Information of Flores
Island
There is a saying
’’Ulu gheta leja geju eko ghale bajo bima’’ which means the head faces
the sunrise (in the east) in east flores, and the tail towards the
sunset (in the west) in labuan bajo, manggarai, west Flores. This
metaphor symbolizes a dragon, lying with its head at the eastern end
of Flores, and its tail in west manggarai, or Nusa nipa, the name of
Flores Island before the arrival of the Portuguese.
The kings of Bima once
ruled Manggarai, whose capital is Ruteng. The influences of Bima and
Goa become an evident in prevailing titles, such as karaeng, and in
the manner of dress.
The shape of the roofs,
with the buffalo horn symbol, may be an element inherited from the
Minangkabau. The cool town of Ruteng lies at the foot of a mountain.
It can be reached by airplane from Denpasar and Kupang or overland
from the western part of the island via Labuan bajo, or from the
eastern part via Ende - Bajawa.
In previous centuries, Reo
was a part of considerable trading potentials. Beside the famed komodo
lizard, the area has many attractions to offer for tourists, such as
the Caci dance, a wildlife reserve, and archaeological caves.
Liang Bua, is a cave 13
kilometres from Ruteng, which was not so long ago caused minor
sensation due to the finding of rare prehistorically fossils.
Ulumbu, lying
far behind the mountains and near the southern coast, has a geyser,
spurting water 15 meters high into the sky. The places, however, is
not easy to reach.
Caci is an interesting
dance. Two warriors wearing traditional clothes face each other; each
holding a shield in the left hand and a lash whose tip is covered with
dried buffalo skin, in the right. This dance is accompanied by gong
beats, and preceded by chants, Sung by males.
Horse races can be seen in
karo village, south of Ruteg. In former times, such races drew
participants from as far as Bajawa, Boawae and even Ende. Magic is
said to be often involved. Usually held during big holidays.
Mount Pocoranaka is the
highest mountain on Flores Island, and practically unexplored.
Ranamese is a big lake in
the mountains. The air is cool and sometimes misty. Good for relaxing,
water sports, fishing. Some lodgings and modest restaurants are
available.
Labuhan Bajo is the jumping
board for tours to the Komodo National Park and other areas in east
Nusa Tenggara.
Batu Cermin Cave is
five Kilometres from the town Labuhan Bajo. The grotto is 75 by 75
meters large and contains stalactites and stalagmite.
Some tunnels are arrow and
dark but in other sunlight falls.
Historic Ende, Ende was the
site of a kingdom that excised around the end of the 18th century. The
name today refers to capital of ende regency, which includes the
autonomous territories of Lio and Ende. The people of the area are
therefore known as Lio-Ende people.
Kelimutu is Holy Mountain
with three crater lakes, filled with water of different colours. Far
removed from the civilized world, utter silence reigns around these
lakes. The 1.690 meters high mountain, 60 kilometres from Ende was
“discovered” by a Dutchman van suchtelen and Le Roux, who came to
explore it after hearing stories about the mountain which the local
people regarded as the location of Heaven and Hell.
According to legend, the
man kelimutu was punished by the gods due to his cruel treatment to
the weak. The story presumably refers to the giant Ata Polo Ria, who
ill-treated the orphans Ata Koo Fai and Ata Nuwa Muri, as well as the
old man Ata Bupu. As a punishment, the gods put the giant to death.
Those three lakes are
believed by certain people who still adhere to the old ancestral
beliefs to be Heaven and Hell. The guardians holding the key of the
gates are Konde and Ratu. The color of the water that fills the lakes
constantly changes. As a result, the red like is now light-green; the
green one has turned black, while the dark blue one has not changed.
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