Salassa Guest House, Bira Beach, Indonesia
As I boarded the wild and bumpy Bintang Prima bus (100,000 rupiah), my heart pounded with excitement. I was embarking on a journey to the mysterious land of Tana Toraja, where ancient burial rituals and ornate, above-ground burial houses still exist.
I arrived in Makassar and immediately set out on foot, determined to explore every inch of this fascinating land. After a 4km walk, I stumbled upon the Hotel Batupapan, where I was greeted by the friendly owner, Sigit. I couldn’t help but feel like an alien as the locals stared at me in curiosity, but Sigit was kind and welcoming. He shared with me the traditional herbal medicines used by the locals, and I couldn’t help but be fascinated by the depth and richness of the local culture.
Ancient burial rituals
As I set out to explore the villages, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe as I stumbled upon the ornate and ancient burial houses. I felt awkward taking photographs of the graves, but I couldn’t resist capturing the beauty of the rituals and traditions. I walked 15km from Londa and back to Ketu Kesu, hitched two motorbike rides and even refused to pay 30,000 for a lamp at a cave burial but, I madly snapped my flash camera among a cave filled with caskets, human bones scattered about, and massive spiders.
Lovely village walk
Everyone says hello here. Sigit took me on a bonus tour. Sigit took me on a bonus tour and I learned Corresurmonga buddha – Thank you very much in Toraja.
The long bus ride back to Makassar was a bit rough, with a woman vomiting but it did not dampen my spirits. The journey was a true test of endurance and a lovely village walk. The warmth and kindness of the locals, the depth of the culture and the stunning natural beauty of Tana Toraja, will stay with me forever.
