WAE REBO TRADITIONAL VILLAGE

Wae Rebo Village is one of the Traditional Village in Flores Island. Geographically the village is

situated on 1,200 meters above sea level. Wae Rebo Traditional Village is part of Satarmese District, Manggarai regency, Flores. The village has about 700 residents.

The main destination in Wae Rebo Village is Mbaru Niang or traditional house of manggaraian, but beside the presence of mbaru niang, the situation of this village that far from the bustle of the city and somewhat isolated gives a different feel for each visitor who visited this village. Wae Rebo community still cling to the traditions and local wisdom handed down from their ancestors. This tradition and local wisdom are the the special interest for the traveler who come to This Village.

One of the local wisdom in Wae Rebo village is the community still preserve of mbaru niang. In Wae Rebo itself there should only be seven Mbaru Niang nothing less and nothing more. One house can be occupied six to eight families. The rest of the community who are not accommodated in Wae Rebo (Mbaru Niang) had to move to the Kombo village that located approximately five kilometers from Wae Rebo. And this Village  also known as the twinning of Wae Rebo village because most of the villagers are from Wae Rebo Village.

The house or mbaru niang has five levels, each level designated for a specific purpose. The first level called lutur or living house for the living quarters of the extended family. The second level called lobo, or attic, is set aside to store food and goods, the third level called lentar is to store seeds for the next harvest, the fourth level called lempa rae is reserved for food stocks in case of draught, and the fifth and top level, called hekang kode, which is held most sacred, is to place offerings for the ancestors.

To get to Wae Rebo Village.

Waerebo Village trip is one of the most hunted Flores Island Tour Packages

The Closest city to Wae Rebo Village is Ruteng Town, But because there is no the airport who serve direct flight to Ruteng town, almost the visitors start trip to Wae Rebo is from Labuan Bajo. You will drive by car or motorbike around 2 hours or more, and before continue to Wae Rebo village the visitor normally will stop for overnight in Denge Village. Denge Village situated in coastal area, from here you can see the view of Mules island, also the scenery of rice field can be found here. This village is the starting point to do trekking to Wae Rebo village. In this village there are some of local guest house that manage by local people on this village.

The distance from Denge Village to Wae Rebo village is 9 kilometers, which can be taken approximately 3-4 hours by foot (depend on stamina). On the way during trekking to Wae Rebo village you will pass the rain forest and small river, also the the sing or birds will always accompany you during the trek.

On arrival in Wae Rebo village, you will do a ritual that’s call Pa’u wae Lu’u that lead by the leader of the village and pray / ask to their ancestor to always protect you during your visiting. Before this ritual you are not allowed to do some activity for example to take the picture. After the ritual you can do some activity and direct socializing with the local people. And at the night you will overnight inside the mbaru niang (traditional house).

KELIMUTU NATIONAL PARK

Kelimut Lake is one of the must visit place if you do trip to Flores Island in Indonesia. 

Kelimutu National Park is the smallest among six national parks in the stretch between Bali and the

Nusatenggara islands. Its size obviously does not matter much when it offers one of the most spectacular wonders that nature has to offer. There are three lakes on the mountain sharing the same name, Kelimutu, meaning ‘the boiling lake’. Each has its own colors and a local name. But all are believed to be the resting place of departed souls.

Located some 66 km. from the town of Ende or 83 km. from Maumere, Lake Kelimutu was discovered by a Dutch named Van Such Telen in 1915. It gained global fame after Y. Bouman wrote in his notes in 1929 about the bizarre color-changing lakes.

As travelers start ascending from Moni, a small rural town, a basecamp for backpackers, idyllic views appear which will remain perfect in the mind. The westernmost lake is named Tiwu Ata Mbupu, meaning ‘the lake of old people’. The middle one is called Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai, or ‘the lake for young men and maiden’. The easternmost is called Tiwu Ata Polo, or ‘the lake for evils spirits’. The three lakes are quite a display as their colors keep changing.

Unlike the Blue Lake in Mt. Gambier, South Australia, that changes color from blue to cold steel grey within a predictable period, or Lake Yudamari in Mt. Nakadake, in Japan, that changes from blue-green to green,  the Kelimutu  lakes are unpredictable as to when and what color they will change into. Sometimes, the colors are blue, green, and black, and some other times they turn to white, red, and blue. The last time a traveler saw them, one was dark brown, just like a pond of chocolate. Previously, the east lake was red and the middle lake was blue.

