You speak Bahasa Indonesia?
by RoyJava
Though I got some of the Indonesian language with my parents we were not allowed to speak Bahasa Indonesia (as "outcast" Indo-generation) when youngster. Speaking some "pasar-Malay" (the former "lower" Indonesian language the colonials spoke) I managed to understand Bahasa Indonesia too. How I managed? By talking to the kids all around ... When speaking to kids the shyness disappears like snow before the sun. Yes, I like "makan sambal bajak" (eating of some hot chili sauce), go to the "pasar malam" (night-market place), and "bukan punya anak" (donot have children) ... the kids love to entertain you in a very amusing and teaching way ...
Local Belief
by RoyJava
People of all races do want to believe in rejuvenation. All sort of legends they behold as true and, the licence to the "make-me-young-again". Included the wish to keep beautiful, too!
So there still are places all over the Indonesian islands, mostly lakes or places along the kali/river, where you could get back some "beauty". A lot of young girls love to wash their faces 3 times with particular water, like in Bantimurung, Ujung Pandang, people told me. To me it must be a redemption (nothing for nothing...).
I used to be a make-up artist, you know!
Watch the Buffalo fight at Rambu Solok ceremony
by radin
Traditional buffalo fight or Tedong Ma'pasilaga in Torajan language are held during the Rambu Solok ceremonies. The Rambu Solok ceremony are the most waiting event to all tourist that came to Tana Toraja but sometimes their too focus watching the ceremony inside the village and missed to see the traditional buffalo fight that held in the paddy field near the village. The most interesting in this traditional buffalo fight is how Toraja indigenious people yelling and screaming in purpose to give spirit to the buffalo. No buffalo will die or executed in this fight, cause after one of the buffalo runs the fight was over and they will perform in others ceremonies as the star..!!.
BANTIMURUNG WATERFALL
by RoyJava
Located 42 km NE from Ujung Pandang you may enjoy BANTIMURUNG, a natural reserve and famous for its butterflies. It is a classic "objek wisata" (tourist object), a protected area. There are great waterfalls just set amid lushly tropical, and vegetated limestone cliffs.
Although crowded with Indonesian daytrippers on weekends and holidays, yet a wonderful and picturesque retreat from the heat of Ujung Pandang. The forest hills hereabout are riddled with caves ...
Just past the 15-m warerfall there's a cave at river level. Scramble along the rocks past the waterfall and get onto track. Bring a torch/flashlight to look inside the cave or, when guided by locals, enter and enjoy the thousands and thousands of multicoloured kupu-kupu (butterflies). These butterflies are famous for its beauty, once collected by the great naturalist Alfred Wallace (1629-1670). Yes, he was here!
Euhhh,... be careful of the "daun gatal", a stinging nettle. Watch some scorpions, and ... do not enter the beautifully coloured but treacherous lake . You could be disappear, for this area is notorious for its ... quick-sands!
Bira, native village and seaside resort
by global_explorer
Bira is divided in two separate parts. First there is the prosperous native village who earned its wealth during the schoonerbooms. Before that, Bira was innvolved in the trade on the spiceislands. Then there is the touristparts, made up of some hotels close to the beach. It isn’t those big ugly concretetowers known from so many seaside places around the world. I rented a cabin at Riswan bungalows. There is no wiew from there, but it is nice and a lot cheaper than the hotel on the hilltop with the wiew. The beach is pleasant enough, and outside the sandfield in the water there is a floor of corals with countless holes and crevices in it. All contain some sort of creature, and above there is a selection of fishes swimming around. You can have a nice time snorkeling here, but it is not particulary seeworthy compared to, for example Bunaken in northern Sulawesi, also covered in my page. A nice excursion from Bira takes you to the fishingvillage. It is a long walk there, so chartering something, or hoping for the ocational bemo is an option. This village is beautifull, and situated between the palmtrees close to the sea. I found people here friendly, but many was a little shy.
Trail head - half hidden, seen when approached
Butterflies to bring home
Park for picnickers
The Esplanade -where people sat and people watch
