Indonesia Sulawesi
Getting Around in a Becak
Last night I was at a get-together of University colleagues and during a conversation about Java one man said “I’m going there next month. It will be my first time. I want to try a bisak” I mulled this over in my thought and eventually had to ask what he meant by ‘bisak’. Of course I laughed when I realised he in fact meant ‘becak’, the very popular and cheap form of transport on a lot of the islands in the archipelago. Becaks are a three-wheeled bicycle, two wheels in the front and one at the rear, and you sit quite uncomfortably on the padded wooden seats in the front. This form of transport is literally king-of-the-road and all other manner of transport is obliged to give way to them on the roads. Becak drivers are usually lean in stature with strong-muscled legs and area mine of information should you decide to use them to get around the city you are visiting, but, ensure you bargain the price for the journey well beforehand.
Date: September 4th, 2008 |
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National Parks in Sulawesi
Across Indonesia there are several national parks that are not only beautiful and surreal to a certain aspect some are also a great attraction for divers and lovers of the oceans. The parks themselves are a hive of activity with an immense array of flora and fauna unlike any other in the world on display for the enthusiast. The island of Sulawesi is a nature-lovers delight in every facet. Its wildlife is found nowhere else in the world and it’s no wonder Alfred Wallace declared this island so fascinating. The combination of lush tropical rainforests caressing the golden sands of its beaches and the high mountainous areas make the national parks of Sulawesi a definite part of your visit there. In Indonesian national parks are threatened by the economics of the country. The biggest threat to parks is the encroachment of mankind in the pursuit of land to grow palm oil or to reap the forests of their wood. Fortunately there are conservation ‘watchdog’ groups like WAHLI and WWF to maintain the status quo.
Date: August 14th, 2008 |
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Be Careful Not to Offend Others
Being careful not to offend people on your travels is sometimes not as easy as it seems. Each country has different mores and the gestures and mannerisms you may think as normal in your home country could be offensive to the people of the country you travel in. Because Indonesia is a country where Islam is the predominant religion, there are certain mannerisms you should be aware of that could be deemed disrespectful. Most westerners really don’t give it a second thought and carry on just as they did at home and, so often I have noticed this in Bali on my many trips to that island. Fortunately, the Balinese are a liberal people and tend to disregard those westerners who behave and act atrociously and use mannerisms offensive to them. However, when you travel to the other islands within the archipelago where Islam is predominant then there are a few mannerisms you should be aware of that are considered offensive.
Date: July 22nd, 2008 |
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Wedding Rituals
Across the archipelago of Indonesia wedding rituals vary from island to island and dependant on the religion of the future wedded couple. In western society, man meets woman, they go out and do the usual (work it out for yourself!), become engaged and finally marry. In the case of my wife and I tying the knot it was rather frustrating from a westerners point of view. Take into consideration that this was during the period of the Soeharto regime when Bhuddism was not a recognised religion in Indonesia. Yes, you guessed it, my wife was a Bhuddist and, to complicate things even further, she was Indonesian born of Chinese descent. Not only that, my wife was from a very old Chinese lineage and therefore strict adherence to marital rituals had to be observed. As a westerner and a fairly laid-back guy, I respected this ‘process’. For our first year of courting we were chaperoned and I can still recall quite clearly sitting I the parlor at my wife’s parents place and having to have a member of the family present.
Date: June 13th, 2008 |
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Togean National Park: Central Sulawesi
The Togean island chain is an ecological wonder located in Tojo Una-Una regency, Central Sulawesi, about a 10-hour journey from Palu. But local people have protested against the designation of the Togean National Park. The Forestry Ministry designated a 411,373-hectare area as a marine tourism park in February 2004 following a proposal from the local government. Backed by the Tojo Una-Una regent, the Forestry Ministry then added another 362,605 ha in October 2004 to create the Togean National Park. However, local people protested against this. The Toloka Foundation, a local non-governmental group, demanded the ministry revoke its decision on the grounds that it restricted local livelihoods, while in practice leaving the park open to other kinds of exploitation. Toloka argued this was contrary to the spirit of regional autonomy.
Date: May 30th, 2008 |
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The Fasting Month of Ramadhan
In just under a week’s time the holy fasting month of Ramadhan begins in Indonesia. This month precedes the Idul Fitri celebration that marks the end of the fasting month and is an exciting time to be in Indonesia for the culinary delights available on the streets and the gaiety of it all. But first, Muslims must participate in the fast and this includes children albeit allowances are made by some families. During the month of Ramadhan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset every day and in addition to fasting, Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Qur’an. The Islamic religious observance that takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is believed to be the month in which the Qur’an began to be revealed to the Prophet Mohammed. For Muslims this is a time for inner reflection, devotion to God and self-control. In the Islamic month of fasting Muslims don’t eat or drink anything from sunrise ’till sunset. This also includes abstaining from sexual activity, smoking, partying and any other form of entertainment.
Date: August 26th, 2008 |
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The Gangs of Indonesia
Guaranteed you thought I was going to write about bunches of hoodlums that are, occasionally, found in some of the streets in the big cities of Indonesia. Sorry to disappoint you. Rather, I was referring to the small laneways, alleys and narrow streets in Indonesia that are referred to as gangs in Bahasa Indonesia. In whatever city or town you are visiting, and, if you are the adventurous and explorer type, then these gangs often yield some delightful surprises and give you an insight into the normal daily life of the Indonesian people. It’s amazing how often I have struck up a conversation with one of the locals only to find out about a place that isn’t listed in any guidebooks. These include restaurants, warungs and even artisans that ply their trade in their own backyard producing high quality pieces of merchandise far better than you would buy in the main streets or shops. I can recall one very hot day in the Chinese quarter of Semarang when I came across a tailor (penjahit) sitting at his old Singer sewing machine on the front porch of his house. He noticed the beads of perspiration on my brow and beckoned me to sit in the shade with him, rest and talk. His wife even brought out food and water for me.
Date: August 4th, 2008 |
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The Island of Sulawesi
An island with the central areas being rugged mountains, Sulawesi has a distinctive shape with four large peninsulas. It is an island famous for its culture and traditions, its panoramic beauty and has some of the most beautiful beaches in the archipelago as well as some of the best diving spots in the world. Travellers who have been to Sulawesi rave about the culture of Tana Toraja with the hanging graves in the sides of mountains and, ceremonies for the dead that are unique on this planet. But, Sulawesi is more than just that. It has some spectacular historical places to visit and cities that will leave you in awe and make you wonder why you didn’t visit the place earlier on your travels to the archipelago of Indonesia. Sulawesi has six provinces and each being as wondrous as the next. The provinces are Gorontalo, West Sulawesi, South Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, and North Sulawesi.
Date: June 27th, 2008 |
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Cultural Week: Tolitoli, Central Sulawesi
Tolitoli district in Central Sulawesi province will host a province-wide cultural and tourism week on June 15-21, an official said. “Ten districts and municipalities from throughout Central Sulawesi will take part in the cultural week. As a host, we are in the process of making a performance arena,” Head of the Tolitoli District Culture and Tourism Office Hasan Dg Manippi said.
Date: June 6th, 2008 |
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Upcoming Events in Indonesia
Along with the endorsement of 2008 as Visit Indonesia Year, a line-up of programs has been arranged to give visitors a closer encounter with the country’s magnificent culture. Here are some of the highlights to come in the next few months:
Date: May 15th, 2008 |
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