TESTIMONIALS

Testimonials are not yet available from riders who’ve done the Central Sulawesi trip because its not been done before. What follows is excerpts about the tour leader from tours to other parts of Sulawesi. Full testimonials are available, just send an email letting me know you’d like a copy. Also, all of the riders below are happy to talk with anyone interested in cycling in Sulawesi with Colin.

Toraja (February 2010)

I’ve done two of Colin’s Sulawesi trips. I did South South Sulawesi and six months later I did the Toraja trip. They were both fantastic; filled with well organized, different and exciting activities. The cycling was excellent with some great hills and challenges. I’m not one to get excited about hills, but when the scenery is as beautiful as that in Sulawesi, even the hills look good!!! Torajan culture and architecture is nothing I’ve seen before. Every day was a new experience and a new discovery. The only thing that was constant is the friendliness of the local people, who always had time for chat. I highly recommend this trip to anyone looking for a stress-free, well organized, fun cycling holiday with some adventures (for good measure).

Ibi Losoncz, Ibolya.Losoncz@anu.edu.au

I did the South South Sulawesi trip in August 2009. The heat and hills nearly killed me but the support of the group and the friendliness of the Indonesian people – especially the kids – helped make up my mind to sign up for the February 2010 Toraja trip.

Paul Nicol (retired accountant)

How fortunate I was to have heard about this amazing trip to Indonesia … it was obvious that to enjoy Sulawesi and begin to understand the people, language and culture would have been impossible without the in depth knowledge provided by Colin Freestone and his crew. It was an extraordinary experience – lots of cycling, eating and sightseeing in a little known part of the world which for Australians is virtually on our doorstep.

Charlie Farren (retired teacher), farren@onedaysoon.net

I did Colin’s South South Sulawesi and after it wrote that it was ‘awesome’… Our groups had a range of cycling strength and experience but Colin kept us all together so that our spirits were always high. A terrific cycling, cultural and social experience.

Scott Main (bike shop owner), ironmain@bigpond.net.au

Colin has a long association with Indonesia and is strongly motivated to share his love of the country and its people with groups of fellow cyclists … As Colin was keen for us to interact with the local people, he put some effort into Bahasa language sessions … Colin is an excellent group manager who aims to get everyone to the finish … smiling; and that is how it unfolded for our group of strong and not so strong, older and younger riders. Managing a group adventure like this is a gargantuan task, and Colin coped with all eventualities expertly and sensitively; somehow, everyone’s preferences seemed to be accommodated throughout. I wouldn’t be surprised to find myself on the 2011 (Central Sulawesi) trip with others from this one.

Lesley Hale (active retiree)

South South Sulawesi (August 2009)

Colin was professional, enthusiastic, knowledgeable which made it a HELL of a lot easier to interact with people of Sulawesi and gain a feeling of the life on the island …, yes, the tour was well organised. I’ll be sure to sign up again for another trip.

Jennie Attrill (nurse, 27), jennie_attrill@hotmail.com

I enjoyed myself so much so on this trip that I’ve decided to do a second Sulawesi adventure … to Toraja …

Paul Nicol (retired accountant 65), paulthozet@yahoo.com.au

Colin has had long experience in this part of the world and is very comfortable with local customs and language, and in putting together this trip, has got it ‘just right’. The organisation of the journey is unseen and everything just happens, seemingly without being arranged.

The trip simply puts you in a position where you can feel you have done it on your own and this is where it is very different from other trips.

Rob Wildman (human resource manager, 54), rwildman@optusnet.com.au

The organisation of the trip was excellent. It was well planned, but with room for spontaneous activities. The group was well supported in every aspect; bike mechanics, refreshments including fresh local snacks at the stops, yoga classes, fantastic dinners, and accommodation.

Ibi Losoncz (PhD student, 46), Ibolya.Losoncz@anu.edu.au