Chris Jennings says . . .

Tour Locations: Bunaken Marine Park (Siladen and Bunaken Islands), Puleh Weh (Sabang, Banda Aceh), Banda Islands, Raja Ampat, Ambon, and Lembeh

My great love is snorkeling and I spend hours a day in the tropical water whenever I can. Eddie also has a great love of snorkeling and is a great companion in the water. He has superb eyes and the patience that catch things underwater I miss despite years of experience. Somehow I won the lottery and spent part of the pandemic lockdown with him on Siladen Island. We were lucky this time to see a dugong, alogn with eagle rays large and small, among other great things.

I’ve known Eddie since 2004 and can eminently recommend him as a guide and traveling and social companion. Out of the water, Eddie is a cheerful and social soul who naturally engages with people as you transverse the country which has opened up glorious opportunities to socialize in familial settings. This time, during the pandemic, social mixing wasn’t possible, but when my camera fell off my weight belt in shallow water – the ring rusted through – a local fisherman lent Eddie his boat for us to search in low sun of late afternoon.

A man of many talents, Eddie cooked local marine delicacies sold to him by the local fisherman who give him a holler when they’ve got something special. We ate trevally, yellow fin tuna, and squid. We also ate of some of the best local street food in the Manado public harbor including octopus, clam, and chicken – all rica (spicy!). I miss the coconut milk just writing this.

Thanks to Eddie’s guidance, I’ve visited a number of key marine sites throughout Indonesia at the best times and circumstances. I plan to return again to travel with Eddie to some lesser known manta and whale shark locations. And more critters too.

Chris Jennings, United States & Germany, September 1, 2020