Sumba, Man Eater Betel and About Grave Stones ...

Sumba, Man Eater Betel and About Grave Stones ...

Meets the first time with the men who go everywhere with a machete at the waist with a red mouth because betel no doubt make me so confused, too. That's probably my first impression when i visited several villages in the interior West Sumba in the province of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT/Nusa Tenggara Timur) in the context of malaria research for 4 years in this place.

The men started from teenagers to senior citizens who have, and then passing with a machete, but eventually I knew that for them the machete is a symbol of manhood, is also a symbol of respect. A village head before we went immediately rushed into the house wearing a distinctive Sumba woven sarong, carrying machetes welcomed us pride.

And what most impressed me was the habit of chewing betel nut men Sumba. If elsewhere the common betel is women, so here also is the betel habit of men. Chewing betel nut may be similar to smoking. It feels incomplete if they do not chew betel.

They believe that in addition to delicious, healthy betel also turned out to be a drug even. Though when I tried to force to swallow because bitter taste in my mouth. The habit of chewing betel nut was not only done in the village, but it is very common in the employees in such districts weetabula city, capital of the southwestern Sumba chewing betel.

Another interesting thing from my trip to the hamlets throughout Sumba is about the grave. If on the other graves are usually far from the settlement in Sumba is usually built on the grave yard. Graves with construction as the box with a cover of stone. Formerly the stones used to build the tombs are natural stones are cut.

You can imagine how many animals are sacrificed for the making of the grave only. But now many have made such grave cement casted. Interestingly that generally remained grave built not far from their home neighborhoods and built for one family.

I had asked a Ratenggarong chief who was considered one of the old villages in West Sumba related resources of this unique cemetery. Apart from that so that has been inherited by hereditary custom he again builds stone tombs especially large and expensive with a big party it is also a proud family.

That the grave yard of the house was built, it is a manifestation of their love of the people who have gone to stay close and always be remembered. Also in another hamlet I can explain that they are saving the grave in front of the house as an indication that the family is buried there is the owner of the land where the cemetery is located.

Unique, I sometimes compare the cultures of Sumba in Toraja. There are some similarities. People Sumba and Toraja people both Christian majority but felt that the influence of custom is still very strong. For example in the matter of death and rituals. Held with great fanfare at the expense of so many farm animals such as buffalo and pigs, and in particular in Sumba is also a horse. Said a friend of Sumba, the whole issue here should be completed by a new old tradition brought to the church. How strongly they hold customary.

In Sumba are many amazing things. Exotic nature. Savanna and grassland. The horses are running free with red lips smile population.

Tradition Festival, when the knights in the battle against the agility of a stick javelin. Until the tradition of "beilis", dowries breast milk substitutes to be paid a man if you want to marry the girl of Sumba. Also a tradition to gather Nyale exotic beaches and the sea on the coast of West Sumba and West Sumba is so powerful and still a virgin. Not to mention the distinctive Sumba woven with color and exotic motifs.

Maybe next time will be narrated, and from our Sumba menitip love for all Kompasianer in Indonesia, hopefully one day can visit here.

Hidden Temple at Tanah Sunda

Hidden Temple at Tanah Sunda

Cangkuang Temple is located in the middle of a lake in the natural Kampung Pulo, Cangkuang area, Leles District, Garut, West Java. Berketinggian this place 600 meters above sea level is circled the mountains; they are Mount Haruman, Kadaleman Sand, Sand Gadung, Guntur, Malang, Mandalawangi, and Kaledong.

Hindu temple on the legacy to the century-8 is located in the middle of the lake so that it looks unique. This temple is also the first time and found the only Hindu temple in the land of Sunda. Community around temple called Candi Cangkuang. The name is taken from the family tree cangkuang (Pandanus furcatus), which are mushrooming in the area at the time of first temple.

Cangkuang temple was first found in December 1966 by Uka Tjandrasasmita (Writing History Team member West Java) based on reports Vorderman (1893) on the remains of sculpture Dewa Siwa and Muhammad Arif ancestral graves in the area Cangkuang.

In addition to temples, the research team also found a number of locations in the temple artifact originating from the four cultures, namely neolitcum, megaliticum, Hindu, and Islam. Pelita II, namely in the year 1974 until 1977, temple reconstruction can be completed. The temple building Cangkuang very simple, which is made of andesite stone without any relief. 8.5 meter high temple (m) building with a foot of 4.5 mx 4.5 m. This temple has one room with the door facing east.

Inside the temple there is a s Siwa tatue as 62 cm. Although the condition is still good but can not topple the general opinion is that developing in West Java there is no temple. And most people know the city Garut, West Java, a production with its dodol oeuvre. Cangkuang temple is located in the middle of a lake (the lake) in the natural Kampung Pulo, Cangkuang area, Leles District, Garut, West Java.

This place is a valley with an altitude of 600 meters above sea level be circled the mountain, ie, Mount Haruman, Kadaleman Sand, Sand Gadung, Guntur, Malang, Mandalawangi, and Kaledong. From Garut city center, this place is around 17 km. Not far from the square (the center of the field), from the direction toward Tasikmalaya Bandung, in the street have the green board guide also reads Cangkuang temple, complete with a direction sign panahnya.

Together with my friends, Mono, direct the car swerve to the left. At the mouth of the road there is a line drawn normal gig is a horse, we slow the pace vehicle for the road that did not fit too wide. Travel is diverting, at the far left and right eye looked disuguhi of the green rice paddy fields in the berundak-undak.

Akan but do not terlena, remain cautious because the pavement is sometimes perforated. Approximately 13 km have been followed; we met the road fork, then according to our guide that is not fully lead. "Sorry, Sir, if want to Cangkuang temple straight or right," ask me to a father who was being treated sawahnya.

The father was friendly with the purpose of showing us the direction. So, do not worry about the wrong way because there are very friendly and shows the direction of our destination. We also had time to stop in a field that small place was quite high and we can see the temple complex Cangkuang located in the middle of the lake from the top.

After that, we continue the search for a place that allows for parking of vehicles. Approximately 2 km of land we found was quite broad and we titipkan while the local population. Then, go again with the journey on foot through the lake.

Around in the lake, we see houses and a typical local resident who is fishing with a net or fishing rod. After some walking as far as 1 km, we will meet a bamboo house, no other place Cangkuang temple tour manager, as well as counter incoming payment plus rent a raft to cross the lake.

"However, why do not we park the vehicle just nearby," said Mono laughing while tickled. And indeed, in the area near the counter area available for vehicle parking.

Local residents also said that there are two alternative routes, short routes can not be passed by four-wheel drive and full path of the second path that can be passed by four-wheel vehicle to the location (the entrance counters crossing).

And to go to temple complex, we have to cross the lake using a raft that has been provided by the manager, about Rp3.000 per person. With the entry ticket is quite cheap Rp2.000 (adult) and for children enough Rp1.000 per person. Temple complex is shaped like a small island and just around the temple on foot only.

Lodging In the city of Garut is very much. For more close to the temple, you can choose lodging that is located in Cipanas, Garut. Here, there is a wide range of hotels. Price range starts Rp75.000-2000000. In addition, the confusion does not need to find a place to eat in Garut, because there are various types of restaurants, ranging up to the typical Sundanese other types of cuisine.

Towards the evening, decided to leave Kampung Pulo. Create a comfortable place where we do not want to go home.