Today I had a travel day so I woke up early again, around 6.30 AM and had breakfast. After putting the last stuff in my bag; checkout and leave around 7.30 AM. We drove to the east and then to the north, first over a bad road, but in the mountains the road was better. Through a winding road we came to a height where also coniferous trees were growing. We made an occasional stop for a beautiful view.
After the mountains we arrived in a big city (Kota Palapo). It was another Muslim area and we saw various cemeteries. Through the wide road we could travel a little bit faster. Around 11 AM we had a coffee break at a small restaurant before we continued through the mountains on a reasonable road. We first past a police post. After this point there are no more villages, only climbing through a winding mountain road. This took almost 2 hours. On the way we made a stop at a waterfall. A nice quit place with butterflies and birds. While we travelled on there were great views but also nice forest.
When we came out of the mountains, we passed a police post again and appeared there again more houses. We had some rain, but when we made a lunch stop just after 2 PM, the weather was sunny. We were already on the South side of the Poso Lake. It didn’t look like a touristic area, though the village looked quit nice.
Around 3 PM, we continued our way. Again we had to climb over a mountain and so again and winding road. Along the way we saw a black cobra sliding into the bushes.
Around 5.15 AM we were in Tentena, a decent city. Tony did get some shopping. From here it was still about 6 kilometer over a narrow and bad road to the place where we should spend 3 nights. We were there just before it started to get really dark. I was received with a fruit juice and could have a break of more than 10-hour drive. After a quick shower, I had dinner chatted with other guests (who would leave early the next morning already) and Henson, one of the employees. The property is quite remote and there is, as in many places, nothing to do in the evening. I read a book and then went to sleep.
Initial publication: 03 november 2013
Last update: 01 december 2013
© A. Heeroma