Sulawesi
Sulawesi Island
Sulawesi is primarily known as the home of the highland Torajans and the sea-faring Buginese who are also formidable shipbuilders and were known to have reached North Australia, Madagascar and even as far away as Cape Town, South Africa in their traditional schooners called ‘phinisiq‘. Even today, traditional sailboats race in the Sandeq Boat Race held in West Sulawesi and phinisiqs still visit islands in the archipelago carrying cargo.
Rugged mountains, virgin rainforests, lush paddy fields, highland lake and pristine beaches, the island’s dramatic geographical features share a fabulous tropical setting with an amazing variety of flora and fauna. Unspoilt reserves provide a protected habitat for the indigenous species of Sulawesi, such as the anoa, dwarf buffalo and babi rusa or pig deer.
The mind-boggling array of coral formations and a multitude of marine life found in the waters around Sulawesi offers the best possible marine adventure to be had.
Treasures Beneath The Seas
Waruga Stone Tombs Sulawesi
The northern region is a land of white sandy beaches, mountain, highland lakes and volcanoes, towered by Mount Klabat. Its main attraction is undoubtedly the famous Bunaken Marine Reserve. Alow cresent-shaped coral island ringed by a steep fringing reef, Bunaken offers white sandy beaches, a dense population of fish, coral and deep underwater gullies and valleys. A dozen or so dive sites are mostly concentrated off the south and west coast of Bunaken.
The origins of the Minahasans are found at Watu Pinabetengan where a huge anvil-shaped stone is believed to be a meeting point of seven ancient Minahasan chiefs when they marked the territorial boundary of tribal areas. Sawangan in Airmadidi is an ancient burial site littered with pre-Christian stone tombs called warugas in which the dead are burried in an upright position. Largely agricultural, the rest of North Sulawesi is covered by coconut, copra and nutmeg plantations.
Valley of The Giant Statues
The Napa and Besoa Valleys in Lore Lindu near Palu, Central Sulawesi, contain megalithic sites that date as far back a thousands of year ago. Huge stone urns, pillars and statues are scattered throughout the valley. Although of unknown origin, the stone carvings and monuments are presumably related to ancestor worship.
Bunaken Sulawesi
Central Sulawesi also offers spectaculer diving and snorkling opportunities. Large reefs around the Banggai Archipelago support a tremendous variety of marine life, such as hard and soft coral, reef sharks and turtles, school of jackfish, tunas and other species. It is also the habitat of the endemic ornamental fish called the “Banggai Cardinal Fish”.
In the Lembah Straits there are WW I shipwrecks and unsual black sand bottoms. Tomini Bay is one of the calmest bay in the world with no rough seas year round and spectaculer visibility. Here, the Togean Islands host not only all major reef formations (fringing, barrier, patch and atoll) but also a diverse marine and land species, such as the rare species of babirusa, the dugong and hawksbill sea turtle.
Southern Beauty
North of Kendari, teh capital of Southeast Sulawesi, Batu Gong Beach attracts visitors with gong-like sounde produced when waves crash against huge rocks. East of Kendari, the seven-tiered Moramo waterwall is surrounded by lush, tropical forest. The seven main terraces each create a bathing pool.
Facinating fossil reef formations and myriad of marine species, such as sperm and pilot whales, spinner and bottle-nose dolphins, dugongs are the real draw to the Wakatobi islands in the Tukang Besi Archipelago.
Small Island With Big Attractions
Napabale Lake Sulawesi
On Muna island, Napabale Lake is directly connected to the sea via a natural tunnel. At low tide, swimmers may swim along the tunnel. But high tides should be avoided as water level almost reaches the roof of the tunnel.
Marriage ceremonies on Muna island are unique events. Two days prior to the set date, the bride is locked in her room and is expected to cry. On her wedding day the bride is supposed to show a sad and forlorn face. In Katono, Lawa and Kabowo, horse fighting is a popular attraction among the locals. The game was first introduced among the gentries of Southeast Sulawesi. Hunting for deer and buffaloew are also favorite pastime.
Land of Hardy Highlanders and Skilled Shipbuilders
Bustling Makassar (formerly Ujung Pandang) is the most important city in South Sulawesi, famous for silk sarongs, silver filigree and goldworks. The 16th century Dutch stronghold, the Fort Rotterdam, is now a museum exhibiting various antiques, ceramics, old coins, manuscripts, musical instruments, costumes and ornaments.
At Bulukumba, locals still build traditional phinisiq ships the way they have been doing for hundred of years.
Tongkonan Sulawesi Traditional House
In the rich waters, dolpins, whales and dugongs are commonly spotted in the area.
Tana Toraja is located in the rugged mountains and fertile plateaus of South Central Sulawesi. The Toraja people still retain their ancestral belief of aluk to dolo. Extended families live in a series of houses called “tongkonan“. The roofs of “tongkonan” rise at bith ends like the bow and stern of a ship. According the ritual chants, these shapes are symbols of the vessel that brought their ancestors to the area. One of the most visited Torajan villages is Kt’te Kesu, a living museum of the Torajan way of life and their unique architecture.
For the Torajans, death is the most important part in the man’s circle of life. The Torajan funerals are elaborate affairs to pave the way for the dead do that they may enter the afterworld and bestow blessings on the living. At the end of ceremony, the dead are then laid to rest in cliffside stone crypts and are guarded by wooden effigies or tau-tau.
Funerals may last for several days and involve hundreds of guests and the sacrifice of many buffaloes, pigs and shickens. In addition to solemn processions, singing, feasting, dancing, cock-fighting, sisemba (kick boxing) and buffalo fights take place throughout the event.
