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is the largest Indonesia travel directory of Indonesia links with
its associate on Indonesia to arrange a trip that may not be able
provide by your tour operator. Our tour trip on Sulawesi can be
done on day tours or package. We tailor made your proposed
inquiries and come up with an accurate suggestion for either day
tour basis or with any sort of package.
Sulawesi,
formerly known as Celebes, is a holiday destination
that is becoming popular nowadays with those in search
of the exotic. Most interesting to visitors are the more
populated north and south regions while the central
region is a little known area rarely visited ( through,
of course, for some travelers this is the most
attractive regions . Such as ; Bada Valley ( Lore Lindu
) for its Megalithic Culture and Birding site, Togean
Islands with its fantastic under-sea-garden and its
coral reefs, and Morowali Nature Reserve.
North
Sulawesi has an abundance and variety of accommodation
and facilities available to meet the needs of travelers
from backpackers and budget class to four-star resorts.
The natural wonders of North Sulawesi make it well
suited to both organized and adventure travel. The full
spectrum of scuba diving activities is available in
North Sulawesi. The diving ranges from the magnificent
coral gardens of Bunaken Marine Park and Bangka Strait
to the walls of fishes and underwater volcanoes of the
Sangihe Islands to the unusual and rarely seen critters
of Lembeh Strait. Land-based activities focus on rain
forest hiking in Tangkoko Nature Reserve (home to the
largest concentration of black crested macaques and the
world's smallest primate, the tarsier) and Dumoga Bone
National Park (home to the fabled babirusa pig deer),
along with viewing scenic waterfalls, volcano climbing
and river rafting and even golf. Exploring the Tomohon/Tondano
highlands area, rice paddies, coconut plantations and
flower gardens rounds out the activities.
South
Sulawesi is a region of dramatic contrasts - of rugged
volcanic peaks and glistering white beaches. So it's
hardly surprising the region is home to two vastly
different peoples - the seafaring Bugis and the
mysterious highland Torajans.
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You'll
drive through spectacular mountain,
steep terraced slopes and tall bamboo
forests to arrive in a true paradise of
un-spoilt natural beauty. (You'll have
no trouble understanding why the
Torajans believe their forefather were
descended from heaven, for this is
heaven on earth). Most visitors can't
wait to see the Toraja tombs - man-made
caves cut into sheer cliff faces with
eerie effigies on suspended balconies
staring out across the jungle.
In
Toraja Culture a funeral isa festive
event and elaborate rites are performed
to ensure that souls pass to the
afterworld in an appropriate manner.
Families spend much on these feasts and
if you're fortunate to be here for a
burial ceremony you should be sure to
contribute something such as food, soap
or perhaps even money to assist the
family.
Be
warned, though, some parts of the
ceremony are not for the faint-hearted
--- the slaughter by single sword stroke
of a scared buffalo is common. |
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Funeral
ceremony usually last about a week with the
feasting , chanting and dancing continuing
throughout the night. It is on the last day that
the coffinis hauled carefully up the mountain
side to the family gravesite amidst great
shouting and excitement. The best known grave
sites are at Lemo and Londa. Here the
effigies are those of noblemen and other
high-ranking community leaders.
You'll
also be struck by the unusual architecture of
the traditional Toraja house,the "tongkonan".The
roof rises at both ends like the bow and stern
of a ship and legend has it that this was the
shape of the vessels that carried their
ancestors here.
For
a different experience visitors drive up for the
trip to North Sulawesi, home of the friendly
Minahasan people. As a result of Portuguese,
Spanish and Dutch missionaries this is one fo
the most Christianised places in Indonesia.
Another heaven on earth, complete with beautiful
coral reefs, white sandy beaches and clear,
clear water. In the highlands there are lakes
and invigorating hotwater springs. For nature
lovers there is plenty of wildlife and easy
jungle walks nearby. If you're a scuba
diver,you'll even find gear and boat available.
There
are also a number of interesting towns around
the delightful Lake Tondano that you will want
to visit. And while in the area, be sure to see
the ancient megalithic monument known as Watung
Pinabetengan. It's a mysterious, huge,
anvil-shaped stone covered in as yet
undeciphered.
The
Bugis-Makasarese communities are known for their
rigid social codes already regulated in their
customs within the concept of pangadereng
(beliefs) - which underline their social
dynamic. Inherited customary rules were
inscribed on Lontar leafs, called Latoa, which
emphases the essence that God is the pivotal
point of human life and this philosophy begets
honesty, justice and wisdom as the primary
virtues
The
Toraja land is situated amidst mountainous
surrounding, the natural scenery is admirable,
although the biggest appeal of Toraja is its
traditional ceremonies.
While
Islam is deeply rooted among Bugis-Makasar
people, the Christian religions have replaced
animism among the dwellers of Toraja highland.
However old beliefs called Aluk Todolo still
remain. Aluk Todolo in the Toraja language means
ritual for the ancestor whom considered in
contact with their descendants lives. The
construction of their traditional houses is
characterized by ritual. The shape of the roof,
which is like the paws of a sail boat seems to
retain the memory of big boats that carried
their ancestor-presumably from Indochina arround
2,500 years B.C.A. Buffalo is not just an animal
to help their ploughs in the rice field, but
also assumes a symbolical existence. It is the
form of life to sacrifice in honoring their
genealogical roots, specially if the buffalo of
big size with long horn. The most exclusive one
is that with skin (albino), the Torajan believe
in the continuance of life after death. This
gives them the reason to work and accumulate
wealth so as to avoid difficulties in the
hereafter. The buffalo and pigs are sacrificed
to accompanied them later. |
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| Dive
the clear waters, steep walls and world-class
coral gardens of Bunaken Marine Park. Visit
Bangka Strait for an encounter with whales,
manta rays and other pelagics. Sail to the
Sangihe Islands and dive in search of a sunken
city, through walls of fishes or on an
underwater volcano. Explore Lembeh Strait and
discover its rare and unusual marine life and
WWII shipwrecks. Whether you are a novice or an
expert, we have the diving for you.
Visit
the highland towns of Tomohon and Tondano. Clove
and coconut plantations, rice paddies and flower
gardens fill our highlands with the same beauty
and serenity found in our smiling people. Visit
a small pottery village and a Chinese Buddhist
Temple. Pack a lunch and hike to a mountain
waterfall. Enjoy a soak in one of our hot
springs. Overnight at a cottage on Lake Tondano.
Relax in the peaceful atmosphere and cool
mountain air, far from the hustle and bustle of
everyday life |
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