Tana Toraja - Parting Thoughts

Tana Toraja exceeded all my expectations. This place is an anthropologist’s wet dream. Ritha suggested that I return in the future to observe the following: a ceremony to inter the coffin in the grave, visit a house with a “sick” relative who hasn’t yet had their funeral, and, finally, visit in August when various villages bring out their deceased from their graves, clean them up, give them a fresh change of clothes, and conduct other rites. I am certainly interested in doing this someday.

What was more significant about this place, though, was that pretty much nothing is put up for tourists. What you see is death - and through that, life as well - laid bare. Unadulterated. Uncurated. Not bundled into palatable little packages like our meat at home.

It is rare for me to hire a guide, but they’re practically indispensable in this situation because they have inside knowledge about what is going on. Ritha and Anto are both highly recommended. Ritha can be contacted via email at rithabalik86@gmail.com.

Ritha's Trip Advisor profile: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g…

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