Borneo are widely known for its jungle adventures, famous national parks and beautiful beaches. But there's so much more about Borneo that a lot of us (including us!) do not know!
Borneo which consists of Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Kalimantan have a lot of hidden gems for adventure and leisure activities which is waiting for us to explore it. And we are dying to know where are the best spots for the adventure and leisure. We have categorize four themes on what we would like to do in Borneo. So now we need your personal recommendations on the different themes we have for each week of January.
We will post up a different theme each week and all you need to do is to submit your preferred itinerary for each theme to facebook@airasia.com within the stipulated dates of each theme. Have fun planning the most interesting itinerary! And stand a chance to go on one. Yes, on us!
How To Participate?
(a) A postcard with a different theme will be posted on blog.airasia.com and a different postcard with a different theme will be featured weekly during the Contest.
(b) Participants are required to plan a travel itinerary on the theme featured and email the itinerary to facebook@airasia.com within the date within the weekly theme.
It is just that simple! Check out our third postcard! [Updated on 19th Jan 2011]
1. Explore Borneo for the Ultimate Golf Getaway [5th Jan 2011 - 11th Jan 2011 ]
2. Explore Borneo for the Ultimate Spa Indulgence [12th Jan 2011 - 18th Jan 2011 ]
3. Explore Borneo for the Ultimate Dive Getaway [19th Jan 2011 - 25th Jan 2011 ]
Remember to stay tuned on 26th Jan for next week's theme! (read more...)
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Laos by Road
17 Jan 2011 by AirAsia Blog Team
Highway 13 is the backbone of Laos, the only paved road running across the whole country from north to south. We follow it, journeying through a country that still retains an atmosphere of the past
The sun has still not risen when, as they do every day, hundreds of Buddhist monks begin silently walking the streets of Luang Prabang, ready to receive offerings from the faithful. In the dim light of dawn they seem like an army of ghosts dressed in orange, one behind the other in orderly lines, everyone carrying bowls for the charity handouts. By the roadsides people kneel in wait, holding out hands as they pass to place a handful of rice or a piece of fruit into each bowl. Nobody speaks. The silence is absolute, almost surreal, broken only by the gentle flapping of orange robes.
Luang Prabang.Every morning at dawn the monks parade thru the street of Luang Prabang to collect food offered by people
In contrast, a few kilometres away, the noise of the traffic travelling on Highway 13 is already rising, shattering the peace. It’s as if the uninvited sounds of the twenty-first century are encroaching on this blessed quiet of a world immersed in another time. “In Laos there is something unique and poetic in the air,” Tiziano Terzani once wrote. The Italian journalist and writer described the events that shaped the history of this Southeast Asian land over the past 40 years as well as anyone. “The days are long and slow, and the people have a quiet softness not found in the rest of Indochina.” It is also worth repeating the old French colonial saying: “The Vietnamese plant rice; the Cambodians watch them; the Laotians listen to the rice growing.”
Highway 13 is the spinal cord of a country that, until the last century, had no other means of communication besides the Mekong, on which you had to sail for days just to move a few kilometres. Travelling the road from top to bottom is an easy way to gain insight into what was once Lane Xang, the kingdom of a million elephants, closed off in absolute isolation after the victory of the communist Pathet Lao in 1975, and only reopened to the world in the early 1990s. Luang Prabang is the northern terminus of the 13. The far north of Laos is still a tangle of mountains and forests where dozens of ethnic minorities—the Yi, the Hmong, the Kora and the Akha—live in villages only accessible by river or via narrow dirt roads that are buried in mud for much of the year.
Luang Prabang.Xien Thong temple
In Luang Prabang, on the other hand, the dazzling green tropical vegetation hides a string of artistic and architectural wonders, all enveloped in an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in Asia. Sat on a small peninsula between the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, the ancient capital of the golden Buddha surrounds the sacred hill of Phu Si with a maze of more than 30 temples and pagodas, and an infinite number of cloisters, monasteries, mosaics, stupas, bas reliefs and sculptures illuminated by gold leaf and precious stones.
