Date post: | 13-Apr-2017 |
Category: |
Education |
Upload: | jervin-herewila |
View: | 147 times |
Download: | 0 times |
Name : Jervince I. R. Here
Student # : 101214017
My Hometown
I want to describe my lovely hometown, Sumba Island. My parents and I have been living in Sumba since
I was two years old. Actually, I was born in Sabu Island, but my parents migrated to Sumba because of their jobs
and stay in West Sumba until now. I love this place so much because of its nature and friendly people that make
me feel comfortable to live in this place. I really like the landscape. I think you have to come to Sumba Island
and you can see how wonderful it is. But now, I will describe a little bit about Sumba as far as I know. I hope it
will help you to know about my lovely
hometown, Sumba Island.
Sumba Island is located in East Nusa
Tenggara and divided into four districts; West
Sumba, Central Sumba, Southwest Sumba, and
East Sumba. It is well-known as the Sandalwood
Island and its horses also called Sandalwood
Horse. You know, some of my friends call me
horse in college. It is disturb me, but sometimes
I am proud to be a Sumbanese. Sumba is also
famous of its arts and handicraft especially the
textile ‘ikat’ weaving. Some people called
Sumba as ‘Green Emerald’ because of its
landscape that is made of beautiful savanna.
(‘Green Emerald’ from Sumba Island)
Sumba still defend its traditional cuture.
For me, Sumba is like ‘a village in the middle of town’, because there are some villages in the middle of its
capital city and you can see the traditional house of Sumba eventhough you live its capital city. The traditional
house is unique because it is not built with nails, but people just use srong rope from rattan and fasten the
bamboo poles. You also can find traditional graves made by stone. People in Sumba bury a corpse in a stone
grave. The grave is like a box but the top is wider, and the corpse is inserted from the left side or from the front
of the grave.
Sumbanese traditional beliefs is called Marapu. There are also some traditional events that is still
defended, like Wula Podu (holy month for Marapu) which is held from full moon of October untill full moon of
November. After Wula Podu, there are some ceremonies take place, that are Topeng, when drums (Gongs) are
beaten all night long and woman dance with
wearing a mask to amuse or frighten the audience;
Magowo, a big crowd gather at the delta of a river
for Marapu rituals and collective traditional fishing;
Pajurra, a ritual boxing for men. It seems like they
get up to all that was forbidden during the holy
period.
During this period, Rato (Marapu priest) of Sodan
village decide of the date for Pasola Lamboya. The
well-known traditional event in Sumba is Pasola.
Pasola is the name of a war game tournament that played by two groups of Sumbanese men (ones performing
for coastal villages, others for inland villages). They must be brave and skilled enough to flinging wooden spears
to their rivals. It is also one of tourist attraction when come to Sumba. The other traditional events that still exist
are Yawu (ritual ceremony to get help from the ancestors, ex. when built a traditional house, when someone is
ill, or etc.), the Wedding Ritual (there are
some ritual before a beloved want t get
married), the Burial, Pacuan and Festival.
Indeed, until now Sumba still keep its
cultures and traditions.
Sumba Island not only has cultures
and traditions, but it also has beautiful
beaches and waterfalls. Some of the
beaches are made as tourist resorts, but the
others are gone just by local tourists. The
most popular tourist resort is Nihiwatu. It is
located in Sodan Village, Wanukaka. It is far
from everywhere, but that is the beauty of
it. The place is quiet but has very beautiful
beach with traditional touch. It is a nice
tourist resort and suitable for honeymoon. I can say
that because mostly tourists come to Nihiwatu for
their honeymoon. Maybe later if I get married, I will
choose Nihiwatu for my honeymoon destination.
The next beach is near Nihiwatu Beach, still
located in Wanukaka; it is Marosi Beach. There is
no big hotel like in Nihiwatu, just some modest inn
near the beach. Marosi is one of tourist object in
Sumba Island because of its beautiful beach with
large coral which seems like a little island near the
beach.
The other beach in Wanukaka is Lailiang beach.
This beach is as beautiful as beaches before. There are
two precipice soar on the seacoast make Lailiang beach
nice to see. Actually this beach seldom visited by many
tourists, just local tourist. Maybe because of its
location, but I think when arrive at the beach, the
distance is already paid.
Something else that I like from Sumba Island is the white sands. The beaches are naturally beautiful and
I feel so glad to see them all. It is like I’ve got the greatest gift from The Creator. Wonderful!
The other beach is Watu Maladong Beach. There are some unique ‘coral islands’, but the interest one is
an unique ‘coral island’ which shaped like traditional house of Sumba. It has four pillars and like the traditional
house, the pillars show the four wind directions. It is really wonderful. I once went there and the corals made
me thought about some imaginative story about treasure island.
Actually, there are many beautiful beach in Sumba, but I can’t
write it all because it will make a long story. For the last one, I will tel
you about the waterfalls in Sumba.
The first waterfall and the famous one is Matayangu
waterfall. It is located in Manurara village, Central Sumba. The
location is far from resident and we have to walk about two hour to
arrive there. I have never gone there, but I have the pictures.
Matayangu has 100 metres height and the arrangement of tha stones
compose small poles that use for bathing places. People there said
that there is a cave behind the waterfall. The cave is believed there is
a cementery which save historic thigs. The cave appear when in dry
season.
The second waterfall is my favorite place. It is a wonderful
waterfall called Laipopu. I once went there with my friends in senior high school. The waterfall shaped pyramid
with green trees on the left and right sides. Laipopu waterfall is not too tall but wide, and the debit is not too
harsh like Matayangu. You have to go there and get the feeling. I love Sumba very much.