South Sulawesi Province
The Capital City of South Sulawesi Province is
“Makassar”
This
province occupies the southern “Arm” of the Sulawesi Island. Lowlands in the
middle divide the land into two mountainous parts. The southwestern end of the
peninsula is mountainous, while marshes extend along almost the entire coast.
The highest peak in this area is 2,871 meters tall Lompobatang.This is the
homeland of the Bugis and Makasarese, both of whom have long seafaring
traditions. The Bugis, plying the seas in their elegant pinisi schooners,
maintain of present one of the world’s last sailing fleets. This seafaring
tradition has brought the Bugis to palaces spaning almost the entire Indonesian
archipelago, leaving permanent Bugis settlement in many islands.sometimes even
assuming political power, as for example in Riau.
Fortifications
overlooking the port of Makasar at Ujung Pandang, the provincial capital, are
reminders of the time when Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch and British traders vied
with each other for the control of the vital trade route toward the Spice of
Islands of Maluku further east.Stouch Moslems, the Bugis and Makasarese have a
proud traditional of opposition. The most important kingdom in this area in the
past was Gowa. Which waged a long and bitter war against Dutch intruders and
whose King Hasanuddin is now regarded a National hero.
The northern part
of the province is even more mountainous than the south, with a least six peaks
higher than 2.500 meters and two, Handadiwata and Balease, more than 3.000
meters tall, in this magnificent wild land, isollated until quite recently
becouse of it’s rugged mountain retain live in Toraja.Although many Torajas
have in the past decades been converted to Moslem and Christianity, many of the
old customs and traditions have survived, including the famed Toraja death
feast and the unique Toraja architecture.
South Sulawesi province comprises the
narrow southwestern peninsula of this orchid-shaped island, which is mainly
mountainous. The seafaring Bugis dominant the southern tip, whereas the
northern part of South Sulawesi is inhabited by the Torajas whose unique
culture rivals that of the Balinese. Famed for their seafaring heritage and
Pinisi schooners for centuries, the Bugis possess to the present day one of the
last sailing fleets in the world. The Bugis vessels have sailed as far as the
Australian beach, leaving behind drawings of their ships on stone with words
that have been integrated into the Aboriginal language of north Australia.
Situated on the crossroads of well-traveled sea-lanes, its capital and chief
trading port of Ujung Pandang, till today the gateway to eastern Indonesia.
Spanish and Portuguese galleons, followed by British and Dutch traders sailed
these seas in search of the spice trade, escorted by their men of war to
protect them against the daring raids of the Bugis and Makassar who attacked
the intruders.
Ujung Pandang
Ujung
Pandang is the capital of South Sulawesi, better known as Makasar in the Past.
Ujung Pandang, the provincial capital and main sea and air gateway of South
Sulawesi, is the modern city which grew ground the Port of Makasar. And
important port of trade during the days of the Spice Trade in the 16th
and 17th century. The city is now the busiest and most important sea
harbor in eastern part in Indonesia.The 720 kilometers long, 100 to 400
kilometers wide and except in the southern end, more than 2,000 meters deep
Strait of Makasar marks the eastern border of the vast Submarine plateau on
which Java, Sumatera and Kalimantan are located and which is connected to the
Southeast Asian Mainland.
The
Benteng Ujung Pandang, the best preserved historical fort inside the city, is
now museum with exhibits of cultural and historic value, including ceramics,
old coins, manuscripts and also ethnic costumes and ornaments. Located in the
city facing the strait of Makasar, the original fort was built in 1545 by
Sultan Tuni Palangga of Gowa to become one of 11 fortresses protecting the
kingdom of which Makasar was it’s main port.When Gowa capitulated to the Dutch
commander Admiral Speelman rebuilt the Fort Rotterdam. The old fort is now also
an art center with an open stage in the center for music and dance performances
and classes conducted by the Conservatory of Music and Dance.
Another
place worth visiting, and of a much more joyful nature, is the Bundt Private
Museum of Shells and orchid garden. An arvid collector, Mr. Bundt has the most
notable collections of sea shells and corals in Indonesia. The garden of the
Bundt home on Jalan Mochtar Lutfi is filled with rare Indonesian orchids and
hybrids. A Dutch man by birth, Mr. Bundt is listed in Sander’s List inn London
as an expert in orchid cultivation.Ujung Pandang a huge city with a population of more than
one and a half million people, Makassar (Ujung Pandang) has long been
Sulawesi's most important city, as well as being a heavily used gateway into
the eastern Indonesia region. Makassar's attractions are in good supply and
include Fort
Rotterdam and its Museum Negeri La Galigo, and Old Gowa. Many ruins from the former
kingdom of Gowa remain on the outskirts of Makassar, such as the Benteng
Sugguminasa fortress, the Makam Sultan Hasanuddin memorial, and the Pelantikan
Stone, where the kings of Gowa were once crowned.
Traditional
Costumes
Traditional
costume from Makassar such as Jas Tutu (coat), and Baju Bodo (long shirt)
commonly was used in the certain ceremony.Baju Labbu (women shirt) were
complemented with Saloko (crown), Pinang Goyang (hair bun), earrings, and necklaces.
For a men usually be completedwith Sigarak (head tie), Keris (traditional
knife), bracelets, and necklaces.
The objects interests are:
Fort Rotterdam, Museum Negeri La Galigo, Museum Balla Lompoa (Beteng Sungguminasa), Museum Lapawawoi, Museum Batara Guru, Museum Negeri Propinsi Sulawesi Tengah, Museum Negeri Propinsi Sulawesi Utara, Kienteng Ban Hian Kong, Losari Beach Makassar, Gunung Lokon Volcano, Bantimurung National Park, Benteng Otanaha, Gunung Colo Volcano, Gunung Klabat Volcano, Gunung Sesean, Monument of Mandala (Monumen Mandala), Sungguminasa, Sultan Hasanuddin’s Tomb, Malino, Samolona Island, Enrekang, The Toraja Land / Tana Toraja, Rantepao, Palawa, Somba, Opu Fortress, Tanjung Bira, Bulukumba, Pantai Bira, Watampone, Goa Mampu, Bantimurung, Soppeng, Leang Leang, Pare Pare, Pulau Samalona, Samalona, Kondingareng Keke, Barranglompo, Pulau Kayangan, Pulau Selayar, Sengkang, Taka Bone Rate.
Transportation
Daily
flights link Ujung Pandang with Jakarta, Surabaya and Denpasar. The port of
Makasar is served by regular liner services to and from Surabaya, Jakarta,
Ambon, Balikpapan and Manado. Buses, minbus and pedicabs serve the city’s
public transportation needs. With intercity buses providing the link with destinations
in the hinterland.
Accommodation
Hotels
in Sout Sulawesi are improving and new properties are being built for the
businese travellers. The four star hotels located on the sea front. The hotels
are have air conditioned rooms with attached bathrooms, TV sets, telephones and
restaurants. In Toraja, hotels are in cottage sstyle with
attached bathrooms. No air conditioning is needed. Most have food and beverage
facilities. In Ujung Pandang, one star hotels are partly air conditioned and
have their own restaurants and rooms have attached bathrooms.
For complete information you
could have on the “Text Book Guiding To Indonesia” By F. I. Fatrick.
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