Luang Prabang.Xien Thong temple.
To begin with there is Wat Xien Thong (or Xiang Thong), the most refined symbol of Lao art, a complex of sacred buildings dating from 1560 constructed from coloured stone mosaics, bas reliefs, golden carvings on black backgrounds and the famous tree of life that glows on a red background. Or Haw Kham, the Golden Palace, constructed in the early 1900s for King Sisavang Vong, which still contains a copy of the Pha Bang (or Prabang), the statue of the Golden Buddha given in fourteenth century by the Khmer monarch Phaya Sirichantha to the Laotian king Ago Ngoum as a symbol of regal power.
Since 1995, when Unesco bestowed world heritage status on Luang Prabang, restoration and conservation plans have returned the pomp of the past and transformed the city into a major tourist attraction. Many temples have regained their original aspects and many French colonial buildings have reopened their shutters, becoming guesthouses or restaurants. New stores, bistros and internet cafés are opening everywhere. Even legendary Villa Santi, former residence of princess Manilai, is now one of the most fascinating luxury hotels in the Orient. The number of tuk-tuks and cars on the city streets is going up exponentially, as is the number of the European, Australian or Asian travellers coming here on holiday. But in spite of everything, Luang Prabang retains the bewitching air of a timeless place. “In this century of exact science and quick profits, this city continues to be the last refuge,” French naturalist Henri Mouhot once said. To escape, all you need do is walk through the alleyways of the centre, immerse yourself in the silence of the cloisters, breathe the scent of the frangipane on the banks of the Nam Khan, lose yourself in the harmony of the monks’ chants emerging from within the temples or be hypnotised by the flickering candlelight that every evening illuminates the night market on Xien Thong street, where Laotian and Hmong traders ply their wares.
Luang Prabang.A street of Luang Prabang
Four hours’ drive south along Highway 13 and you start noticing the bizarre shapes of the karst mountains that line the river Nam Xong near Vang Vieng. They seem like giant cliff fortresses scattered over the plains, as if hurled down from the sky. On the other side of the river, Vang Vieng is an anonymous city that was ‘discovered’ in the mid-1990s by Western backpackers who arrived here following the call of the opium. It was found anywhere, and sold at paltry prices. To cater for them, guesthouses, new age restaurants and shops selling ethnic products all sprouted up, with the result the population has now swollen to 40,000. These days opium has gone out of favour and virtually disappeared, but in its place two other pastimes fill the days of those who stop by. You can explore the hundreds of caverns that dot the limestone walls of the mountains, some of them considered sacred by the local villagers. Or you can try tubing: floating downriver in the inner tube of a truck tyre, perhaps with a book in hand, letting yourself be carried by the gentle current of the Nam Xong through unspoilt nature. In Vang Vieng, Western visitors don’t have to do anything. Bo pen nhang—“no worries”—is the most recurrent phrase on the lips of the Laotians.
That same sense of relaxation is also found in the capital Vientiane, even if in recent years the population has doubled and the traffic multiplied. These days, jams often block Lane Xang Avenue, the Lao Champs Elysées which culminates in the stocky form of the Patouxai, the local version of the Parisian Arc de Triomphe, constructed with concrete intended for an airport. But in spite of everything, the city is still a small village compared to other Southeast Asian capitals. It has a human scale, where everything moves in harmony with the environment. That feeling is echoed in the silence of Wat Pha Kaew and nearby Wat Sisaket, among the serene looks of the Buddha statues, or under the golden spire and golden lotus petals of That Luang, the great stupa that is the symbol of Lao Buddhism. And topping the list of daily pleasures for most visitors is a stop in a local restaurant, or one of those around Nam Phou square, where you’ll find baguettes, café au lait and bouillabaisse—indelible reminders of a colonial past. Then, at sunset, no one resists the call of a Beerlao, the local beer, drunk in one of the open-air restaurants along the Mekong, as the sun turns the river flaming red, before dropping behind the trees on the opposite bank. Over there, less than 300 metres away, is Thailand, a paradise of consumerism that young Laotians, without the money to buy beer, have always eyed like a mirage. Today they still don’t have money—Laos remains one of the poorest countries in the world—but the allure of the Thai wonderland appears to have faded somewhat.
