Blogs from Sulawesi, Indonesia, Asia - page 30

Well It's seems I've neglected my loyal readers for a long time now. But the truth is I wasn't really in a writting mood. But Since the weeks are piling up since the last entry I figured I better get off my ass and write something before I start to forget all the details of my life since the the last blog. I actually uploaded the pictures for this blog about a month ago now, but just didn't know what to say. On May 25th I boarded a plane from Denpessar, Bali and headed to Manado, Sulawesi. The intention being to get off the beaten path a bit and see a part of Indonesia most people don't visit. I arrived in the early hours, went to sleep in a box of a hotel room, no window, ... read more

url='/Videos/3084.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/3084.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;'eating at the funeralurl='/Videos/3085.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/3085.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;'Bullfights babyurl='/Videos/3089.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/3089.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;'llllurl='/Videos/3088.html' onclick='dialog("/Videos/3088.html?popped=1","tbvideo",600,600);return false;'hmmmm well hello again I know I know its been awhile and I promised to write more.... but well I suck:) So where are we ahhhh Indonesia I had quite a time there this was defiantly the most unique culture I'd seen and I feel by now that's a real statement. After a prolonged stay in Bali Isl. Matt, Yulianna, And I set off for the isl. Of Sulawesi this is an odd shaped isl. knid of north central Indo where cul... read more

Tana toraja-the land of the Torajas-is centrally located in the highland of southern Sulawesi. The area is fameous for the strangelooking traditonal noblemanhomes and its strong traditions connected with the death. Saying that death attract the tourists is no overstatement. I start my deathtouring in the tranquil little village of Lemo, midway between Rantepao the comercial centre of Tana Toraja and Makale witch is the administrative. It has been since 1925. The two towns are 20 minutes by kijang-car-apart. Between them there is peacefull countryside. Lemo is a obligatory stop for all visiting groups, so hardcore backpackers might want to skip it. Don’t. This is the real thing. Take a kijang from either town and ask to be dropped off at Lemo. There is a sign there,but every driver-and villager for that matter-knows exactly where you ... read more

From Terminal Mallengkeri i took the southbound kijang, Bira on the very southern tip of Sulawesi is my destination. South of Makassar the peninsula is dry and unproductive compared to the rest of the island. Agriculture isn’t as big here as further north. Instead people find their livehood in fishing, boatbuilding and saltproduction. Some places the beaches are littered with smalloutrigged canoes, other places there are saltmakingsites with large square ponds. At high tide water is let into the pond where it is sunevaporated before a new batch of water is let in. When the saltlayer is thick enough it is collected, dried, packed and distributed. Salt has for a long time been important to many locals, especially women. These days,however, localproduced salt from all over Indonesia has problem competing with salt imorted from India and ... read more

We had an early start for the second part of our Torajan adventure; there was a lot to pack into one day. The traditions surrounding funeral rites are a fascinating and rich part of Torajan culture. The emergence of christianity as a major faith in the area has introduced new values, but the more traditional animistic beliefs surrounding death and ritual are still in place today. The result is an interesting fusion of faiths. Funeral ceremonies here are a huge affair. Important for both spiritual and social reasons, a family’s funeral plans are a direct reflection of their position and wealth. As such, the expense requires the family to save a great deal of money, with which they must purchase an appropriate number of buffalo. They hold a funeral immediately after the death and then the ... read more