MENTAWAI ISLANDS

The Mentawai Islands 


By Delvinus Sabolak
PT. Jokayya Mentawai Paradise

Mentawai island are a chain of about seventy islands and islets off the western coast of Sumatra in Indonesia. Siberut (4,030 km²) is the largest of the islands. The other major islands are Sipura, North Pagai (Pagai Utara) and South Pagai (Pagai Selatan). The islands lie approximately 150 km off the Sumatran coast, across the Mentawai Strait. The indigenous inhabitants of the islands are known as the Mentawai people. The Mentawai Islands have become a noted destination for tourism. 

Mentawai's History 

Following the Pleistocene glaciation, the Mentawai Islands were separated once more from the Sumatran mainland by rising sea levels. The Mentawai people are estimated to have arrived on the islands somewhere between 2000 and 500 BCE, migrating from the north through Siberut and then moving south to Sipora and the Pagai islands. Their Austronesian language, their customs and habits of life indicated as early as Crisp's report an origin that was distinct from the nearby coast of Sumatra. 

The Portuguese were aware of the islands early in the 17th century: a map dated 1606 shows Siberut as "Mintaon". In August 1792 John Crisp, an employee of the British East India Company, visited the Pagai ("Poggy") islands at his own expense to study the Mentawai people. His account was published in 1799,[1] providing the first details of the Mentawai people in western literature. The Mentawai Islands officially became part of the Dutch East Indies on 10 July 1864, not having been subject to the Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824. In 1901 the German Royal Missionary Society established a presence on the south coast of North Pagai island at the invitation of the Dutch colonial authorities. The first missionary was murdered, and it wasn't until 1915 that the first person was converted, with the program then being extended to other islands. 

After Indonesian independence, Catholic Italian missionaries established a presence in the islands. Post-independence government policies relocated the indigenous population into villages, in contrast to their traditional dispersed house groups (uma), with the aim of promoting "development". Cultural tourism started to develop in the late 1980s. 

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The island of Siberut was extensively logged from the 1970s after the government granted logging permits for most of the island. In 1993, the logging concessions were revoked and about half the island was declared a national park. In 2001 logging recommenced after a new logging permit was granted for an area of 500 km² 

Cultural Tourism

In today's consumer-driven world, travel and tourism frequently become easily-accessible luxuries taken for granted. Too few people appreciate the unique ethnic diversity available in world indigenous communities, which can benefit from responsible cultural tourism. Sustainable tourism respects local cultures; confers tangible, appropriate benefits upon host communities; protects environmental quality; is educational and, of course, a source of unique and memorable pleasure for the visitor. 

Discover Mentawai Culture

Positive, productive cultural visits with the Mentawai people require interest in cultural diversity and willingness to learn. Visitors who choose to participate in the Mentawai’s everyday tribal life will discover an indigenous people proud to share their ancient culture, despite the threat of cultural assimilation posed by encroaching modernity. 

This jungle visit will help you understand the strong ties within the community of this animist rainforest tribe and those between the clan, the spirits of their ancestors and the forest. It is a unique opportunity to learn how the Mentawai live in harmony with the natural world and to understand how and why this balance is threatened. We believe that after your immersion in the daily tribal life of the Mentawai, you, too, will want to help them. 


Ecotourism Activities

The islands have been separated from Sumatra since the mid-Pleistocene period, which has allowed at least twenty endemic species to develop amongst its flora and fauna. This includes five endemic primates: the Mentawai or Kloss Gibbon (Hylobates klossii), Mentawai Macaque (Macaca pagensis), Siberut Macaque ("Macaca siberu"), Mentawai leaf-monkey (Presbytis potenziani), and snub-nosed monkey (Simias concolor). Some areas of the Mentawai Islands rain forest ecoregion are protected, such as the Siberut National Park. Red Junglefowl and the Crab-eating macaque are also native. 


Mentawai Surf Travel http://www.mentawaisurftravel.com/


Dragonicum https://www.dragonicum.com/page=DragonicumTourism_PtJokayyaMentawaiParadise

Oslo, home is where my heart is!

One of the countries in the world that has impressed me most is Norway. I have met nice people and learned much about other cultures on my travels all around the world, but when it comes to my own country, hometown and people that have touched me most it is definetely Norway, Oslo and the citizens of Norway.

After having lived abroad for many years, we are longing back. The people in Norway are so easy to get along with, so you will feel welcome wherever you go. Norwegians view themselves as egalitarian people with a culture based on democratic principles of respect and interdependence. They are quite informal, and tend to treat people equally; they like people for who they are, and find it is less important what others do for a living, their professional accomplishments or income.

