Sulawesi is distinctively known from its unique shape that resembles the letter "K". Located in the centre of the Indonesia's archipelago, Sulawesi it self is divided in to 4 parts: the southern of Sulawesi Selatan, the central region of Sulawesi Tengah, and the northen region, Sulawesi Utara and the newest one Gorontalo. For those traveller who have the thirst to explore the rainforest, scuba diving in the world's renown coral, endless padi field, or simply sipping mojito in a five star beach, resort, North Sulawesi has it all.
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The north of the island contains untouched rainforest. The largest and main ethnic, the Minahasans, is the largest component of North Sulawesi's population. The Minahasans historically and culturally has strong ties to the Philippines due to its geographical location which allow movement of people and languages, their dialects are related to that of filipino languages. Portuguese traders were the first Westernes to come in contact with the people of North Sulawesi in 16th century, notably, the Minahasans were very welcoming to the westeners,especially the Duch whom they asks during the mid-17th century to expelled the spaniards out of North Sulawesi. From the begining of the Dutch occupation in 1679 until the independence of Indonesia in 1945, the Dutch monopolized the spice trade and governed North Sulawesi. Thus starting 1800, the Dutch planters started growing coffee in this region and the Minahasans began to be come good agriculturalist, shared valued, and customs lead to the growing closeness between the Minahasans and Dutch. The closeness with the colonial power then lead the Minahasans become known as the "12th Province of Holland".
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