Showing posts with label South Sulawesi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South Sulawesi. Show all posts

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Tara-Tara
Tara-Tara. 15 km further southwest from Tasik Ria this village has traditionally been the center of Minahasan culture and arts. Traditional dances enthrall on the open air at Kemer Garden. There are World War II at Japanese caves at the Ranowangko dam, and the Kemer natural bathing spot nearby in the shadow of volcano lokon, mount Kasehe and mount Tatawiran.


Bukit Kasih Toar Lumimuut
Bukit Kasih Toar Lumimuut is a beautiful hill remains historical chronicle, situated in the vicinity or Kanonang Village, Minahasa Regency 55 km from Manado and easily reached by public bus from Manado’s Karambasan bus terminal heading for Kawangkoan then take a mikrolet or ponny trap “Bukit Kasih” or Hill of Love is a spiritual epicenter where followers of different faiths (Christian, Catholic, Islam, Hinduism and Buddism) commune, medicate and worship in the fresh air of open natural atmosphere.


Manado Tua Island
Manado Tua Island. Manado Tua is the main island of the Manado Bay group. A path to the top of Central Mountain takes several hours to climb, but the view takes in all the islands in Manado Bay. The beach is a mixture of white sand and coral formations. The reef lines the coast of Tangkoko Batuangus in a nature reserve. A permit should be obtained from Sub Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam (Nature Conservation Office) in Manado, before heading for this reserve.


Waruga Cemetery
Waruga Cemetery. This ancient cemetery of Minahasan ancestor consists of 144 stone sarcophagi, remnants of the megalitic age. “Waruga” sarchopagi are unique square stones with holes in the middle and prism shaped lids. The tombs are carved with various motifs such as humans’ beings, plants, animals, and traditional geometrical motifs like clouds, strings, curls and double braids. The cemetery is located in Sawangan village, about 24 km from Manado.


Japanese Monument
Japanese Monument. Since Bitung play important role during the Pacific War as home base for Japanese Imperial forces, it becomes the last resting place for their soldier who died in the area. The Japanese and North Sulawesi governments jointly founded this monu¬ment.


Manado
Manado Modern Manado is an engaging, prosperous city. Like Jakarta, it has an impressive variety of eye-cacthing statues, and an interesting mix of Indonesian, Filipino and Chinese cultures and architectural styles. Although Manado has its own port, the principal deep-water port northern Sulawesi is at Bitung, about 48 km from Manado. This seaport serves domestic and international sea trade.


Paotere Harbor
Paotere Harbor is a place to anchor phinisi, the traditional Buginese ships that famous for it sails across from Pacific Ocean to the African coast.


Tomb of Sultan Hasanuddin
Tomb of Sultan Hasanuddin. Sultan Hasanuddin (1629-1690) was famous for his exceptional bravery in his struggle against colonial encroachment in South Sulawesi. His huge crypt and those of other kings of Gowa are located in a secluded cemetery not far from Sungguminasa, about 8 kms from Makassar. Just outside the walls of the cemetery; a small fenced-off plot contains the Tomanurung stone on which the kings of Gowa were crowned in pomp and splendour. Not far from the tombs is the oldest mosque in the area, built in 1603.


Sungguminasa
Sungguminasa. Formerly the seat of the kings of Gowa, Sungguminasa is an old wooden palace, 11 kms from Makassar. Now the Ballalompoa Museum, weapons and royal costumes are on display. The royal regalia which include a stone studded gold crown weighing 1,769 grams can be seen only on special request.

Soppeng
Soppeng is one of the former kingdom as written in the ancient “Lontara” script this town has abudance of bats flying around.


Batumonga
Batumonga is located I about 1,300 meter above sea level and there are 56 menhir stones which height of 3 meter. The beautiful view of Rantepao and its surrounding valley can be seen from this site.


Tanaberu
Tanaberu in Bulukumba is widely known as a place for making traditional boats. In the dry dock, we can see a great number of phinisi boat.

Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi-Land of The Heavenly Kings


The road from Makassar or Ujung Pandand to Toraja runs along the coast for about 130 km's and then hits the mountains. After the entrance to Tana Toraja you enter a majestic landscape with giant gray, granites and stones and blue mountains at a distance after passing the market village of Mebali. They form a sharp contrast with the lively green of the fertile, rain-fed terraces and the rusty read of the tropical laterite soil. This is Tana Toraja, one of the most splendid areas in Indonesia.

Tana Toraja has a specific and unique funeral ceremony which is called Rambu Solo. In Tana Toraja, dead body is not buried, but it is put in Tongkonan for several times, even can be more than ten years until the family have enough money to held the ceremony. After ceremony, the dead body is brought to the cave or to the wall of the mountain. The skulls show us that the dead body is not buried but just put on stone or ground, or put in the hole.The funeral festival season begins when the last rice has been harvested, usually in late June or July, and lasts through to September.

  • By Air
    Directly from Hasanuddin airport, Makassar or Ujung Pandang, proceed to TANA TORAJA (twice a week on tuesday and friday) through the airport of Rantetayo, near Makle, 24 km south of Rantepao and there is a bus service to town.

  • By Land


    Buses to Rantepao from Ujung Pandang leave daily from Ujung Pandang. The journey takes 8 hours and includes a meal stop. Tickets should be bought in town but coaches actually leave from DAYA bus terminal, 20 minutes out of town by bemo. Coaches typically leave in the morning ( 7 am ), noon ( 1 pm ) and at night ( 7 pm).
    Several companies in Rantepao run buses back to Ujung Pandang with the departure time and prices. The number of buses each day depends on the number of passengers.

Tourist who wants to stay in the heart of the city has many choices since there is lot of hotels available. Or if you had an adventurous soul, you can sleep in villages on the way.

Bemo is the best way to get to know the locals, besides chartered vehicles (minibuses and Jeeps) with or without driver. While you are in the village you can take a walk to move around.

  • Exploring the market; You should not to be missed going to the traditional market. Here you can get the top end of Toraja coffee beans [like Robusta and Arabica]. And several local veggies, fruits Tamarella or Terong Belanda and gold fish [ikan mas].
  • Visit Batu Tumonga Plateu; It means stone that facing to the sky. From here can be seen many volcanic stones comes up in between padi fields. And, several giant stones became cave graveyard. The views is pretty awesome. The huge of Tana Toraja [Toraja land] looks so lush and greenery. Like a patchwork in gradation hue of green color
  • Palawa is an excellent village to visit a Tongkonan, or a burial place still swarming with celebrations and festivals.
  • Take a side trip from Rantepao to Kete, a traditional village with excellent handicraft shops. Behind the village on a hillside is a grave site with lifesize statues guarding over old coffins

Most of the times, you can't eat at these locations; however more warung and restaurants appear along the road. You can also bring your own foods and drinks.

There is a souvenirs shop where you can buy everything specific from Tana Toraja. There are clothes, bags, wallets and other handicrafts.

  • Visitor are expected to adhere to local dress customs and to bring a token present, such as cigarettes or coffee whenever entered Tongkonan.
  • As roads are not always paved, it is necessary to use a jeep or walk, even when the weather is good (between May and October).
  • Beware with your head whenever going inside to Tongkonan, The Torajan traditional house.
  • Enrekang, Makale and Toraja Higland are surrounded by astonishing volcanic rocky cliffs. Do not miss it , just stop and take picture for awhile and you will not regret.

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