Norwegians are also modest about their own achievements. They have simple tastes and are not prone to ostentation or excessive showiness. (But there will always be some exceptions!). They take pride in being honest and sincere in their personal relationships.

Norwegians shake hands firmly with direct eye contact. With friends and family members they usually embrace each other. Norwegians tend to communicate with each other on one arms length. Business meetings are formal. Professional titles are used followed by their surnames; Dr Lie, Professor Haug. Therefore, you ought to address people with Mr/Mrs/Ms followed by their surname. Among colleagues is the use of first names more common.

The tourist attractions of the capital, Oslo, are many. Oslo is sourrounded by mountains and forests, and for Norwegians „who are born with skies on their feet“ are these recreation areas very popular for ski trekking and alpine tours during the long wintertime that they experience up there in the cold north, and for recreation and leisure; trekking, biking, swimming, fishing, the rest of the year. Small charming cottages in these forrest welcome the trekkers indoors to homemade food and some of them offer also accomodation.

Plan your visit to Oslo in details before you start your adventure there, because there are many interesting places to visit. A walk through Oslo by foot, by the city tram and by ferry in Oslofjord from sight to sight is what I will recommend.

Akerhus Festning (Akershus Castle)
The castle has protected the city since year 1309, and has since then been the site for many historical events in the history of Norway. The castle has been used as fort, castle, prison and stockhouse, while it today operates as museum and by the Norwegian Royal Family as one of their reception venues.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akershus_Fortress

Middelage Oslo Sørenga – Hovedøya
The Ruinpark in Oslo Sørenga, where you can imagine where and how Oslo was established in the middleage, perhaps you can even imagine smells and tastes if you let your fantasy run. From The Ruin Park you can walk down to the harbour, Vippetangen, and take the ferry over to the small island Hovedøya for seeing the ruins of the large Cistercienser-kloster that was build there in year 1147.

Hovedøya
The ferry takes only 5 minutes across the bay, and it leads you directly into Oslo in the Middle-age. When walking through the the old Cistercienser- kloster, you will be shown around by the local guide. There are still herbs and flowers to be found growing around the kloster which the munks brought with them to Norway 900 years ago.

Town Hall of Oslo
From the ferry that will bring you back to Vippetangen to the monumental Town Hall is a 5 minutes walk. The massive four-squared building, built of concrete faced with bricks, has 2 towers where one of them to the east contains a carillon of 38 bells. The facade is decorated with sculptures and reliefs, and the interior has rich fresco decorations by the famous Norwegian artists Edvard Munch, Per Krogh and Henriks Sørensen. Town Hall is located in the part of the bay that is called Pipervika, and to its west side lies Aker Brygge, only a couple of minutes walk away.

Old West Station
On the way to Aker Brygge you will pass the old West Station (railway) where the Norwegian Information Center was established in 1991.

Aker Brygge
This part of the harbour which earlier was the former Aker Shipyard (restored) is today a popular shopping and cultural center with numerous pubs, bars and restaurants, the latter offering Norwegian and international cuisine. What I would recommend, is lunch or dinner at the Norwegian fish restaurant at the end of the Aker Brygge promenad – they serve some really delicious fish dishes there.

You have already made a long walk through Oslo today and feel a bit sleepy after the delicious fish meal, so let us take the rest of the day off and simply relax.

Tomorrow is a new day for your adventures in Oslo, and I will tell you all about it in my next forum post where I will guide you to The National Theatre, The Parliament, National Gallery, The Royal Palace, Nobel Institute and through the beautiful Vigeland Park (Frognerparken) on Oslo' west side.

Beijing Attractions

Hangzhou, one of my favourite destinations

" In Heaven - there is ParadiseOn Earth - Suzhou and Hangzhou " by Marco Polo

Do you know that Hangzhou, by Yangtze River, was Marco Polo’s favourite city? Marco Polo was not only interested in battles. He was fascinated by the Chinese civilization, and when travelling in China he had the unique opportunity to get acquainted with it at the peak of its glory. Hangzhou, which he was especially impressed with, he called The Heavenly City, Coromoran – “the finest and most splendid city of the world”.

Hangzhou’s history can be traced back more than 50,000 years to the Upper Palaeolithic Period. It gained great importance when the Grand Canal was built (581-618 AD) with Hangzhou as the southern terminus and Beijing as the northern terminus, and Hangzhou began to flourish as a major trade, political and cultural centre.