Scientifically speaking, lakes change colors due to subaqueous fumaroles. Scientists believe that these are the result of minor phreatic eruptions in ancient time. The phenomenon here, however, are of particular interest to geologists since the three lakes present different colors but are yet located on the peak of the same volcano. The local ranger in the national park explained that this is due to chemical reactions of materials contained in the lake, triggered by volcanic gaseous activities. The local people in Moni, however, believe that somehow people around the mountain have done something evil and have died there.

Lake Kelimutu is part of the Kelimutu National Park, presenting a highly aesthetic value and surreal experience. The national park’s highest point is 5,679 feet at Mt. Kelibara (1,731 meters), and 5,544 feet high (1,690 meters) at Mt. Kelimutu. It is a national park that protects 19 endemic and endangered animals, among which, the Floresian punai (Treron floris), Wallacea owl (Otus silvicola), Floresian kancilan (Pachycephala nudigula), Floresian eagle (Spizeatus floris), and Timorese tesia (Tesia everetti).

Here are also endemic mice, deer, porcupines, and the legendary luwak or civet (Pharadoxurus hermaphroditus) that gained its fame for the expensive coffee it produces. Visit Mt. Kelimutu and the three-colored lakes as an essential part of your Flores adventure.

CARA VILLAGE SPIDER WEB RICE FIELD

Spider web rice field is one of the best tourist object in Flores Island, located in Cara village about 12 Lodok. In the center of this rice field planted by a trees, namely teno, and this tree is used as the center to make a line in measuring the field. In division the land, The head of village (tu’a teno) used his finger as the measuring instrument, and each people normally get the land section but not same size, size of land is depend on social status in the society. For some people who have hight level they will ger larger size, but for ordinary people they will get smaller size. Almost the land in Manggarai district is divided in using this system, and when the leader have measured it, next is pull the line to the end of the land that called cicing for all arround the center, so it’s formed look like spider web.

kms from Ruteng or 118 kms from Labuan Bajo. Spider web rice field has unique circle form with it’s center called

Lingko or spider web also has relation with mbaru tembong (traditional house of manggaraian) especially with the roof of Mbaru tembong. the roof of mbaru tembong has conical shape from the top to down, and  if we try to spread it in the land the form is same. In this case manggaraian believe with a local slogan “gendang onen lingko pe’ang” means lingko or land as the center for earning a living and mbaru or a house as the resting place for leaving.

In opening new land, always start the ceremony from Mbaru tembong (traditional house), where all people follow the ceremony to take offering for the ancestors while praying might their soul always take care all the people in processing of land division, then the next traditional ceremony is in the field as the new land to take offering to something or someone as the guardian of the land.

BAJAWA TOWN

If you do trip to Flores island, One of the most beautifull palce is Bajawa Town.

Bajawa is one of the some interesting places in Flores Island. It is a cold city that lies more than

1.000 meters above sea level. According to the some legend, The words “bajawa” took from two words namely: “bha” and “djawa”. Bha means plate this word descript about the form of Bajawa town that look like a plate, and Djawa means java Island, this words can descript about there are many Javanese people who lived in this town, but the other version of djawa means a peace, so in generally Bajawa means cool and peace city.

Bajawa with the population around 45,000 is not as modern as other districts in the city of East Nusa Tenggara, The existing of some traditional village around Bajawa city and the culture of this region makes Bajawa more original and traditional. 

With the cool and fresh air adds the appeal of this city.

Like most people on the island of Flores, communities in this town live of agricultural activities. The agricultural products from Bajawa such as: vegetables and fruits spread in some traditonal markets around Flores Island. This is because this region has fertile soil that lies beneath the foothills of Inerie Mountain.

Bajawa is more famous now because the existing of some tourist object that close by this city, And some opinion said Bajawa as the home of nature and culture as the heritage of the ancestor. Here are some of Tourist Object around bajawa Town.