Vang Vieng.Crossing a bridge on Vang Vieng river
To the south of Vientiane, Highway 13 enters the immense plains that stretch to the southern border, crossing an infinite string of rice paddies following the course of the Mekong. It passes through the cities of Pakxan, Thakhek, and Savannakhet. In Paksè, you can take a ferry to Wat Phou, the immense temple of the mountain, now reappearing thanks to Unesco-funded archaeological digs. This was the birthplace of the Khmer civilisation that would later create the sacred city of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Here we are just a few kilometres from the border, also the end of the 13.
In this region, Laos puts on one of the greatest shows in nature: the Mekong widens and divides into a hundred channels to form Siphandon—the Four Thousand Islands—a maze of islands, islets and simple sandbanks that appear and disappear with the seasonal changes in river level. It is a world of water and tropical forest, and occasional villages inhabited by people who live almost exclusively from fishing. Nothing here seems to have changed for centuries. Not even the dramatic events that scarred Lao history elsewhere, like the French colonial period or the American War, have left their mark on this region. Indeed, it was here that the French government’s dream of turning the Mekong into a trade route across Indochina ran aground, as the river is blocked by a sequence of rapids and cascades at Khon Phapheng and Somphamit that render navigation impossible.
Luang Prabang.Two boys sleeping in their family handicraft shop.
On the islands Don Khon and Don Det, a rusty old locomotive and some railway tracks are the only remaining evidence testifying to the failure of the French plans. Today they stand out like the abandoned relics of a vanished dream.
More photos available at : http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=327537&id=18801397386&saved#!/album.php?aid=327537&id=18801397386
Words and photos Giancarlo Radice/TCS, article appeared on Expatriate Lifestyle January 2011 issue.
www.expatriatelifestyle.com
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The Top 5 Things We Loved About Phnom Penh
13 Jan 2011 by Yafieda
Ok, only 3 more countries to go and I would have covered the South East Asia continent! Woo-pee-doo! All thanks to this amazing airline who would make it a possible achievement. A few months back, my friend & I decided to go to Phnom Penh after much debate over Phnom Penh vs. Siem Reap. In the end we decided that whichever place we go, we would still be able to go the other one within our budget (thanks to you AirAsia of course).
It was a good flight (yeay!) and as soon as we landed in Phnom Penh, we took a tuk tuk to our hotel called 'Blue Lime' and along the way discovered many vehicles zig zagging the roads without fear. Buses, lorries, cars & many motorcycles would somehow manage to avoid collision through mutual & silent understanding of how the road works. There is no stopping midway in Phnom Penh.. you just go!
This is our awesome hotel...
...and this is the list of Top 5 things we loved about Phnom Penh.
Number 1: Killing Fields @ Choeung Ek
We were lucky to have met Mr Tee whou would be our tuk tuk driver for the whole time we were in Phnom Penh. He was very nice & always smiling. He took us 45 out of Phnom Penh to the killing fields where we had a minor accident but we're fine and we made it. Admission is $2 per person and we are allowed to go around the area on our silently, careful not to tread on any graves as we stopped from one place to the other. It is a chilling reminder of how more than 17,000 civilans were killed & buried in mass graves and houses a 17 storey stupa with 8,000 skulls which bears testimony to what had happened. I felt kind of sad for all those lost souls and pray that they are in a better place now.
Number 2: Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21)
This was also a visit I could never forget as I entered the school compound. What was once filled with children learning & running around the area is now a Genocide Museum where prisoners were once held. As I entered the classrooms, I felt a bit overwhelmed especially when I saw the displays, the beds and the torture equipments used during that time. I had to stay outside after that while my friend continued the tour. Admission to the Museum is $2 per person but donations are also welcomed.