Hangzhou today is the capital city of Zhejiang Province and one of the richest cities in China. One of its attractions is West Lake, a lake of stunning beauty framed by low mountains on three sides. You can hire a boat and rest comfortably; admire how the sun sparkles in the calm water, while the boatman rows you around for an hour or two. The mountains around West Lake almost drip with ancient Chinese culture. You can see the Leifeng Pagoda on one of the hills, and the “Broken Bridge” below – where the legendary tale of “White Snake” took place. The best view of West Lake is the »Spring Dawn Round the Su Causeway«.

The causeway was built during the Northern Song Dynasty by Su Dongpo, a great scholar in ancient time. Stretching 2.8 km long, it is spanned by six bridges and heavily sheltered by green vegetation. In springtime, the whole causeway is covered by peach blossoms and weeping willows. And there are »the three stone pagodas«, built more than 800 years ago, 2 meters high, which are the main scenic spot the Chinese call "Three Pools Mirroring the Moon". To the west of the isle stand three ball-shaped hollow-stone pagodas with five round holes around. At the night of the Mid-Autumn festival when the moon shines full and bright, a candle is lit inside each of the pagodas. The light and the moon cast their reflections through the holes on the water, hence the name. Very romantic!

Hangzhou life is good for a foreigner, and it is a very liveable city from a Western perspective. The infrastructure, its roads and transportation systems are good. Railway lines from north and south and east to west run through Hangzhou. Hangzhou Airport is located three quarter of an hour outside the city, and has several direct roads leading to Hangzhou. Flights to and from Europe every day. Shanghai is only 3 hours away with train (2 hours with car) and from Shanghai's Pudong Airport a maglev train is being planned to shorten the travel time between the cities down to approximately 30 minutes.

Hangzhou is a modern city, and people enjoy the technical development of today at home as well as in work. The cuisine of Hangzhou is excellent, and you can choose among Chinese restaurants serving traditional Chinese food, self-service hot-pot, noodles specialities, sea food, goat, and flavours of local dishes. You do not have to walk far between the signs of McDonalds, KFC and Pizza Hut. Some foreign restaurants, among the Italian Restaurants serving Italian food and wine are becoming quite popular, and at western Barbeque Restaurants you will be served grilled specialities by servants walking from table to table, while you are listening to live music, often Greenfield and popular music.

The Silk Market is worth a visit, as Hangzhou has a long tradition as the silk centre of China. Some prices are given, some prices can be bargained, and the quality of the silk is high. Hangzhou fresh water pearls – which you can buy at the Pearl Market in Beijing – you better buy them in Beijing, as they are cheaper there than in Hangzhou.


Four Seasons is another market area, it is huge, where you can find all kinds of textiles, clothes and travel accessories.

Hefang Old Street - Night market of Hangzhou is a special experience. Copies of ancient buildings is a well-designed frame around the market street, where you can find not only modern products, textiles and electronic equipment, but also traditional Chinese handcrafts of wood and pottery, silk products, sculptures of jade and gemstones, and art. There are tea houses, coffee bars and restaurants along these streets, and a nice and relaxed atmosphere.

Not far from West Lake you will find the Longjin Village (Dragon Well Village) famous for its Longjin Tea plantations. Longjin Tea – green tea -originates from Hangzhou, is regarded as the elixir for health and is widely sold and accepted all over the world.

From West Lake by foot or bike, it is not far to Lingyin Temple / Monastery of the Hidden Souls. The Lingyin Temple is one of the ten most famous ancient Buddhist temples in China. In front of the temple are various Buddhist literature and treasures situated. Lingyin Temple is also famous for its more than 470 stone carvings of Buddhist figures, which are dated back to the 10th -14th centuries.

Six Harmonies Pagoda (The Liuhe Pagoda), is located on the north bank of the Qiantang River in the south of Hangzhou City. The Liuhe Pagoda is one of the famous ancient pagodas in China and forms the wonderful sceneries of Hangzhou together with "the ten sceneries of the West Lake". Highly erected by the Qiantang River (to the south of West Lake), it is a perfect symbol of brick-and-wood structure built in the ancient China. It was first built in 970 AD in the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127 AD). The name "six harmonies" comes from the six Buddhist ordinances; "harmonies of the heaven, earth, east, west, south and north".

Bao Chu Pagoda. Despite its crumbling appearance, this beautiful pagoda standing on a hill north of West Lake was last rebuilt in 1933. The pagoda's original structure dates from 968 AD, when local courtiers built a pagoda in an effort to ensure the safe return of their local ruler from the Song Dynasty court in Kaifeng.

