Manado is Not My Place

For almost 20 years of my life I have lived in Manado City, the capital of the Province of North Sulawesi in the northern part of Sulawesi Island, Indonesia. During that time, honestly, I never once felt like a part of the people in this city, never, and will never be.

Rude, consumeristic, hedonistic, nepotistic (especially those in the government). These traits are very common among the people of this city. It is not a stereotype but a generalisation and it is true. The people of this city is toxic and I cannot stand with it.

I don't even have any good friends here. Even if there are good friends here, they might not consider me a friend. Just because I have similar interests or in the same community with them, it doesn't mean that they and I are friends. I'm not offending anyone okay, I'm speaking in general.

Of course I will leave this city, that is for sure. I cannot be what I want to be in Manado, very not supportive. Fortunately, my mother highly supported me to leave this city. She also feels the same as me. Hope that I can get out of this city.

Even though geographically this city is beautiful, flanked by the sea and mountains, I'm sorry I cannot stay here forever. A city or country is the people of the city or country itself. If the people are bad then of course the city or country is bad. That is the case in Manado.

For the Manadonese people reading this post, I'm sorry I don't like you people in general, and you cannot do anything for that. Whatever your reaction is, it will be of no use to me. You people have mostly been nothing but bad to me while I have been here. I don't like you.

Taken on Saturday, 11 October, 2025 at 20:30 with Samsung Galaxy A05s at North Wenang Sub-district, Wenang District, Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia.