Tana Toraja: A Decade of Tourism

The Indonesian island of Sulawesi, or Celebes, was once famous as the homeland of Buginese traders and pirates. Until recently, however, little was known in the West of the hundreds of thousands of Toraja people who lived in the mountainous interior of the island.

In the early 1970s, the West suddenly discovered the Toraja. Within a decade, Toraja sculpture was exhibited in major North American museums (1981), and tour groups led by well known Anthropologists and Social Scientists visited the regency described by a Museum of Natural History brochure as "the land of the heavenly kings of Tana Toraja." All this was the outcome of a shift in Indonesian government policy in the late 1960s, when the government embarked upon a vigorous promotion of tourism as a means of generating foreign exchange.

The Sultanate of Buton

To the southeast of the Sulawesi mainland, Buton Island remains part of the Province of SOUTHEAST SULAWESI. Long before the independence of Indonesia and the unification of Buton with the rest of the country, Buton was a kingdom. This existed from the 14th to the 16th centuries. After this, and until Indonesia's independence, it remained a Sultanate.

During the Sultanate period, residents conducted trade and communicated with both China and the Majapahit Kingdom, on the island of Java. Interestingly, the first ruler who governed this region was a queen and the last ruler was a king. It was the last ruler, King Laki Laponto, who became the first Sultan Of Buton.

A paradise for divers at Wakatobi

Wakatobi Island, an area located in the Banda Sea area of Southeast Sulawesi is a tourist destination which was fantastic as a diving and tourism attractions that  Indonesia Sea have.
Miracle Sea Bottom and the best coral reefs in the world makes Wakatobi as one tourist destination (especially diving tourism) which you must visit for you lovers of Diving.

Wakatobi Resort offers world-class diving is supported by a spectacular house reef as well as easy access to dive sites with a diversity of marine life coupled with the security and convenience in conducting activities that are guaranteed diving with marine protected areas.

Gorontalo, Hidden Paradise on the Equator

There are just so many things that make Gorontalo perfect for holiday, the beauty of its nature, the culture and not forget to mention, the friendly people. General information about Gorontalo, stated at North Sulawesi. Mountains, hills, shore line are the main characteristic of Gorontalo and it makes the island perfect for marine tourism.

Most of diving site take you just a few minute from town, Diving in Gorontalo mean diving within the richness of biodiversity, health and unique coral and reef

Bugis People

The Bugis people live in the province of South Sulawesi covers an area around 100.457 square kilo meters, with total population around 5.600.000. This people is famous for their expert in sailing on the deep ocean. The Bugis region is called Tellumponcoe, and it consists of the regencies of Bone, Wajo, and Soppeng. There are also Bugis people settled throughout the regencies of Luwu, Sidenreng, Polewal Mamasa, Pinrang, Pare-pare, Barru, Pangkajene, Maros, Bulukumba, and Sinjai. The Bugis are a dynamic and highly mobile people, considered by many to be the dominant people group in South Sulawesi. Many Bugis have left their home area to seek success and wealth. In particular, they have migrated to Sumbawa, Jawa, Papua, and even Malaysia. Their Ugi language is divided into several dialects, namely Luwu, Wajo, Bira Selayar, Palaka, Sindenreng Rappang and Sawito.

Place of Interest in North Sulawesi

Bunaken Marine Park is not the only place that we can see the rich diversity of North Sulawesi's flora and fauna. North Sulawesi's and mountaneus regions also offers rich diversity of flora and fauna. In North Sulawesi we can find some distinctive endemic animal species to Sulawesi island, which are the rare anoa, tailless monkey and the inexplicable babirusa, literally meaning "pig deer" (babiroussa). The latter are considered the most peculiar mammals of Sulawesi and are protected by law. There are 2 species of anoa (dwarf buffalo). One with smooth conical horns is living in the mountains while the lowland anoa has rough horns. Despite their dog-sized body, their physical appearances are like the placid water buffalo.

Tana Toraja

Tana Toraja is a famous tourist object with its cultural richness. Regency is situated about 350 km north of Makassar is very popular with the customary form of house building. The traditional house called Tongkonan. The roof was made of nipa or palm leaves and survived up to 50 years. Tongkonan also has appropriate degrees of nobility strata strata of society such as gold, bronze, iron and brass.

In addition to solo ceremonial sign (funeral), which has been famous for this in Tana Toraja. There is also a baby's grave in a tree in Kampung Kambira Tarra, Sangalla District, about 20 kilometers from Rantepao, prepared for the body of a baby aged 0-7 years.

The Amazing Bunaken

If you want to travel to the island of Manado Bunaken by contrast, there are two choices for the rental of ships' Market one heart "and" Marina ".
To be more economical, you can join the other tourists who also want to enjoy the beauty of the sea. Rates offered per person USD 50 thousand by using traditional boats, but the first passengers had to wait all the seats filled, the new ships will depart.
For those of you who do not like crowds, is renting a private boat from Manado to Bunaken Market one heart rate to between USD 300 thousand - USD 400 thousand. Whereas if the tariffs applicable Marina is more expensive, about USD 600 thousand - USD 800 thousand.
The rental price is included round trips Manado-Bunaken is taken within 30-40 minutes.