Travelling through the Indonesian Isles by ship allows the multifaceted cultures of Indonesia to slowly unfold. Today we were on the island of Sumba visiting a traditional village where Ikat fabric is still handmade. Stepping off the ship, we walked along the red carpet with dancers on both sides who welcomed us. A short ride in colorful busses brought us to the village and we were welcomed with song and dance. We witnessed a demonstration of a death ceremony, which was especially interesting because Sumba has a traditional way of burying their dead. Then we strolled through the village and, if we so desired, bought some of the beautiful fabric.
After a satisfying lunch, the ship started to make its way to Kupang where we will arrive tomorrow. There were two interesting presentations to enhance our knowledge. Birgit talked about Islam and its importance in Indonesia. Our two photo specialists, Tanish and Michaela, gave an interactive presentation on how to better use our phone as a camera. Dinner rounded off this beautiful day, and we happily sank into our beds.
