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.