Tantalizing Tana Toraja, Indonesia

I've been to Tana Toraja once on work trip. It's on South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Since it's an official trip, I didn't get to spend time exploring this cultured rich province. I've read about it and even saw documentary of the funeral rituals and processions, the elaborate feast and celebration of the death and what not. I know, it's a near missed not to visit and experience it. But work is work kan. You can't really venture into adventure on your own at your company's expense.

Map of Tana Torajam South Sulawesi

Anyhow, until I have the opportunity to re-kindle with Tana Toraja and its wonder, here's some useful info, pictures and VIDEO on Tana Toraja.

  

Excerpt from Lonely Planet (https://www.lonelyplanet.com/indonesia/sulawesi/tana-toraja):

Introducing Tana Toraja

A trip to Tana Toraja is like a cultural documentary brought to life. Sweeping and elaborately painted houses with boat-shaped roofs dot terraced rice paddies where farmers work the fields alongside their doe-eyed buffalo. It’s an island hemmed in by mountains on all sides and rich with traditional culture. Life for the Toraja revolves around death, and their days are spent earning the money to send away their dead properly. Funeral ceremonies bring together families who may have dispersed as far as Papua or even Australia. 

Some of the mannequins at the burial site

Buffalo and pigs are sacrificed, there is a slew of traditional dances and enough food and drink for everyone who can make it to the party. High-class Toraja are entombed in cave graves or hanging graves in the steep cliffs, which are guarded over by tau tau (life-sized wooden effigies) carved in their image – you’ll find these eerie yet beautiful cliff cemeteries scattered throughout the region.

The slaughter of the buffaloes in respect of the death

The biggest funerals are usually held in the dry-season months of July and August, but there are funerals (even big ones) year-round. During July and August the tourist numbers swell to uncomfortable proportions and prices soar. Outside these months, you’ll share this cool countryside with the locals and only a handful of foreign travellers. While most people consider attending a funeral a highlight, Tana Toraja also offers some great do-it-yourself trekking opportunities where you can explore the fresh and clean outdoors and meet some of the most hospitable people you’ll ever encounter.

The eerie sight of cave where the dead are finally buried. They were buried up high on the rock. The higher, the respected is the dead to the people

 *Disclaimer: images are courtesy of google images taken from various site. Video is taken from Youtube.

Til then, enjoy!

apekTRAVELS

Bali Kuno (Viewer's discretion advised)

This is the old video I've gotten from youtube. The documentary about bali long before tourism hits. I must say, it's very rustic, pristine and amazingly beautiful. Bali today is definitely not the same. Luckily the culture still thrive and closely guarded. 

So guys, enjoy! 

EDINBURGH, Part II (because one entry is not enough)

Ok, this time, I shall not rant too much. Instead, I'll be posting photos (warning: lotsa 'em) and will write a line or two information bout it. Boleh? Sikit2 je la... ehehek.

Ok, bangunan ini adalah sangat obvious if you are across the the old town. From new town, these three famous lines of building mmg eye-catching. 

Yang ini pulak, the 300++ years old apartment where we stayed. Terletak betul2 sebelah St. Giles Cathedral. Keluar2 terus jumpa cathedral ni. Apartment ni korang kena ascend down a lil bit and its on the 2nd door to your left. ada 3 bilik. Don't be fooled by its age, because interior dia adalah sgt hype okeh. Yang cantik lagi, dlm apartment ni penuh dgn lukisan2 klasik age between 100-200 y.o. Kat sini lah kitorang lepak n tido n masak2 (jimat belanja pls). 

TIPS: kalo nak travel, make sure sorang dua geng travel tu pandai masak. untuk okeh! dlm kes ni, REZAL and HUSNA terrer gila masak. gua terrer makan jeh. hehehe. 

Ni among old road, nooks and corners at the Royal Mile. Aihhhhh pegi la 100 kali pun, you will never get bored and tired of Edinburgh. 

This one, my personal tribute to Scottish great poet, Sir Robert Ferugsson. Being an art graduate, I cannot help but appreciate and pay homage to those who have contributed significantly to the world of literature. Below excerpt taken from Wiki (where else kan!) about him:

Robert Fergusson (5 September 1750 – 16 October 1774) was a Scottish poet. After formal education at the University of St Andrews, Fergusson followed an essentially bohemian life course in Edinburgh, the city of his birth, then at the height of intellectual and cultural ferment as part of the Scottish enlightenment. Many of his extant poems were printed from 1771 onwards in Walter Ruddiman's Weekly Magazine, and a collected works was first published early in 1773. Despite a short life, his career was highly influential, especially through its impact on Robert Burns. He wrote both Scottish English and the Scots language, and it is his vivid and masterly writing in the latter leid^[1] for which he is principally acclaimed.

