M Bali Tour

Towards Sumba

M Bali Tour - Sumba Island can be reached by air through two airport. Tambolaka Airports in West Sumba and Umbu Mehang Kunda Airport in East Sumba.

Flights are serviced daily by Merpati, Batavia and TransNusa. From Jakarta, the aircraft will transit in Denpasar, Bali, before traveling to the island. Merpati flight by the end aims to Kupang, with point-Tambolaka Denpasar-Kupang-Waingapu and vice versa. Air travel from Waingapu Tambolaka to take less than 10 minutes, the time to observe Sumba from the air.

The island can also be reached by sea from the port of Sape, Bima, West Nusa Tenggara and Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara.

Transportation

Do not forget to bring a map of the island and city maps to estimate the distance and location. Maps can be downloaded from several sites of travel guides.

Condition of main roads linking the main cities in Sumba is relatively good. The streets are still much smaller damage, potholes and muddy when it rains. There are several bridges that are still in repair so that motorists have to cross a river.

Public transport is available on main routes. Transportation between cities by car elves, usually very full until passengers hanging on the door and the roof of the car. Path towards the more remote areas are served by several trucks with erratic schedules.

Two large cities, Waingapu and Waikabubak can be achieved with a travel worth IDR 50.000 and takes about 5 hours. Travel will pick up and deliver passengers to their destination.

Manager of the hotel can usually help find a rented motorcycle or car. Rental rates of the motor complete with a guide IDR 200.000. The car rental rates start from IDR 400.000.

Culinary and souvenirs

Almost no special food sold in Sumba. Plus, there are rarely stalls that sell food. Places to eat only in the center of town. Although most residents are Christian, halal food can be obtained easily. If you want to go away all day to a remote area, it is advisable to bring lunch from the city.

By-the distinctive Sumba is ikat weaving. Several traditional villages are also producing the best woven belt. A time to see the process of weaving and coloring using natural ingredients derived from nature. Woven motifs differ in their respective regions. West Sumba have simpler patterned fabrics from East Sumba.

Stay

There are several options to stay cheap price of IDR 100.000 - IDR 500.000, mainly in the capital district. Usually, the hotel also provides transportation to and from the airport. There is also the option of staying at a five-star resorts like Nihiwatu in West Sumba.

The best time option

Pedestrians who visited during the rainy season will see a green Sumba, wet, and thankful for the rain. Savannas spread like a green carpet as far as the eye could see.

Visiting Sumba during the rainy season means must be prepared through the road that turns into a muddy pond. In general the condition of the main street of Sumba is good enough. But to get to the beach and indigenous villages in the hinterland, the journey must go through a dirt road that will be muddy when it rains.

No that is the situation in the dry season. It was green fields will be replaced by grass drought brown color. Sumba is famous with hot and dry weather. Taufik Ismail in his poem, entitled Give Me tell Sumba Sumba as a "tropical weather, hundreds of dry rainless days."

During summer, transportation to remote places more easily. The sky appears blue with a starry night to allow adventure in the outdoors such as hiking or camping.

Ritual

Besides taking into account the weather, the best time to travel on this island is now a main ceremonies. The ceremony which is Pasola pity to miss, "war" two horsemen by way of the horse javelin throw.

Pasola traditional ceremony was held four times a year at four different places, usually in February and March. Only the traditional leaders who could determine when the exact date Pasola held, because the ceremony is to be done to coincide with the emergence of worms Nyale from the sea.

The ceremony started early days by looking Nyale activities on the beach. Thereafter before the Rato getting on a horse, without saddle. Pasola is a high-risk activities because they involve. Participants Pasola not afraid of blood spilled. Wounds are considered ordinary and death leaves no grudge.

As in October or November are the closing ceremony Wula Podu in Waikabubak, West Sumba. Wula podu month ban is in force in Kampung Tarung, Prai Klembung and Waitabar. In many village residents ban prohibited from engaging in various activities - not even allowed to mourn the deceased family. At the end of Wula Podu indigenous population have a party very festive with animal sacrifices and dances.

A funeral also be interesting attractions for tourists. Embraces the belief Marapu believe that the dead need a provision to go into nature. The body will be wrapped with multiple layers of woven fabric, coupled with the slaughter of the animal sacrifices in large quantities. Dozens of buffalo, dozens of pigs and hundreds of chickens are believed to be packed into the spirit of the deceased occupant Marapu.

All these ceremonies are not held regularly according to the calendar AD. To find out when the ceremonies are held, we suggest you contact a travel agent or hotel before planning a trip.