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EdVallance Says: This island is about an hour and a half by motorboat from Siberut. It is a pleasant little place and can be walked across in about 30 minutes. There are a couple of tiny villages of people who live mainly off fishing and coconuts. If you see them at the top of a 20 metre...
EdVallance Says: Nowhere in Siberut is more than 400m above sea level, so trekking here is relatively easy. However, the low altitude also means that it's very hot and humid, and on top of this you have to do a vast amount of wading through mud, rivers and swamps. Still, it's enjoyable and...
EdVallance Says: This is where the boat from Padang, Sumatra, will land you. It's small, more of a village than a town, has no cars and has what I found to be a friendly, laid back atmosphere. Having said that, it's not somewhere you'd want to spend more time than you had to. Here you can...
EdVallance Says: Ask around when you arrive at the port in Maurusiberut. Someone will be able to take you on their motorbike to a guest house where you can stay for 30,000 per night (the price was in July 2007).
EdVallance Says: Boats leave Padang, West Sumatra, to Siberut, about 2 or 3 times a week. The journey takes 10 hours and is overnight. One boat costs 45,000 for a space on deck, or 65,000 for a bed in a room. Another costs 85,000 for a space on deck or 100,000 for a bed in a room. Book your...
EdVallance Says: One of the main elements in the Mentawai diet. This white, sugary tasting substance is made by an incredibly long and laborious process which takes several days. First the sago tree must be cut down, then hacked open, then the pith removed. Then the pith must be crushed to...
EdVallance Says: These are often used to decorate Mentawai Umas.
EdVallance Says: The Uma is the name of the long house in which Mentawai people live in the jungle. It is huge, and several families stay in one Uma.
EdVallance Says: This is the traditional clothing of the Mentawai people. It is made by cutting the bark from a tree and beating it until it becomes soft.
EdVallance Says: The Skeri, or medecine man, is still very much trusted in Mentawai culture, and some young children and teenagers are still trained to become one. They know how to make many different medecines and poisons from what they can find in the jungle.
EdVallance Says: Many people have tattoos covering their bodies, legs and faces.
EdVallance Says: Some of the people have sharpened their teeth to points to make eating raw monkey meat easier!
Bonobo2005 Says: The Mentawai have a strong believe in naturespirits, for these people depends completely on their natural environment (at least still a few clans). Everything they need is supplied by natural resources and any trouble is a sign that the spirits are angry. Whether it is a...
EdVallance Says: Don;t come here with a Minangkabau guide from mainland Sumatra, or hire one when you get to Siberut. The Mentawai people hate them bringing foreignors to the territory and making money while giving very little back to the people themselves. Coming with a Minang guide is only...
Plan a Pulau Siberut vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Pulau Siberut locals
Ask around when you arrive at the port in Maurusiberut. Someone will be able to take you on their motorbike to a guest house where you can stay for 30,000 per...
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On the island of Siberut, 9 hours off Sumateras eastcoast from Padang, there's still a small population of people who maintain their primitive jungle lifestyle. We stayed at 4 umas(clanhouses) during...
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Siberut is one of the Mentawai Islands, around 100 miles from the coast of West Sumatra. They have been separated from mainland Sumatra for 500,000 years so have unique ecosystems. The people are...
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