The journey to Danau Linow

The journey to Danau Linow, Tomohon, was definitely one of the most memorable trips to places in Sulawesi Utara when we were there a few months back. After leaving Oom Leo Supit’s house at Roong, Tondano, the place where we stayed during our 4-day trip, our car passed a road near Danau Tondano for a few minutes, before turning to the right taking a short cut to Danau Linow.

We passed fertile green lands, rice fields, plantations and several villages, such as Desa Tampusuk, and Tondangau. Several minutes later the road became narrower and looked like that people were rather rare passing the road as weeds grew freely in the middle of the road and at some segments they were as high as adult’s thigh.

We passed a geothermal facility owned by Pertamina in Kasuratan area. The photo was taken through the back glass wphotoworksw while the car was moving forward.

Weeds grew high in the middle of the road which fit for one car only, and we didn’t see car not even motorcycle passing the road. The road was clearly not the main and the ‘normal’ access to Danau Linow, and hence it could be understood that bad condition was left unattended.

Our car stopped at a road segment where thick bushes grew quite closely at the roadside and the once smooth car’s body was then became full of scratch after passing the road.

A few moments afterwards we could see the edge of the beautifully calm Danau Linow with its deep Tosca green color which was quite cool in the eyes.

Flat fertile field at the lakeside of Danau Linow with several huts erected on it, that seemed to be a simple convenient place to enjoy the scenic view of Danau Linow while enjoying a cup of coffee.

A building across Danau Linow, which from its name it’s probably intended as a information center and field tourism related with the geothermal facility owned by Pertamina. The building looked very quiet and hence we didn’t stop by.

A gazebo at the edge of Danau Linow which was accessed through a small path down from the road, and it’s an open area available freely to visitors.

Clear water at the edge of Danau Linow with plenty bubbles of sulfuric gases appeared here and there, came out continuously from within the lake which made the water rather warm, but no smell of sulfuric gas was apparent in the area.

Oom Leo Supit was walking at the edge of Danau Linow which was rather narrow, after examining the bubbles of the sulfuric gas. At the background was a nicely arranged green land, part of a beautiful and comfortable resort area at the lakeside of Danau Linow which we visited after leaving the area around the gazebo.

The color of Danau Linow which was quite cool in the eyes with thick lines of trees at its edges. The photo was taken from around the gazebo area. Danau Linow which has a high content of sulfuric substance could produce different array of colors according to its sulfur concentration, the view angle, and the position of the sun.

Lita Jonathans, owner of La Lita Arts & Crafts, and Oom Leo were entering the resort area at the edge of Danau Linow which was opened for public with ticket of Rp.25.000 per person which came with compliments of a cup of tea or coffee available at cafe, but since the owner is an acquaintance of Oom Leo and Tantie Stien, we could enter the compound without paying the ticket.

The beauty of Danau Linow was seen from the parking area of the resort.

Oom Leo Supit and Myra Diarsi were sitting on a bamboo bench, a comfortable place under the shade of pine trees around the parking area.

A corner of a balcony with a small structure with roofing made from traditional sago palm leaves within the resort area which is a very convenient seating under shady trees, an ideal location to enjoy the ambience of Danau Linow, and also a place to order food and drinks.

A balcony located across the other balcony in the previous photo, which unfortunately a rather inconvenient during day time since it’s not protected from the direct sunlight. It’s certainly a convenient place to enjoy the scenery of Danau Linow in early mornings or afternoons.

Tante Stien was taking a brief rest under a shady tree, located near the first balcony.

A shady and comfortable place at the balcony where we sat rather long to enjoy the beauty of Danau Linow, while waiting for cold drinks and delicious snacks.

The above photo is Pisang Goreng Goroho, a type of very delicious banana widely found in the area of Sulawesi Utara, served while is still hot, enjoyed with dabu-dabu sauce, and the extremely good taste made us finished the snack very quickly. Ice lemon tea that we ordered could as well satisfy our dry throats.

The comfortable and quiet ambience of the resort had made Oom Leo Supit didn’t mind to pose before camera with the beautiful background of Danau Linow.

The other Cafe located at the left end of the Danau Linow resort.

The relatively small Danau Linow, but its Tosca green water and ambience could pacify the heart. We left Danau Linow using the ‘normal’ road instead of using the ‘off-road’ track. Danau Linow is a beautiful lake in Tomohon which should be visited while in Sulawesi Utara. The 34 ha beautiful lake could be reached within 1.5 hour drive from city of Manado, passing provincial road of Manado – Tomohon, then Tomohon – Kawangkoan road, and turn to the left at GPS: 1.270780, 124.818460 (+1° 16′ 14.81″, +124° 49′ 6.46″).

DANAU LINOW

Desa Linow, Kelurahan Lahendong, Tomohon,

Sulawesi Utara

The t-intersection towards Danau Linow:

GPS: 1.270780, 124.818460 (+1° 16′ 14.81″, +124° 49′ 6.46″)

Resort area:

GPS: 1.269850, 124.823790 (+1° 16′ 11.46″, +124° 49′ 25.64″)

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