Goodbye, I've now been to Bali too!
27 de março de 2024, Indonésia ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C
Redgum lyrics
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 lookLeia mais
I'm just here for the Trepang
28 de março de 2024, Indonésia ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C
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 inLeia mais
Phinisi Harbour cruise
28 de março de 2024, Indonésia ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C
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 onlyLeia mais
Not a tourist mecca
29 de março de 2024, Indonésia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
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 ofLeia mais
The Search for Trepang
30 de março de 2024, Indonésia ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
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 kidsLeia mais
Island 2: The Search for Trepang
30 de março de 2024, Indonésia ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C
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 plantedLeia mais
The Holy Grail
30 de março de 2024, Indonésia ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C
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 guyLeia mais
Surviving Ramadan
30 de março de 2024, Indonésia ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C
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,Leia mais
Boat trip going back in time
1 de abril de 2024, Indonésia ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C
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 keepsLeia mais
Karst mountains
1 de abril de 2024, Indonésia ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C
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 ofLeia mais
One extreme to another
1 de abril de 2024, Indonésia ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C
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 airconLeia mais
Iftar meal, Ramadan at night
2 de abril de 2024, Indonésia ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C
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 tablesLeia mais
Habibie Love
3 de abril de 2024, Indonésia ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C
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, theLeia mais
The Erotic Mountain
3 de abril de 2024, Indonésia ⋅ 🌩️ 29 °C
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 theLeia mais
Tojara Tongkanon houses
3 de abril de 2024, Indonésia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
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 theLeia mais
The Living Dead
4 de abril de 2024, Indonésia ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
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-TausLeia mais
Jesus Christ, Almighty!
4 de abril de 2024, Indonésia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
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 toLeia mais
Indonesia's Stonehenge
5 de abril de 2024, Indonésia ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
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 representingLeia mais
Floating fishing village
5 de abril de 2024, Indonésia ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C
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 5Leia mais
A tale of 2 hot springs
6 de abril de 2024, Indonésia ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C
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 theirLeia mais
Ain't no mountain high enough
6 de abril de 2024, Indonésia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
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
6 de abril de 2024, Indonésia ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C
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 knewLeia mais
Friendly rivals
7 de abril de 2024, Indonésia ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C
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 culturalLeia mais
Foreigners Going Native
8 de abril de 2024, Indonésia ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C
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 EducationLeia mais
Ramadan discipline
8 de abril de 2024, Indonésia ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C
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 seafoodLeia mais



























































































































































































































