INTRODUCING SULAWESI

Like the Petals of a windblown orchid, the unruly peninsulas of Sulawesi reach out into the Celebes, Moluccas, Banda and Flores Seas. Within its odd, dancing outlines - the product of the collision of ancient continents-are found extraordinary landscape. Rugged mist - covered mountains, primal tropical jungle, emerald - green rice terraces and deep, mysterious lakes dominate the interior. Along the coast, dazzling coral reefs encircle dormant volcanoes that jut dramatically out of the sea. Stretches of white sandy beached fringed with coconut trees and scattered fishing village are flanked by rugged limestone outcroppings that might have stepped out a Chinese paintin

Sulawesi - once known as The Celebes - is home to an amazing variety of peoples. Fisherman inhabits its coasts, catching flying, fish, shark, tuna, mackerel, and squid, as well as scores of fish. Sailing and trading peoples, in particular the Bugis, Makassar, Mandar, Gorontalo, Bajau in Sulawesi, are renowned for their Remarkable wodden sailing crafts (Katinting) and their voyages to destinations and distant as Singapore and Australia