Toraja One Of The Famous Tribes In Indonesia

Toraja tribe is one of thousands tribes in Indonesia that live at northern side of mountain in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Its’ population are about 1 million people. The word Toraja comes from Bugis’ languange, "To Riaja" that means "The people who live in Upper Land". The Dutch Government gave the name of this tribe as Toraja at 1909. Toraja tribes then well known for some unique cultures, such as: Funeral Ceremony, Traditional House "Tongkonan" and also their handicrafts or wood engraving.

The Funeral Ceremony

For Toraja tribes, funeral ceremony is the most important and expensive ritual. The cost of funeral ceremony will be getting more expensive for rich people and nobleman. In "Aluk" religion, only a nobleman can hold big funeral ceremony. The funeral ceremony of nobleman usually attended by thousands of people and lasted for several days.

They also used to perform a dance on several occasions, mostly in funeral ceremony. They do that dance to show their grief and honor to people who have died.

Toraja’s traditional music instrument is bamboo flute, called Pa'suling. Six holes flute is played at many dances, such as Ma'bondensan dance. Toraja tribes have another traditional musical instrument like Pa'pelle, the flute that made ​​from palm leaves and played at harvest time and at the opening of house ceremonial.

TONGKONAN

Tongkonan, is Toraja's traditional house that built above woodpile and decorated by red, black or yellow engraving. The words "Tongkonan" comes from Toraja's language, means sit. "Tongkonan" is a center of social activity for Toraja tribes. There are 3 kinds of "Tongkonan":

1.    "Tongkonan Layuk" is a place for The Chieftain of Toraja tribes

2.    "Tongkonan Pekamberan" is a place for some people who have authority

3.    "Tongkonan Batu" is a place for the ordinary people

WOOD ENGRAVING

Just because of Toraja’s language can only be spoken but can't be written, so to show the concept of their sociality and religion, Toraja tribes have wood engraving that shows the culture of Toraja, and they call it Pa'ssura.

Every Toraja’s engraving has special meaning. There are many kinds of theme for wood engraving, such as animal and plant, which symbolize The Gods. For example, crab and frog symbolized fertility; buffalo which symbolized wealth, means the family will get many buffalos; vertices and box symbolized peace. So Toraja’s people hope that their family will live in peace and happily. The Toraja’s wood engraving is very abstract and geometric.

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Komodo Island the Beauty of Indonesia

Komodo Islands is the islands that located in West Nusa Tenggara, the eastern part of Indonesia. Komodo Island is well known as the original habitat of komodo dragon. This island is managed by goverment as The Komodo National Park. In this area, these komodo dragons can live very well. There are 2793 komodos live there up to now. Besides komodo dragon this island also has many exotic floras, one of them is Sappan woods.Sappan wood is a kind of wild plant which used by the local people as medicine and also as natural dye for clothes, whereas its bean can be eaten and the taste is really delicious.

Beside Komodo Islands, you may visiting some other beautifull places near by the Komodo Islands, such as :

1. Surainadi
    Surainadi is located 17 km from Mataram. There are many hotels with very good facilities such as warm water pool, tennis field and the oldest Hindu's Temple.

2. Lingsar
   There is a pool with many sacred fishes in Lingsar. Lingsar is about 9 km from Mataram.

3. Narmada
    There are Lombok's botanical garden with swimming pool and Hindu's temple. Narmada is located 12 km from Mataram

4. Batu Bolong
    There are Hindu's temple above reef and we can see the peak of Agung Mountain in Bali

5. Sire Beach
    There are beautifull and exotic sea park with many fishes and corals. Sire beach is located 36 km from Mataram

Komodo Island is one of indonesia's treasures because of its uniqueness.

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Famous Food from Indonesia part 1

Rendang is one of delicious and famous indonesian's food in the world. According to survey of CNN through one of famous social network, Facebook. Rendang's fame can beat Massaman curry from Thailand which previously was crowned as the most delicious food in the world

Rendang is traditional food that has the main ingredients coconut milk and beef's sirloin. This special food is come from West Sumatra. many people in Indonesia really love this food. There are two kind of Rendang. Dry and wet Rendang. Dry rendang can be storage for 3 until 4 months and only used for ceremonial occasions or to welcome guest honor. Wet Rendang only survive for a month and can be found in every Padang Restaurant that spreading all over Indonesia.

This is how to cook Rendang :

Ingredients :

1 kg beef, fat and sinew removed

1.5 liters coconut milk

1 turmeric leaf, torn and knotted

5 kaffir lime leaves

1 stalk lemon grass, bruised (white part only)

1-2 pieces asam gelugur

10 red chilies, sliced finely

 Spices (ground)

3 tablespoons galangal, chopped

1/2 tablespoon turmeric, chopped

1/2 tablespoon fresh ginger, chopped

200 g red chilies

4 shallots

Salt to taste

 Method :

Cut the beef into bite-size of 3 cm cubes. Remove any fats and sinew from the meat. Use a pot to simmer the coconut milk with turmeric leaf, lemon grass, asam gelugur, kaffir lime leaves, sliced chilies and ground spices until the milk thickens and becomes oily. Reduce the heat and add the beef. Cook until the meat is tender and the spiced becomes dry and turn brown. Stir occasionally.

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