Painfull knowledge: Lee lost his life

During the first period of a man's life the greatest danger is: not to take the risk. When once the risk has really been taken, then the greatest danger is to risk too much.

(Soren Kierkegaard)

Yesterday I received the sad news that Lee has really had a fatal diving accident. With him we have lost a dear friend on Bunaken.
 I got to know him in 2001 during my first Bunaken vacation when he supported me to find a cottage in a small Homestay on the island. Sympathy and confidence led to the fact that he had become a reliable companion to my wife and me during the coming weeks, then also during the following years. He assisted us in communicating with the local authorities and showed us as a tour guide the nicest places of interest in Nord-Sulawesi. In the course of the years we also got to know his family and were staying in his house many times.
At last we met in 2011. At this time we still had no notion that Lee had a diver's licence or planned to do one. Thus, it is beyond our understanding that he should have died during diving. Hence, there are many questions unansered .
At the moment, however, for my family and me, but also for many who know Lee as a tour guide and hold him in high regard, the grief over a dear person is in the forefront of thinking. We express our heartfelt condolences to his wife Selvie and his both boys.
This verse of the Bible may give consolation to the family as religious Christians:

I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live

John 11:25

Hello, Bunaken friends,
I have received news that our old friend on Bunaken, Lee Parabak should have died by an accident. Can  somebody confirm this, or report to me further details about the accident? Here, as a comment or to my email address info@bunaken-klaus.de. I would be very grateful.
Your
Papa Klaus

This picture was made 2005 on our diveboat SUNGATIAH.

Papa Klaus is back from North Sulawesi

Hi,
meanwhile I have been back since one week from my this year's stay in
North Sulawwesi and I have brought again some new information from
there (not only good ones). I will update my website soon (hope in
January it is finished).. During my holidays (8 weeks) I stayed in 8
different resorts. Five of them are definitely recommendable because
of their excellent price-performance ratio.

For these of you who are planning their visit to North Sulawesi just
now I will already name the (dive-) resorts concerned with website
adress. And be patient: after the festive season I will describe my
experience there with detailled explanation and many fotos.


Until soon (after New Year's Eve) and a Happy New Year 2010!

Your Papa Klaus

Boat Sharing on Bunaken!

For the period 03-10-2011 until 30-11-2011 I have rented the Dive Boat KURNIA again. You can share it for some days with me. If you are interested you can contact me (info@bunaken-klaus.com)or ask for me on the island.
Regards
Papa Klaus

Been taken in again!

Hi Bunaken-Fans
Perhaps you remember that I warned of the deceitful activities of a so-called Tour Guide Luis in Sulawesi in August 2009. I have pointed to the risk in general also on my web page.
Now I got the report of an Italian guest once more today who had fallen into the trap of this man.
He had made a tour from Manado to the Togian Islands and to Makassar with a group in August 2009. They became acquainted with Luis Molindo over a business partner ( Mrs. M. P.) from Italy. On recommendation of her they paid in advance. They were then let down without the promised services in the middle of the island. Returned to Manado they reported the person to the police.
Therefore once again: Be wary of this Luis! He stays preferentially in the area of Poso, Gorontalo, Manado. Possibly under another name. But it is not ruled out either that he offers his services in the room Bali, Flores or Komodo now. And don't let yourself be fooled by his kind and innocent appearance!
Your Papa Klaus

Frequent Asked Questions

Hello again ...
when I came back from Bunaken at the beginning of December I found over 30 requests for suitable Dive-Resorts in my mailbox. You can imagine that it is rather time-consuming to give everybody an advice according to his special wishes.
However I also got frequent e-mails with quite general questions. About the weather in the rainy season, malaria prophylaxis, aeroplane tickets, snakes on the island etc..
I would like to safe the answers to all these questions in future and therefore add a new area named "Frequent Asked Questions" (FAQ) on my web page
If you have questions such as concerning Nordsulawesi, diving around Bunaken, Manado and surroundings, snakes on the island etc., which are not yet anwered on my website, then let me know it by a short (!!) e-mail with the subject "FAQ". The e-mail address: info@bunaken-klaus.com

I then might include it in this category.
Thanks
Papa Klaus

Good News for Backpacker

Hello Bunaken Fans!
Either some of you are poor students or pensioner, or you cannot spend a lot of money for other reasons. For example because you are on an Asian trip for a long time. Because of that you have nowhere near to do without wonderful snorkeling or diving on Bunaken.
There is still a homestay on the island, where the stay overnight with three meals costs less than 10 euros. If you care about it on time and if you are lucky you can catch even one of the three available huts, which offers a free view at the sea. I have lived there again this year for one month. You may not make any demands with respect to comfort, facilities or hygiene, though. But the meal is really palatable and varied. The native owners are very kind. However, they cannot speak any English. Therefore you should either speak a little Indonesian or you should get along more or less with sign language.
You find a possibility at my website http://www.bunaken-klaus.com/divecenter_e.htm right below how you can contact me. I then send you a detailed description, how you can reach there very cheaply and independently. If you liked, I also can reserve a cottage for you (by sms)
So long from Bavaria and
Happy New Year!
Papa Klaus