Our first visit to Manado, North Sulawesi.

We stopped overnight in Manado, planning to fly to Davao City for our MCC two-country retreat on new year's eve. Yes, the Y2K scare was in full swing. We were ready to head for the airport when we discovered our flight was cancelled. A variety of reasons were given in hopes that the fifteen of us would accept one. The airline was happy to put us up in a hotel. We were not happy to be in a hotel for three days, especially with the three children having nothing to do. After lengthy negotiations we wound up at the Tasik Ria resort outside Manado. The resort was delighted to have more than its current dozen guests for their millennium party.

The resort was a dive resort with beachfront and all the amenities. There were a lot of empty rooms. Y2K and unrest in Indonesia had hurt them badly.

The millennium beach party was quite a production. We all had hats and the entire staff performed dances, songs and skits through the evening, with fireworks at midnight. The buffet was quite something with lots of fresh fish and everything else.

We took our meals alfresco overlooking the pool.

We were able to do some of our retreat activities since we had the resource people with us, Don and Jan Reinheimer from Colorado, along with their children Ben and Lindsay.

The empty bar was a good place for worship Sunday morning.