NATURE FIELD TRIP AT TORAJA REGENCY

NATURE FIELD TRIP AT TORAJA REGENCY

Tour and Travel Business Study Programe of Makassar Tourism Polyechnic held a Nature Field Trip On 14^th-16^th October 2019. This field trip was held in three days at Toraja Regency. From Makassar city to Toraja, we tooks time around 8 hours by bus. We know that Toraja has cultural diversity that makes them very unique. The main activity of this tour is trekking. The trekking route start from ‘Lokomata’ to ‘Bori’. The route is from Lokomata – Mentirotiku – Lempo – Bori. We stayed in a hotel at Rantepao, North Toraja. We stayed in there for two nights.

On the first day, we gathered at Makassar Tourism Polytechnic in the morning. After four hours of the trip by bus, we stopped at one of the best restaurant in Pare-Pare regency to get lunch. After lunch we continue the trip to Toraja. 

Before we entering Toraja regency, we stopped at ‘Bambapuang’ rest area for take a coffee break and saw a beautiful view of ‘Buttu Kabobong’ mountain or people know it as erotic mountain.

After coffee break, we heading to North Toraja. When we arrived in Rantepao, North Toraja we did a check in and get ready for dinner at the local restaurant. After dinner, we came back to the hotel to take a rest.

On the second day, we started our day with a breakfast in the morning at the hotel. After breakfast, we heading to ‘Lokomata’ by bus. During the trip to Lokomata, we stopped at ‘Timenbayo’ to saw a beautiful view of Toraja. And then we continue the trip by bus to Lokomata. After we arrive in Lokomata, we saw so much dew mist. In Lokomata, we can saw a stone grave. Toraja people always save their family corpse in to the stone. And before they save the corpse, they held a ceremony called Rambusolo. 

From Lokomata we started our soft trekking to Mentirotiku. While we were trekking, we saw many things about nature. From the life of Toraja people, the traditional houses, and many other. After we arrived at Mentirotiku, we getting lunch at the restaurant in Mentirotiku and take a rest for a while. After take a lunch and take a rest for a while, we heading to Lempo. Lempo is the start point of trekking. From Mentirotiku to Lempo, we took time around 20 minutes by bus. After we arrive at Lempo, we started the trekking to Bori. During the trekking, we saw many things. We saw the mutual working of Toraja people, palm wine, how they make a traditional house called Tongkonan, the ‘Tedong Bonga’, carving, stone grave, baby grave and many things. When we were trekking, we passed the forest and rice fields. And we met some tourist from Australia, Japan, and France. We were talking about many things around Toraja.

It such a nice field trip in that day. After we arrive in Bori in the afternoon, we take a rest for a while and heading to Todi’ by bus. From Bori to Todi’, it tooks time around 30 minutes. Todi’ is place where we can saw how toraja people weaving. In there, we can buy some souvenirs too such as key chain, t-shirt, Toraja coffee, bag, and many other. 

After the activity in Todi’ was done, we come back to the hotel and prepare to get dinner at the local restaurant near the hotel. After dinner, we came back to the hotel to take a rest.

On the third day, we started the greatful morning by getting breakfast and check out hotel. After check out, we came back to Makassar city. When we were on the trip, we stopped at ‘Bambapuang’ to take a coffee break. After that we continue the trip to Pare-pare and take a lunch at the local restaurant there.

After getting lunch, we heading to Makassar city and we arrived at Makassar in the evening.

Well, it such an amazing field trip for this semester. Many things we can learned from this tour. I want to say a big thanks to the advisor who accompany us while the trip. They gave us a lot of learning.

Thank you!!!