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GORONTALO |
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GORONTALO is a pleasant, sleepy Muslim city with useful ferry links
to Pagaimana and Ampana and buses to Manado. It's centred on the Mesjid
Baitur Rahi which stands at a wide crossroads. Jalan Basuki Rahmat runs
north of here, though the main road out of town in this direction is
parallel Jalan Sam Ratulangi, two blocks further west; Jalan Sultan
Botutihe heads east, past a hospital, south are businesses along Jalan
Ahmed Yani, while Jalan Hasanuddin points west through Gorontalo's
commercial district and over the river.
Weekly ferries to and from Poso, Bomba, Wakai and Ampana, and services
every other day to and from Pagaimana dock 7km southeast at Gorontalo's
port. The nearest Pelni port is at Kwandang, two hours' north, which
runs a monthly service to Palu, Makassar (two days), Kalimantan and Java
on KM Umsini . The ticket office is at Jl 23 Januari 21, near the Telkom
office.
All long-distance buses , including those to and from Manado and
Makassar, use Terminal Andalas , 3km north of the centre. Kijangs,
microlets and ojeks service all transport terminals; the city's microlet
terminal is 1km north at Pasar Sentral on Jalan Sam Ratulangi.
Most places to stay are south of the mosque. A favourite is Hotel Melati
at Jl Gajah Mada 33 (tel 0435/822934; under $10); rooms in the older
colonial wing are more charming and cheaper. There are big rooms and
aged fittings at Penginapan Teluk Kau, Jl Sungai Parman 42 (tel
0435/822093; under $5), though they occasionally refuse foreigners; and
mid-range comforts at friendly Hotel Saronde, Jl Walanda Maramis 17 (tel
0435/821735; under $10). All banks are on Jalan Ahmed Yani. The post
office is on the corner of Jalan Ahmed Yani and Jalan 23 Januari, while
the Telkom office is just west of here at Jl 23 Januari 35. For
something to eat , night stalls set up south off Jalan Hasanuddin on
Jalan Pertiwi, and there's fine sate at the tiny Warung Kita, across
from the mosque on Jalan Suprator. For something better, head north off
Jalan Sultan Botutihe to the Boulevard on Jalan Merdeka, with cold beer,
juicy grilled fish and karaoke.
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