Number 3: Psar Thmei (Central Market)
Ok no more sad stories, I promise. I'm sure all the ladies would like this one too. I found out that there weren't that if you couldn't find anything in the Russian Market, you can head to Psar Thmei to try your luck. From far it looks pretty modern & artistic with it's dome-like roof but the inside.. oh my.. the inside of the market was quite large and the first thing that greets you is the jewelry concourse area with every type of stones you can think off. It's like *bling bling* haven. Also since it's indoors, it's much cooler than Russian Market and you can take your time to look around and find the things you seek as they have items from clothing to flowers, fish, souveniers, food, dessert, luggage & many others. Just make sure to beef up your bargaining skills.
Number 4: Wat Phnom
Next on our list is Wat Phnom which is located on a hill near Sisowath Quay & founded by a woman called Daun Chi Penh. What I loved about it is the grand staircase at the entrance where are guarded by lions & snakes statues. From the top of the hill you can see the view of the busy streets and the greens surrounding this precious temple. Many people come here to pray for good business or good luck and when it comes true, they would return and give offerings as promised. There's also quite a few monkeys along with people selling birds in cage, food and such.
Number 5: Friends Cafe
I heard about this place from my sister and thought it would be great to do some charity while visiting Phnom Penh. Friends is an NGO that trains & educates street children. They have a cafe run by teachers & students and a shop called Friends n' Stuff selling items made by the parents of the children. While the children are in school learning, Friends would help the parents income by teaching them arts & crafts which is then sold to the public. At the cafe, you can find a selection of local & french food. Oh and the coffee is really good! We had a great lunch that day, while listening to the children singing songs and playing at the school next door. I also did the 30-min feet massage for $3 and got a few stuff made of recycling goods.
And there you have it, our top 5 things we loved while we there in Phnom Penh although there were other places which we enjoyed too but I guess you would have to actually go there to discover them. *grin*
Tags: airasia, cafe, phnom penh, shopping
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Medan, Indonesia
10 Jan 2011 by Anonymous
When Airasia announced its Merdeka RM9 sale, I told myself that no longer would I think of my dwindling finances nor delay my intention of going on a holiday. It has been three years since my last vacation and even if it meant going to neighboring Singapore, I would willingly drag myself and my tiny travel suitcase across the sea.
I searched the Airasia website for the cheapest destination, clicking on various dates and countries until I found somewhere to suite my budget. Medan, Indonesia it was!
After 3 months of hard work stashing cash into our holiday account, myself together with my aunts and cousins, who were also deprived of holidays, headed to LCCT to make our journey to Polonia Airport. Upon arrival, the first thing we did was whip out our cameras and snapped pictures in front of the Airasia airplane! It was a once in a lifetime opportunity (and forbidden by Airasia) for us to have our picture with a nice huge red coloured airplane at the background.
The Indonesian Immigration queue was quite long so we took more pictures there while waiting. Then a strange thing happened. While getting our luggage, we encountered a porter who was quite persistent in assisting us. Despite us not requiring his assistance, he helped to load our bags on the trolley. I quickly took my bag from his trolley and walked away. He insisted that he wanted to help us, but we declined and took our own bags. Then on the way out, he followed us and tried to demand for payment for lifting the bags. Luckily our tour guide was waiting for us, so the persistent porter went away.
Apparently there is this scam in Polonia Airport where porters offer assistance then demand payment. Some of them even follow you to your car or make a scene so you pay them. The distance from the luggage pick up area to the exit door is only about 10 metres apart!
Relieved to meet our driver, we gasped at the one and only Petronas fuel station in sight and headed towards Lake Toba. It was a 4 hours drive through winding, bumpy roads, passing by local villages with view of local coffee, palm oil, and fruit plantations along the way.
The calm and peace of Lake Toba
We reached Lake Toba late evening. A sense of peace and serenity swept over as we stared blankly at the calm waters and tall mountains of the world's largest volcanic lake. The cool air gently blew our hair and we enjoyed local coffee at a hillside cafe, built of wooden planks and pillars that looked as it it could crumble at any given time. It was only 6.30pm and already getting dark. We headed to our hotel, had dinner and enjoyed massages that costs about RM17 per person per hour! My aunt had hers twice!
