Hi friends!! It was only 2 weeks ago I dreamed about travelling and now Langkawi is gonna be opened for domestic tourists on 16 September 2021. It’s a very good sign and a ray of hope for international travelers to return next year. So… hang on! ??? Meanwhile, I’m still homesick so this week I decided to share about my Bandung trip back in 2012. Honestly, I travelled to Bandung, Indonesia mainly for wisata kuliner aka food hunting, but there are still many places that you shouldn’t miss such as Kawah Putih (the White Crater) and Tangkuban Perahu. Since it was a short trip and done many years ago, this…
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The Pandemic Pushed Me to Do Things I’ve Been Delaying for Years
If there’s one thing that I’ve been delaying for so many years, it’s exploring Indonesia. The pandemic makes me feel the ‘itch’ to do it. But now, even if I wanted to, I can’t travel to Indonesia because of the international travel restriction. Yes, although I myself am an Indonesian, I haven’t explored my wonderful country a lot – except for some famous places such as Bali, Bandung, Jogja, Toraja and Raja Ampat. If you check out the “Countries” tab of my website, you won’t see many posts about Indonesia. I’ve been delaying this dream because I wanted to “aim high” aka travel to far, far away places that require…
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Other Things to See in Toraja Besides Ke’te Kesu and Londa
There are three main reasons why most people are intrigued to visit Toraja, Indonesia: Ke’te Kesu, Londa and the funeral ceremonies. But actually, there are other wonderful things to see when you’re there! I could write a lot of blog posts about Toraja but there won’t be a lot to read as some of them are short visits. Or perhaps it’s I who want to finish writing about Toraja (hint: look at the Countries page, there are many places that I haven’t written about). Ok, without further ado, here are some places or things that you shouldn’t miss when in Toraja, Sulawesi, Indonesia: The Erotic Mountain at Buntu Kabobong, Bambapuang…
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Rambu Solo, Toraja: The Grand Funeral that Attracts Travellers from Around the World
It is grand and bizarre at the same time. But that’s exactly why people from around the world come to Toraja, Sulawesi, Indonesia – to see Rambu Solo aka the traditional funeral ceremony. In the previous post, I shared with you how Torajans respect their family highly, especially when it comes to sending the deceased to the afterlife. Noble families usually sacrifice 24-100 buffaloes. The middle-class families will sacrifice 8 buffaloes and 50 pigs. The locals believe the more buffaloes slaughtered, the faster the soul reaches heaven. As you can see from the video above, Rambu Solo is a grand funeral ceremony. It lasts for a few days/weeks and costs…
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Toraja Trip: The Ancient Ke’te Kesu’ Village and Londa Tombstone
On my second day in Toraja, I visited lots of jaws-dropping destinations like Ke’te Kesu’, Londa, Baby Grave, a historical burial site and Christ the Redeemer statue. But for this week, let me share with you about the ancient Ke’te Kesu’ village and Londa tombstone. Your trip to Toraja will be a cultural one, so make sure you don’t miss the two! Ke’te Kesu’: Family Bond, Pride and Hanging Graves If you don’t have enough money to bury your loved ones… would you sleep in the same room with the corpses and act as if they’re still alive? Making our loved ones happy is a joy to most of us.…
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Beach, Babe & BaraCoco Bungalows
Following the previous post about the digital detox trip, this week I want to recommend a beautiful beach bungalow in Tanjung Bira, South Sulawesi, Indonesia: BaraCoco Bungalows. That’s right! South Sulawesi is more than just witnessing the ‘walking dead’ ceremony, hanging coffins and historical burial sites in Toraja. If you plan to go to Toraja (August is the best month), why not end your trip with a nice stay at a beautiful beach bungalow? BaraCoco Bungalows is located right at Tanjung Bira (Bira Beach), giving you direct access to the beach whenever you want. Each bungalow has its own balcony, a queen-sized bed and a private bathroom, ensuring you have…
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Digital Detox Trip: Nature Edition in Raja Ampat, Indonesia
For this week’s blog post, I want to share an unforgettable digital detox trip experience in Raja Ampat, Indonesia 2016. Situated at the tip of The Bird’s Head Peninsula, West Papua, it’s hailed as The Mecca of Diving by divers worldwide thanks to the marine life diversity. Imagine finding 75% known corals, 1,700 species of reef fish and endangered mammals when you dive! Even better, you can go island-hopping and find yourself surrounded by gorgeous nature. Moreover, there are many beautiful white-sand beaches which you may have on your own. Talking about a much-deserved break from the city! If you love photography, Raja Ampat or the Four Kings will make…
