Tomohon: Horse Carts Parade

So, I’m back again for the umpteenth time to introduce more of my world, mostly about my hometown which you might start to get familiar with: T-O-M-O-H-O-N. There are thirty-five villages in Tomohon spread over five sub-districts.

Though it’s a new city, which officially inaugurated in 2003, but in the past seven years every Tomohoner has seen the fast development and change in its infrastructure, economic growth, and especially in tourism-related events.

When I was a little child, I usually got a fever every time I went down to Manado – the capital of North Sulawesi Province (about 25km / 15 miles away and reachable within 30 minutes drive through the winding road) due to a temperature difference; the average temperature in Tomohon during day time is between 17 – 30°C and 16 – 24°C at night, while in Manado the average temperature is between 24 to 30 °C. But now I am used to go back and forth on a daily basis with no bad affect on my body temperature.

Cool weather and fertile soil bring so much benefit to the local farmers to grow tropical plants including vegetables and flowers. We can even easily cultivate flowers, vegetables and spices at the backyard.

On January 26^th, 2009, we celebrated Tomohon’s 6^th Anniversary in which “Pawai Bendi” (or horse carts parade) hit the main road with their own unique decorations mostly by using marigold flowers; since Tomohon is also well-known as the City of Flower.

These horse carts are also part of public transportation here but they just serve some limited routes namely to Matani, Walian, Kaaten, and Kolongan villages (those which are closer to downtown). The fare is Rp.2.000 and they have their own station which is in front of Bethesda Public Hospital. But if you are in the vicinity of those four villages and want to have a ride, you can stop one when you notice it empty (without any passengers) or there is a space available.

Below are some photos I took nearby Tomohon downtown, the day when the parade was held.

Representative from my village 🙂

Say "cheese" 🙂

Just another 'proud contestant'

Coffee mix??

Enjoy the clip-clop sound of the horses hooves!

Tomohon vs Pasadena

I never realize that my hometown, Tomohon, has so many beautiful things to share until I start running this blog. 🙂

Since 2006, there has been a popular annual event held in an effort to promote the tourism aspect from this small so called City of Flower 🙂

That event is called Tomohon International Flower Festival which covers three major agenda namely:

• Tournament of Flower
• Queen of Flower Contest
• Tomohon International Choir Competition

Tournament of Flower features fantastic floral floats which represent the landmark of the participants’ hometown or home country. The parade route covers about 7km (about 4 miles). In the previous Tournament of Flower, the participants were from the provincial capitals and some major cities in Indonesia, also from some other countries like Vietnam, North Korea, Russia, India and Malaysia.
But this year, according to what I read from the local newspaper, the number of participants will be limited only for 50 participants. This event will be held again this year on August 8 – 12, 2012.

I’ve watched on TV the Tournament of Roses in Pasadena which was held on January 2012. It was spectacular!

Hereby, I’d like to share some photos of Tournament of Flower in Tomohon (all photos are not mine; I just took them from many sources in the internet – thanks to them all!)

The largest floral carpet in the world

This floral carpet (49 x 79.2 meters) was claimed to be the largest in the world and got an acknowledgment from MURI (Museum Record Indonesia). It took place behind the old Mayor Office (ex-rindam building) – see my older post in January (The Beast Inside the Beauty). At the background were the floats of different & unique shapes. Most of the flowers used are Mary gold, church lily, Japanese Aster, Tuberose, Chrysanthemum, and some rare orchids, also cordilive, cadaca, and asparagus leaves

Minahasa Bamboo Clarinet Instrument

Local Legend of Minahasa

Well, I plan to replace some of these images with the bigger ones once I receive it from a friend of mine..so, just wait.. 😀

I am proud to be a ‘Tomohonese’ 😀

Simply Recalling Old Photos

“You’ll never know that you love a thing until its gone!” More or less, that’s what I’m feeling right now as I pick these old pictures from my computer. I’m talking about the flowers as well as a Nikon D80 camera, which used to be my unexpected-gift ever,  a couple of years ago..

The flowers are gone and so is the camera..there is a story behind it, which I think is unnecessary to share here.. and the fact is I feel so sad remembering that I was once going everywhere with that camera..

But I learn something that I lost the camera for a greater gift in my life: a family..so at least, it’s worth-it.. I could try to save money & try to get another one someday..hope soon, of course..

Loosing something special is preferable than loosing someone special 😉 I believe I could get a better camera soon & will use it to its maximum function: keep capturing the beauty of this nature, universe, people around me, and could be anything…anywhere…anytime..

So, below are some flowers I took at my house yard couple of years ago. I’m just trying to cherish them, the camera, and that old time of my passion in photography!