West Lake Night. Spectacular performances of song, dance, operas, and acrobatics.

The Grand Canal. A boat trip along the canal with the view of the Chinese country side, typical water villages, arched stone bridges and ancient buildings by the riverside.

Song Dynasty Town. Located not far from West Lake, The town is arranged in an original Song style, and the streets are lined with colourful shops, stores, restaurants. It is divided into six parts, Reappearance of the Painting "Riverside Scene on Qingming Festival", Jiulong Square, Song Dynasty Town Square, Fairy Hills with Wonderful Towers, Song Palaces and the Romance of the Song Dynasty. Daily plays and shows featuring Song culture are performed here.

Tomb and Temple of General Yuefei Mu. Located on the West Lake Bank, and is a nice historical place. General Yuefei became well-known in the war against the Jin invasion in the South Song Dynasty. Yuefei proved to be a brilliant general, repeatedly defeating northern incursions.

If you have the possibility to travel out of Hangzhou for a few days, I will recommend that you visit Thousand Islets Lake (160 km west of Hangzhou) and Wuzhen Ancient Town (north of Hangzhou) either by bus or by a rented car with driver.

Thousand Islets Lake is the largest man-made lake in China; it covers an area of 573 sq km, and is famous for its clear water and beautiful scenery. Two ancient towns were located under the lake in 2002, dated back more than 1,800 years.

Wuzhen Ancient Town. Embraced by the Grand Canal, this ancient city has rivers and canals crossing the whole town. Attractions of Wuzhen, is the former residence of Mao Dun – the famous Chinese writer (»Midnight«, among other works). The Taoist Temple, Xiu Zhen Guan, which is built in the Xian Ping Yuan period of Bei Song Dynasty. It is one of three famous Taoist temples in South Bank in Yangtze River.

China - The Beautiful!

Nature is varied and colourful, hence full of vigour and vitality. So are the cultures of different countries. For, as the fruit of a nation’s mental efforts, a nation’s culture is shaped by its history, geography, customs, economic development, aesthetic standards and other factors.

THE KEEN AWARENESS OF THE PAST goes hand in hand with openness to innovation. In the world today, the Chinese culture distinguishes itself as the sole one that has lasted over 5,000 years without breaks. In ancient times, the civilization of China was far from homogeneous. Ancient China had different cultures in different regions, and it was the people of the different ethnic groups that build up the splendid Chinese culture. Open-minded, it absorbed healthy elements from other cultures, so as to enrich and develop. The Chinese learning and absorbing of Buddhism bears evidence of the readiness of Chinese culture to adapt and assimilate alien cultures.

The Orient will no longer be so mysterious, thanks to the process of globalization. In the process of opening up to the outside world, the common cultural exchanges serve the interests of all parties concerned. Travelling around the country itself is seldom problematic, but it would be wrong to pretend that it is an entirely easy matter to penetrate modern China, because China is not just a big country – it is another world! From shop-till-you-drop metropolises to the epic grasslands of Inner Mongolia - with deserts, sacred peaks, astounding caves, and imperial ruins - it's a land of cultural and geographic schisms.

China has very rich cultural heritages from their minority groups, of which each one has its own form of visual arts, performing arts and music. Chinese; Hen and minority groups are living together peacefully in a nation with colourful culture of different varieties. China is the home of the world's richest and oldest heritage of art and literature. Some of the famous works have been translated into foreign languages, but most of them are not translated or non-translatable. Thus they are unknown to the outside world.

Thanks to China's high mountains, elegant rivers, springs and waterfalls, rich and varied folk customs and styles, rare animals and plants, numerous spots and historical sites, distinctive operas, music and dances, and its world-renowned cousine, this fascinating country attracts a large number of domestic and foreign tourists. China has made great efforts in meeting the demands of tourists by building, expanding and renovating many hotels and restaurants.

There are more than 12,000 hotels, which of some 8,000 are star-rated hotels. Rapid progress are also been made in civil aviation, railways, inland and marine transport, and highways, providing guarantee and convenience for both Chinese and foreign tourists travelling in China. Chinese tourist agencies are well equipped to host group tours of major tourist destinations; Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Gulian and Guangzhou.

Not only theme tours to cultural and historical sites are popular, but also tours with activities as cycling, hiking, exploring the deserts, mountain climbing, skiing and golfing, as well as martial arts and fitness tours. Ecotourism combines activities of bird watching, boating, and enjoying traditional ethnic food, customs and culture.