Goodbye, I've now been to Bali too!

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Qantas flight 20, Denpasar, meals and accom', rent-a-car
I've been to Bali, I've been to Bali too
Took a two week course at a suntan clinic
So lying round legian and I wouldn't lookWeiterlesen
I'm just here for the Trepang

I'm visiting Makassar because my friend Budi is working here, supporting students to research the Makassin sailors who went to Arnhem land for trepang (sea cucumber).
There will be a symposium inWeiterlesen
Phinisi Harbour cruise

After the session with the students Budi organized for me and his coworker, Yoyo to go on a sunset harbour cruise on a traditional Makassin sailing boat, a Phinisi.
Because it's Ramadan I was the onlyWeiterlesen
Not a tourist mecca

You can see that the government had put some effort to make Makassar a tourist destination. However, the tourist sites are now very rundown if not closed completely. Fort Rotterdam was the centre ofWeiterlesen
The Search for Trepang

Budi and some students rented a boat to visit offshore islands to find any remaining Trepang fishermen. I just tagged along.
The first island was very small and we were constantly being beeped by kidsWeiterlesen
Island 2: The Search for Trepang

The second island was bigger with a large mosque and cemetery where the big trees were allowed to grow. We found a large tamarind tree. There are also tamarind trees in Arnhemland which were plantedWeiterlesen
The Holy Grail

Budi talked to some fishermen and suddenly one jumped up and said to follow.
There they were. Trepang drying in the sun. This was what the fuss is all about. Ugly things really.
Then an older guyWeiterlesen
Surviving Ramadan

Ramadan didn't really affect me in Bali as it is mostly Hindu. But Makassar is very different. All cafes are closed in the morning until 1pm. So even though the breakfast at my hotel is hopeless,Weiterlesen
Boat trip going back in time

Budi and Fikri (the project organiser) hired a car to take us up to Rammang Rammang, a region in the Bantimurung- Bulusaraung National Park.
This area can only be accessed by small boats. This keepsWeiterlesen
Karst mountains

What's so special about Rammang Rammang is that it is the 2nd largest Karst region in the world. So there are these amazing mountains surrounding the village. It was originally a lake at the base ofWeiterlesen
One extreme to another

After going back in time at Rammang Rammang, what should you do?
Go to a super mall of course.
This one is more environmental, open to the air, with green walls and waterfalls.
This uses less airconWeiterlesen
Iftar meal, Ramadan at night

Iftar is the meal Muslims can have after sunset during Ramadan. And what a sunset tonight. Very spectacular. Should have done a timelapse video but I didn't expect it.
Vendors set up chairs and tablesWeiterlesen
Habibie Love

I found Ikhsan, a driver and tour guide to take me out of Makassar, along the coast and up the mountains to Tana Toraja (land of the Toraja people).
First stop was the port of Pare-Pare, theWeiterlesen
The Erotic Mountain

Next stop is Gunung Nona, The Erotic Mountain.
I'm surprised at such a conservative culture celebrating women's private parts. Anyway the views are amazing in all directions as we go up into theWeiterlesen
Tojara Tongkanon houses

The first thing you notice in Tana Tojara are the amazing traditional tongkanons (chieftain's houses) with their upturned roofs. The tradition tells the story of how their ancestors paddled up theWeiterlesen
The Living Dead

The Tojara have very different funeral rites. They bury their dead in caves or tombs that are chiselled out of rock faces. Or in coffins hanging on the rock face.
Then the wealthy make Tau-TausWeiterlesen
Jesus Christ, Almighty!

In Indonesia everyone needs to identify which of the 6 major religions they belong to. Animism or atheism are not options. Most Toraja chose Christianity as a reaction against possibly being forced toWeiterlesen
Indonesia's Stonehenge

Ancient Toraja didn't place Tau-Taus to commemorate the dead. Instead they embedded menhirs or standing stones in the ground. At Kalimbuang Bori there are 102 menhirs placed in circles representingWeiterlesen
Floating fishing village

In Cambodia I went to a floating fishing village on Tonle Sap (lake) which had lots of houses and its own school and shops. This village on Lake Tempe was not anywhere near that. There were only 5Weiterlesen
A tale of 2 hot springs

In Bali, Carol and I went to hot springs at Lake Batur which were very clean, well maintained, busy and expensive. These hot springs at Hakata Lejja were the complete opposite but beautiful in theirWeiterlesen
Ain't no mountain high enough

After leaving the hot springs we had to take the road back over the mountains to Barru on the west down to Makassar. Completely dreadful road but great scenery.
Karaoke and Catfish

On our drive back from Toraja I asked Ikhsan about what music he liked. He said he had played in a band that played 90s music, Greenday, Blink 182 etc. I said I was a child of the 70s. He only knewWeiterlesen
Friendly rivals

Like Australia and New Zealand, Indonesia and Malaysia are friendly rivals. They argue over things like who invented Beef Rendang and who has the best football team.
They have the similar culturalWeiterlesen
Foreigners Going Native

While I've been in Indonesia I've been reading this great book by Elizabeth Pisani, Indonesia Etc, about her travels in Indonesia. She was a journalist there for 3 years then ran an Aids EducationWeiterlesen
Ramadan discipline

The food here is really good. Especially if you like seafood. Tonight Budi organized a dinner for the university staff he is working with and their families. Budi and Fikri chose the fish and seafoodWeiterlesen