Sumba

A preserved Indonesian island

Indonesia

Indonesia, with its thousands of islands disseminated in the Indian Ocean, is the biggest archipelago in the world. An amazing diversity of landscapes and cultures is to be found there and the lush environment offers a complete change of scenery from your busy daily life. The tropical climate, with alternations between wet and dry seasons, gave birth to an extraordinary biodiversity and each island holds unique features. The official language is Bahasa Indonesia, but hundreds of local languages are still spoken throughout the country. With the development of tourism, more and more people are familiar with English and an increasing number of schools offer English classes. Indonesia is a mosaic of different ethnic groups with rich traditions and crafts that are simply fascinating.

SUMBA

The island of Sumba is located in the Sundaic region and belongs to Indonesia. You can reach it from Bali, with a 1.5 hour flight.

The national power network doesn’t cover this territory, but there is a tremendous potential for green energy. Biomass, solar systems, tidal, winds and the rivers scattered around the island, offer many ways to develop renewable energy solutions.

The historical economic activities of the island were horse trade and Sandalwood exportations. Most of the economic resources now come from farming and Ikat weaving.

The island’s territory is quite vast as it totals 11 150km² and nature remains untouched on most of it. Bathed in the Indian Ocean in the South and the Savu Sea in the North, the landscapes can be very different across the land. Mass tourism hasn’t reached Sumba’s shores yet (only around 10 000 visitors per year) and most of the nature and beaches remain unspoilt.

If the island isn’t known to the public yet, most people who have travelled there have seen its potential. Many compare to the Bali of 30 years ago. CNN Travel even identified it as the 6th most underestimated island in the world. A very exclusive resort called the Nihiwatu was built on the West of the island years ago, and the richest people on the planet spend very private vacations there.

CULTURE

There is a certain mystery floating around this island with its many mystical customs and traditions.

Most of the Sumbanese are Christians. Ancestral ‘Marapu’ beliefs, which were banned under the communist regime, remain ubiquitous.

Traditional funerals and wedding ceremonies are celebrated across the island. Ancestral competitions called Pasolas are still being held every year, at a date set according to the moon calendar. These mounted spear-fights contesting men from different villages have acquired certain fame and attract more and more tourists.

The typical Sumbanese houses with their roofs pointing to the skies contribute to the many fascinating sceneries that unfold under the visitor’s gaze.

PASOLA : an ancestral tradition

Pasola is the name of a war game tournament played by two groups of Sumbanese men (ones performing for coastal villages, others for inland villages). Entrants must be brave and skilled enough to provoke opponents flinging wooden spears.

The name of the ceremony is derived from the word "Hola" or "Sola" = wooden stick or spear. "Pa" suggests that this is a game.

Pasola is a traditional ceremony of the Sumbanese held in the way of uniquely and sympethically traditional norms, every year in February and March and has become the focus of attention of the people since it is a part of the sacred homage to the Marapu.


The main activity starts several days after the full-moon and rituals take place before Pasola, mostly the night before Pasola coinciding with the yearly arrival to the shore of strange and multicolored sea worms-nyale. The precise date of the event decided by the Rato during the Wula Podu.


So the event celebrate the arrival of Nyale, a goddess believed to be the symbol of divinity and fertility blessing on plants and cattle. Colorful horsemen riding decorated horses give rise to this unique tournament: the dashing horsemen gallop around the area challenging their opponents to spearthrowing contests. The athmosphere in this arena grows increasily excited and cries and screams of the public heighten the feeling of keen competition.

Nature

With a mainly hilly landscape, Sumba’s highest peak, Gunung Wanggameti, is located in the South of the island and is 1 225 meters high. From a geological point of view, Sumba is at the separation line between Africa’s and Australia’s continental shelves that formed the mostly volcanic islands of Indonesia. The soil is mainly made of coral limestone.

The island is already famous amongst surfers who travel thousands of miles to ride its impressive waves.

Nature lovers will be amazed by the 3 National Parks and dozens of endemic bird species, the most famous one also being Sumba’s symbol: the Yellow Crested Cockatoo. The island’s unique location in the centre of the Coral Triangle makes it a goldmine for snorkelers and scuba-divers.

Unspoilt nature and culture make this beautiful island the perfect place to recharge your eco-friendly batteries, discover authentic cultures and live a unique adventure.


INDONESIA

Indonesia is the biggest archipelago in the world:

  • 17,000 islands disseminated in the Indian Ocean
  • 250 million inhabitants, the biggest Muslim country in the world
  • Official language: Bahasa Indonesia though English is spreading

The tropical climate, with alternations between wet and dry seasons, gave birth to an extraordinary biodiversity and each island holds unique features. Indonesia is a mosaic of different ethnic groups with rich traditions and crafts that are simply fascinating.


SUMBA

A few facts:

  • Surface: 11 150 km²
  • 650 000 inhabitants
  • 1h30 flight from Bali
  • Religion: Protestant with ancient Marapu beliefs still ubiquitous
  • Bordered by the sea of Savu in the North and the Indian Ocean to the south
  • Only 10 000 tourists a year for now
  • A huge tourism potential: CNN Travel rated it as the 6th most underestimated island in the world

Traditional funerals and wedding ceremonies are celebrated across the island. Ancestral competitions called Pasolas are still being held every year, at a date set according to the moon calendar:

The typical Sumbanese houses with their roofs pointing to the skies contribute to the many fascinating sceneries that unfold under the visitor’s gaze.

With a mainly hilly landscape, Sumba’s highest peak, Gunung Wanggameti, is located in the South of the island and is 1 225 meters high.

The island is already famous amongst surfers who travel thousands of miles to ride its impressive waves.

Nature lovers will be amazed by the 3 National Parks and dozens of endemic bird species. The island’s unique location in the centre of the Coral Triangle makes it a goldmine for snorkelers and scuba-divers.

Unspoilt nature and culture make this beautiful island the perfect place to recharge your eco-friendly batteries, discover authentic cultures and live a unique adventure.