After a quick breakfast at the hotel, we headed to Samosir Island (a tiny island in the middle of Lake Toba) for our heritage tour. We saw Batak houses, tombs of dead Kings, did some shopping followed by a lunch of Padang food. Apparently, the Bataks from Samosir Island were very into Black Magic. Before being introduced to Christianity, most of them we Parmalim and practised black magic. Our tour guide says that it is a dying art because once you become a Christian, you will not inherit 'the gift' as only it can only be passed down to a Parmalim. There are some who still practise it though.
The symbol of the Batak people of Samosir Island - A lizard & four breast. It seems, the bigger your breast, the more 'in demand' you are as big breasts denotes your capability to breasfeed and multiply i.e. more children, which among the community means an abundance of wealth.
We boarded the noon ferry and headed back to our hotel. It was time to check out and head to Berastagi and catch a view of Mt.Sinabung, an active volcano.
The drive from Lake Toba to Berastagi took about 2 hours as we had stopped for some spicy ginger tea also known as 'Bandrek' by the locals at Siantar Coffee House which was 1700 metres above sea level, and followed by a quick stop to get a view of the beautiful Sipiso-piso waterfall located at the north side of Lake Toba. Because it had rained the past few days, it was freezing cold. Imagine being in an airconditioned closet with a temperature of 16' c, and wearing only your t-shirt and shorts! Again, we stopped at one of those wooden hut / coffee houses for local coffee to warm ourselves.
Hot 'Bandrek' and Banana fritters
Sipiso-piso waterfall
Our first stop at Berastagi was the fruit market. It was a shopping haven! Apart from fresh fruits and plants, the place was a square with many tiny shoplots selling souvenirs, batik clothes and keychains. We went crazy there, buying things as if we did not have any concerns (or bills) to worry about. Beautiful wooden souvenirs, gorgeous batik dresses and pashminas with batik designs were our main purchases. Everything was made out of batik. I purchased a laptop bag made out of batik prints whereas my cousin got herself a batik cloth pencil box and a batik wallet.
We had ample time to shop because our drive to My.Sinabung had to be cancelled. It was too misty and our driver did not want to risk the danger of driving uphill on a winding road and for fear of landslides. So for a brief moment when the sky was clear, we managed to get a glimpse of the volcano from where we were shopping. We could see smoke rings and according to our tour guide, the volcano has been emitting smoke for quite sometime and the villagers no longer take notice of it. It was a wonderful sight and would have been better if we were closer but mother nature did not permit. It was time to leave and drive down to Medan City.
The journey downhill took about 1 hour 45 minutes, through villages and small towns. The one lane road were full of potholes but we were too engrossed by what we saw - almost all the houses, whether brick or wooden huts, had a huge satellite dish that could apparently receive signals from as far as France and Arab.
Throughout the journey, our tour guide had briefed us on the lifestyle of the Batak people and it was quite an interesting ride as we listened and looked in wonder and awe.
The Batak people builds tombs, larger and more grand than their homes, to keep the bodies of the dead. We came across these tombs alongside the road, quite often, and according to our tour guide, the body is not buried underground but placed in the tomb and can be taken out after a few years for a second funeral i.e. cleaning of the bones.
We passed by a few women carrying spades and baskets of vegetables on their head, and our tour guide went on to explain that Batak men do not work. Their job is to sit in coffee shops, drinking coffee or tuak, and playing chess or just hanging out. The women work the farm and take care of the children. They even carry their babies in their arms while working! It has been their culture and it has been that way as long as anyone can remember. I silently thanked my lucky stars for not being born a Batak woman.
A Batak woman on her way to work the fields.
As we arrived Medan City late evening, we were flooded with memories of KL's Chow Kit and Kota Raya area as that is how I would describe the city. Apart from certains parts of the city that looked similar to Bukit Bintang, it was mostly bricks, dirt and dullness and flooded with Bechak drivers and motorcycles. We called it a night after a delicous spicy dinner and a brief moment of internet access at the hotel.
A very angry Bechak driver!
