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The Glossary

kotamadya - "municipality"

From Indonesia Glossary

Stepping into Sulawesi is like entering into two different worlds at the same time. This spider-shaped island might be Asian in location but it is largely Australian in wildlife. Sulawesi's Lore Lindu National Park keeps a good sample of the island's 127 mammals, of which more than half are found nowhere else on the planet. These include the anoa or dwarf buffalo, the pig-like babirusa, the Sulawesi palm civet, and the pocket-size primates tarsiers and macaques. The rarest and smallest shrimps and snails can be found in its waters. Indeed, this island is so full of rare, live "collectibles" that Sulawesi is now also at the heart of preservation efforts in Indonesia, regularly on-call for volunteers and extra hands on the conservation deck.

Although Sulawesi's mountainous center was plagued by Muslim-Christian misunderstandings in recent years, this island, which is the 11th largest in the world, is still high on the map of off-the-beaten-track seekers. Many visitors still land their airplanes in the capital and largest city, Makassar, to dive in the marine park of Bunaken and the white-sand beaches of Togian Islands, or to stretch their hiker's muscles and be astounded by the eerie burial practices at the highland Tana Toraja.

The place has active volcanoes for climbing and hiking trails at Tangkoko National Park. Manado is where the rare Dinosaur-like Coelacanth was trawled by fishermen, while Maros and Berru are where Stone Age shelters and tools can be found.

Ikat weaving is Sulawesi's best-known craft, and the weaving styles are as varied as Sulawesi cuisine. The best-known of the island's dishes are the northern Manadonese or local recipes with a Dutch twist. Spiced bat and dog dishes are perhaps among those most challenging to the palate.

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