Makassar might not be the first destination to pop in mind when
talking about travelling to Indonesia, but this capital city of the South
Sulawesi has its own charms too. With both natural and manmade attractions, you
can be sure that your itinerary will not be left empty.
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| Lemo in Tana Toraja, a cliff burial site. Photo credit: Arian Zwegers on Flickr, used under Creative Commons. |
Most tourists will make their way to Tana Toraja first. This relatively cold highland region is home to people who belong to the Toraja ethnicity, and to breathtaking views of nature. One of the most uncommon activities that you can get a chance to participate in here is to attend a funeral ceremony – yes, funeral. Because of the Toraja people’s strong beliefs which have not changed much in the last 100 years despite globalisation, their unique culture is still being practiced. As such, they are still well known for their elaborate funeral rites, which they see as an important social event and can last up to a few days.
For those seeking something less morbid, for lack of a better word, activities,
there is Trans Studio, one of the world’s largest indoor theme parks. Along
with more than 20 games and rides, Trans Studio also has other features such as
shopping malls, restaurants, hotels and other recreational facilities. One of
the special attractions there is Dunia Lain, which literally translates to
“Another World”. As all theme parks will not be complete without a haunted
house, Dunia Lain is the Indonesian version of a haunted house with Indonesian
ghosts such as kuntilanak and jelangkung.
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Makassar has wonderful surrounding islands, which makes for
fantastic beaches and dive sites. One in particular is Pulau Samalona, which is
a 45 minutes’ boat ride away. It is known for its beautiful coral reefs, so if
you visit this island, you should take the opportunity to go snorkelling and witness
it for yourself.
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| If you feel like staying on land, you can still enjoy yourself by tanning on the clean, sandy beach of Pulau Samalona. Photo credit: CitraMarindi on Indonesia Tourism Forum, as seen here. |
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Pantai
Losari is also a waterfront worth visiting. There are plenty of stalls and even
the Somba Opu Shopping Centre nearby, so you can have dinner by the beach, and
then shop for gifts after. Photo credit: ivanatm on Flickr, used under
Creative Commons.
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For those who love to explore historical sites, head for Fort
Rotterdam. It is the one fort that the Dutch did not destroy during their
colonial days, instead rebuilding it to be the center of governmental and
commercial activity. You might be expected to make a small donation and sign a
guestbook.
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| Inside Fort Rotterdam. Photo credit: Sanko on Wikimedia Commons, as seen here. |
Garuda Indonesia operates eight weekly flights to Makassar from
Changi Airport.