The next morning we made our way to Sun Plaza, a high end shopping mall similar to our KLCC and the only thing we could think of was to make a pitstop at Starbucks to kill time. If you are a shopoholic, you might enjoy the variety of clothes and shoes being sold in Sun Plaza, but we only checked out the bookstore. Af first we quite excited because we saw quite a few good titles, but out joy was shortlived as most of the books have been translated into the Indonesian language. There was only one shelf with English books.
Our tour guide kept telling us that we could buy 'everything' in Medan city and now we know that he meant electrical items, modern clothes and branded items. We were more interested in local souvenirs and traditional clothes, which luckily we bough it Berastagi. We could not find any similar unique items in Medan. Pasar Ikan was a horrible experience as we had those guys carrying plastic bags of t-shirts and key-chains who kept following us and trying their best to convince us to make a purchase. If not being harrassed by these 'lelong' guys, we would have enjoyed walking around Pasar Ikan as there were many shoplots and stalls along the alley selling clothes, batik, souvenirs and food items.
The only consolation in Medan city was the cheap and relaxing spa services. After two and a half hours of pampering and mandi lulur for about RM90 each, and it was time for us to leave. We reached Medan airport, paid the tax of Rp75000 per person, never made eye contact with any porters and boarded our Airasia flight (which was on time) for a 45 minutes journey back home. We were greeted by the familiar smell of Mcdonalds at LCCT, Kuala Lumpur.
While reminiscing about our wonderful trip to Medan, we decided that Krabi Island would be our next holiday destination. We're now all on standby for Airasia's next RM1 promotion. :)
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The Delights of Makassar
5 Jan 2011 by AirAsia Blog Team
The Delights of Makassar
by Pamela Lim
The evil stepsisters with pink and lime-green tresses tugged at ‘Cinderella’ under scrutiny by the fat, wicked stepmother. As she aspired to audition for the role of the perfect mate for Jason, she was trapped by her sisters who then locked her up in the old, quaint cupboard. This captivating scene was taken right out of a performance in Trans Studio’s broadway theatre, where the musical called “Jason Mencari Cinta,” enthralled us with an assemblage of colours and talents! To get into the groove with the performance, I yelled like a true blue fan, “Jasoooon!!!” and fired the shutter on my camera furiously.
I wanted to have a taste of this city set in the spice trade route of Southern Sulawesi. Not only were my senses and taste buds challenged, my will was tested against the various offers at shopping districts selling multi-coloured silk, passion fruit juice concentrate and nuts. Did we go nuts on the various nuts I could get my hands on! Cashew nuts, garlic-roasted peanuts, coated nuts, you would be nuts not to try, they taste so good! Here, the custom is to greet males as ‘Pak,’ and females as ‘Ibu.’ My first taste of Makassar cuisine was at Istana Laut, a seafood restaurant. The serving of dishes was accompanied by an equal serving of spicy sambal hot enough to set me on fire. Then came this exceptionally awesome juice extracted from Tamarillos or what the Makassarese call as ‘Terung Belanda,’ the combination taste of passion fruit, lime and pomegranate in one, it alighted my tastebuds to the skies! I unabashedly ordered another glass! Oh, Tamarillo, where have you been all my life???
Nothing would prepare us for what we were about to experience the following afternoon, after a stroll around the Port of Paotere where huge sailships docked to stock up on goods. Being an integral part of the spice trade, Makassar’s ports still continue to flourish in trading spices and goods around the region. We were about to embark on a joy ride of our lives when we set foot in the largest indoor theme park in the world. Set within a fantasical land, Trans Studio Theme Park in Makassar was inspired by Universal Studios and DIsneyland in the United States so much so that some of the rides were adopted from them. It was like a stroll down Hollywood Boulevard where entertainment lines the street with lights and sounds. I put on my hat and strutted down the street Tsa Tsa Gabor style, only to be distracted by Johan the goat, of which I lost it when my girlie shrills beckoned the mascot to take a picture with me! And then everyone realised they were in wonderland and it’s okay to become a kid again! It was a weekday and hardly anyone was around, we literally had the whole theme park to ourselves! Tobbogan and train rides, I did everything I could to relive a childhood and subjected myself to the thrill of drops and flinging seats.