Ni masa aku tgh jalan2 jmpa gadis dan bunga. High probability, tourists from eastern european countries cos they couldn't speak English that well. Despite the challenges in conversing and constant lost in translation, they were quite a chatterbox and very friendly. We ended up having coffee at MacDonald's across town. *Didn't get their details. Things I regretted most. puih. 

Eheh. Abaikan gambar dpn tu. Yang ni betul2 kat bawah Scott Monument. And that gut belakang aku tu Sir Walter Scott, another famous Scottish author. The monument was erected to honour him. 

TRIVIA: The Scott Monument is featured prominently in the movie Cloud Atlas. Chekidout! 

Ramsay Garden ni apartment paling posh kt Edinburgh, terletak betul2 sebelah Edinburgh Castle. Nampak je besau... bangunan ni cuma ada 16 unit apartment je ye. Korang boleh perasan bangunan yang cantik ni daripada Princes Street. 

Yang ni lupa nama apa dah. Rose Street ke apa tah. Banyak jugak butik2 posh kat sini. Jamie Oliver restaurant pun ada kat sini. And, this is at new town. bukan kat Royal Mile.

Ni saje2 fefeling kt scotland travel agency. jakun pls... 
nak jugak yg ada sign scotland. hahahaha

Typical saturday evening. Street Bagpipe player in action. Tipping is expected.

 ok, yang ni bukan Bagpipe player and I donch wear kilt. hehek. 
I was just happy to be there.

This beautiful building is actually Bank of Scotland. 
Kiranya, Bank Negara la kalo kat Malaysia

You typical night out in Edinburgh wouldn't be complete without bar hopping and of course, watching Rugby match. 

Shops and bars along the Princes Street, about 500m to the Royal Mile. Dekat je.

Ni dlm kul 7 mlm depan St. Giles Cathedral, Royal Mile. Pix seround sblm blk apartment. Yup, dawn set real fast when you travel during autumn. 

Idup tak sah la kalo travel tak pegi Hard Rock Cafe kan! hahahah 

There you go, HRC, Edinburgh

Yang ni kt Cockburn Street. Nothing much here, but if you fancy posh victorian architecture, this would be the best area for walkabout. Masa ni kitorg just merayau2 pastu ujan. 
Pastu basah. Pastu pusing2 lagi. 

Penat tapi best. 

Tiga gambar atas tu adalah Edinburgh Castle. Memang cantik untuk amik gambar. You'll get the bird's eye view of Edinburgh from up here. Nak masuk castle ni korang kena bayar around 25 pound. Tp aku tak masuk pun eheheh. Mahai la!

Terjumpa William Wallace wannabe otw down from the castle :)

Levitate much?

Among favourite pictures that I've taken! Dunno why. Simply stunning, in my opinion-lah.

"The world is your oyster. TRAVEL!"

Pirates of Carribean: At World's End. Ring any bell, well it is originated from here.

This pub takes its name from the City Walls which once surrounded Edinburgh. Back in the sixteenth century, following the Battle of Flodden and Scotland’s defeat by the English, Edinburgh had become a walled city for protection. The gates to the City, which formed part of the wall, were situated outside the pub and the brass cobbles in the road outside represent their exact location. As far as the people of Edinburgh were concerned, the world outside these gates was no longer theirs and hence the name, The World’s End.

(source: http://www.scotlandspubsandbars.co.uk/location/the-worlds-end/ )

 

Stroll with Mr. Fergusson

eh eh. this was in front of the Queen's Gallery. At the end of the Royal Mile, whereby behind it is the famous 
Holyroodhouse Palace.

tau penat! hahaha

Lord Cockburn. ahah! just because he could!

Freemason anyone?

This is Scottish National Museum

Playing tourists, yes?

Gambar-gambar ni aku snap masa lepak depan Garfunkel's sambil curi wifi diorang (sebelah dia Starbuck, and wifi diorg suck). heheh. Hari-hari lepak sbb it is located less that 20 feet where we stay. And, along the stretch of Royal Mile, lots and lots of people walking around; be it tourists or local who work there. Let me check later if I have photos of Garfunkel's. If not, jap gua google. eheh. 

ok, jumpa dah. pix kat bawah ni:

Garfunkel's all over Europe, just so you know

hehehe ni la batu bersurat tempat curi wifi free. keh keh.

The Witch Tavern. Another famous pub situated down the hill, very near to Edinburgh Castle.