, Jalan Sam Ratulangi #458 (Tel - 822 888). Our last visit was to Prameswari - The Traditional Spa and Beauty Care (Jalan R.Wolter Monginsidi No. 29 - Tel: 859 551). It seems the services on offer are more geared towards a female clientele and the surroundings reflect this. Nonetheless, I was treated to a very luxurious foot massage using the German product, Gehwol. The lovely Yoke, spoke English and provided a very professional service. There are several foot and nail treatments available for Rp 65,000. Other treatments include Facials with Phytomer products for Rp 150,000 and the Spa Programme for Rp 125,000 and a Slimming Programme for Rp 150,000. Despite a slightly off the beaten track location, Prameswari do provide a professional pampering experience and the relaxation alone is certainly money well spent. I must confess to almost dropping off to sleep on the bench during my foot massage to the strains of Vivaldi's Four Seasons. Guys don't be afraid to visit any of the salons listed above, pampering isn't just for the ladies. A foot massage or a manicure is a treat for anyone. Indulge in some time just for yourself and you'll walk out looking and feeling fabulous. Please note: This article has been published in 2001, so prices might be different now. Source: "What's Happening?" Manado Safari Tours Newsletter
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