Bali and Manado among Top Ten Best Vacation Islands in Southeast Asia and Pacific

Acknowledging the rapid development of low cost flights and short route flights, Taiwan’s leading travel channel YAM through the YAM PK show program conducted a survey to select the Top Ten Best Vacation Islands in Southeast Asia and Pacific. The enchanting island of Bali, and the islands by the city of Manado, North Sulawesi, managed to be climb to the 3^rd and 6^th ranks of the list as representations of Indonesian wonders.

Ranked 6^th on the list, Manado succeeded to outrank Okinawa (Japan), Phuket (Thailand), El Nido (the Philippines), and Langkawi (Malaysia). Claiming 3^rd place, the paradise island of Bali outshone Saipan (Marianas), and Cologne Island (the Phillipines), and was outranked only by Boracay in the Phillipines and Koh Samui in Thailand.

The survey evaluated all destinations that can be reachedon a 6 hours' flight or less from Taipei, Taiwan. The survey was conducted in  the period of 3 weeks from 4^th to 18^th June 2014 and filtered approximately 33 vacation islands in the entire Southeast Asia and Pacific region. The survey involved over 110 thousand participants.

Also known as the Land of the Gods, Bali appeals through its sheer natural beauty of looming volcanoes and lush terraced rice fields that exude peace and serenity. Bali enchants with its dramatic dances and colorful ceremonies, its arts and crafts, to its luxurious beach resorts and exciting night life.  For this exotic island has much to offer, from inspirational spirituality to fine dining and meeting experiences, from world class surfing, beach sports, snorkeling and diving to exhilarating treks in the wild.

Recently designated as the Coral Reef Capital of the World by the World Coral Reef Conference (WCRC), Manado is the largest, most-northerly city in Indonesia, capital of the province of North Sulawesi. The city is better known for its breathtaking underwater life at Bunaken, an island directly facing this city. The translucent waters of the Bunaken seas enable people to clearly view numerous sea biota. There are 13 species of multi-colored coral reefs in this park, dominated by edge ridges and block ridges of rocks. The most attractive view is the steep vertical sloppy coral reef that plunges down as deep as 25-50 meters.

Manado also has much more to offer, and one will miss much if you do not explore this part of the Indonesian archipelago. For Manado spells fantastic diving, adventures through the wild, watch tarsiers and macaque monkeys at the Tangkoko Reserve, and enjoy its mouthwatering, fresh and healthy cuisine and cultural heritage attractions. (Indonesia.travel)