The very life-like Cartoon City, has got hamburger-sandwiched houses neighbouring a candy-caned entrance to the washroom, the whole chimera of life within makes you feel like an overgrown child. I went on to see a movie in the highly interactive 4D Theatre making it pop-out in your face coupled with wooshing winds and rocking seats as I try to grab objects that characters throw at me....virtually, of course! I was impressed to note that not only Magic Kingdom in Disneyworld had such entertainment and I need not pay a bomb to come here again. It only costs IDR100,000 (RM35) to gain access!
A visit to the nearby island called Samalona is a refreshing change from the city that beckons you to shop. Here, villagers live off well water and plans are underway to develop this small island into a tourist spot. Going beneath the surface of the water, a myriad of sponges, sea fans and schools of angelfishes portray a healthy ecosystem although visibility is limited due to the proximity to the mainland. A superman by the name of Mario, took us diving off the house reef. His super brother was better, fished 4 yummylicious groupers and snappers for the whole group for lunch! They prepared a grill and a fire out of coconut husks. The villagers even made a great marinade and condiment for the fish!
Visiting one island was somewhat incomplete so we ventured a little further to visit the neighbouring islands to see life of the villagers Barang Lompo. A densely populated island, kids were seen playing everywhere while mothers congregated to bask in the evening breeze. Predominantly fishermen, the villagers are friendly and would offer to take you around on a ‘Perahu Motor’ (motorbike truck) for a small fee just so you can go around the island! Sitting cramped on a truck gave us a sneak peek to the life around the village without making them feel intruded upon. What would have made the visit better was the opportunity of having tea in one of their homes and the chance to talk to them about their livelihood. It’s always good to understand another nation’s culture who’s vastly different from my own. They are mainly fishermen who ply the waters in the region for their daily catch.
On our way back to mainland, the sky threatened to pour and pour hard it did. I was rather soaked by the time I disembarked the boat and bade farewell to my four supermen who caught and cooked our meal, led us on a dive and fetched water from the well for me shower down! My heroes! The four of them are brothers who operated the seasports centre in Makassar. Looking forward to dinner, I couldn’t help but think about the abundance of onions, spices and Kemangi herb that gave superb taste to the aromatic Makassarese cuisine. One of the must-haves when dining anywhere, is the selection of choicly sambal, a relish made with pulverised Bird’s Eye Chill, shallots, herbs and spices, the array of sambal in Makassar has no rivals. My hair literally raised and my face glowed like an inferno as I sadistically savoured each type of relish! The must-try dishes are Coto Makassar - beef innards soup with spices; Bubur Manado - porridge with condiments and the exceptionally fragrant, tasty herb called Kemangi; Nyuk Nyang - crispy fried meatballs with a soft but chewy middle; Konro Bakar - grilled beef ribs with peanut sauce, a cuisine where I had to wrestle the cow to get the meat off its ribs!
We visited one of the remaining historical architecture in Makassar called Fort Rotterdam or Benteng Ujung Pandang when it was built by the King of Gowa in 1545. Within its walls, the La Galigo Museum contains references and artifacts of the historical grandeur of the Gowa-Tallo rule in Southern Sulawesi. Driven by beliefs and philosophies that a turtle can live in the ocean and yet be land bound, this dignified the fort into the shape of a turtle! The wall of the fort is made of coral reefs. No kidding.
Business go on as usual for street vendors capitalising on the sunset crowd. There’s a bubble-blower selling little tubs of suds with a pipe to people wanting to seek pleasure in creating soapy spheres; fishing rod and bait seller tempting hopefuls with the prospect of a catch and ladies selling packet drinks to quench the thirst of visitors here. Whatever your fancy, the best experience to be had in Makassar for me is at the local cafe with a spread of sambal, a generous portion of Nyuk Nyang meatballs, bottles of iced tea and a dash of curiosity for the spicy stories that the locals will gladly share with you as you munch away. My parting words....I’ll be back!
Pamela Lim
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