On a clear day, from Bahia Tomini on Malenge Island, you can see the mountains of North Sulawesi, 75 kilometres away. Bright, clear days also bring out colours on the massive reefs that surround Malenge.

I did a dive yesterday, that I believe might well be the best in more than 40 years. It was shallow, just 17 metres, but there were thousands upon thousands of big and small fishes from every colour on the spectrum. I’d estimate there were 30 sharks. One of the buggers zoomed right past us at speed - perhaps to show us land creatures that it might be wise to pay closer attention to them. And on the way to yesterday’s dive we had another treat. Pods of dolphins decided to put on a show for us. The boatsman did three quick circles which really turned the dolphins on. Apparently, they like the churning water caused by the boat motor. 

There are just four cabinas at Bahia Tomini. The porches of the two largest ones sit in front of a magnificent snorkel-reef. If you’re staying in one of them, ask the kitchen staff for some fish treats. You can get the baby sharks to almost eat from your hand.     

In order to access Google at Bahia Tomini you must climb their mountain where you will be given a password. Owners Eva and Kike are of the belief that Google was never meant to be used at dining-room tables or in cabinas. Elenka and I have learned that without Google, people do really talk to one another during meals. And we also learned that without Google during siesta time, cabinas do really rattle and shake.  

We met a very nice couple, Juk und Susana, from Deutschland. One evening we were discussing the effects of the pandemic, when Susana said that she and Juk often ordered in using Youber during Covid.

The new word sounded familiar; I asked what Youber was. She told me that Youber was a very large company that first started out as a taxi replacement service.

“You mean Uber.” I said of my discovery.

“Yes, I used the English way of saying Uber for you.”

I was just about to tell Susana that English speaking people say Uber too, but stopped myself abruptly. Elenka and I may not have been to any other English speaking countries since Uber came to be? How the Hell would we know whether the USAers, the Brits, the Australians or the Albertans say Uber or Youber. 

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In the event that I’m not able to send photos, I’m going to included my Bahia Tomini entry link from 2017. It tells of the fabulous foods Kike and Eva prepare morning, noon and night for their guests. Back in 2016, they also established sustainability projects which now includes teaching the kids in the local village how to remove the coral destroying crown of thorns from the reef.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

And during the pandemic they kept their entire staff on board, even though they had no guests. Never enough can be said about Kike and Eva.

And the below link is Bahia Tomini’s site.