• Bena Village: this is one of the traditional village in Flores island, it’s the megalithic village as the heritage of stone age. Located in the slope of Mount Inerie, and about 19 kilometers southern part of Bajawa. Here you will find Some traditional House that still Original, and also the friendly people make your visiting more complete. 
• Wawomuda Crater: This crater is located in the Ngoranale village. To get here you need to drive about 15 – 20 minutes from The center of Bajawa then continue with trekking up the mountain about 30 – 45 minutes. Wawomuda crater is formed by erupted of Wawomuda Mountain on 2001. This crater has three small craters with different colors they are: yellow, red and brown.
•  Mengeruda Hot Spring: Mengeruda Hot Spring also known as So’a hotspring lies in So’a subdistrict. To get to this place you need to drive around 40 minutes – 1 hours. On arrival you can enjoy and relaxing the hot nature water in this place. The water of Mengeruda is important to treat the skin suffer.
•  Inerie Mountains: is the highest mountain of in Ngada Regency, Flores. This mountain has an altitude of 2,245 meters above sea level, which is shaped like a cone. If you want to climb this mountain, the starting point is in Watumeze village within approximately 30 minutes drive from Bajawa. Need 3 up to 4 hours to climb this mount to the top (depend on your stamina).

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LIANG BUA THE FLORES HOBBIT CAVE

Liang Bua is a limestone cave on the island of Flores Indonesia. The site is slightly north of the town

of Ruteng in Manggarai Regency (kabupaten) in East Nusa Tenggara province.

The cave was the site of the 2003 discovery of a potentially new species of Homo genus, Homo floresiensis, the remains of which are coded LB1, LB2, etc., after the cave. The Indonesian field coordinator of the excavation team, Thomas Sutikna, was preparing to close up the dig at Liang Bua when the first indications of the important fossils were uncovered. So far it is the only location in which such remains have been identified although archeological work in the nearby Soa Valley in Ngada Regency appears to support findings from the Liang Bua site.

In 2013, a 3D model of the cave created via laser scanning was made available online by the Smithsonian Institution.

There is continuing disagreement amongst scientists as to whether the discoveries represent a new and distinct hominid species. On one hand, some experts on human origin argue that the discoveries represent a distinct species that lived in relatively modern times. Others argue that it is more likely that the bones of the most complete individual found in Liang Bua (individual LB1) are those of a local person who was, quite likely, simply suffering from a medical condition (perhaps Down Syndrome) rather than indicating that a unique species of Homo lived in Flores.liang-bua-cave

To get to liang Bua cave you can start trip from labuan bajo, takes about 4 hours driving to Ruteng town, and another 1 hour driving to reach the cave. Or if you make flores overland trip start from maumere you can stop over in this cave on the way to get Labuan bajo.

RUTENG TOWN

If you Flores Island Trip, one of the small that you will pass by is Ruteng Town. And some times, you will have overnight in this Small Village. 

Ruteng is a small town towards the western end of Flores Island, Indonesia and lies about 1.200

metres above sea level so the air is cool. Surrounding the town are green rice fields that provide the staple for the population on this predominantly dry island. Coffee grown around here is also most invigorating.. The population is predominantly Roman Catholic, Almost the architecture of big building in this town followed the European style.

To get to Ruteng you can drive from Labuan Bajo, West manggarai Regency about 4 hours (by car or motorbike), the distance is about 130 KM. There is also the airport in Ruteng that served flight from and to Kupang ( the capital city of East manggarai regency). To reach one place to each place inside the town is very easy, there are so many local transport that called “BEMO” or you can take motor taxi or “OJEK”. Ruteng town has local market in the center of the town and there are some of tourist object that easy to reach from this cool town, they are:

• Liang Bua Cave: Only a half-hour drive/ ride north of Ruteng town, these are prehistorical caves where the fossils of homo florensis were found. The caves themselves are not particularly special, but it’s intriguing to sit under the stalactites and imagine that 1-metre high cave-people were living here only 17,000 years ago, while modern human beings lived in the valleys below. The surroundings are very pretty and only 50 metres down the hill there’s a small museum with a replica of a Homo florensis skeleton.
• Spiderweb rice-fields: About 20 min drive from town in the direction of Labuanbajo. After a short hike up a hill, you have the view of the valley and the spiderweb rice-fields. Definitely worth a visit.
• Rana mese Lake: 21 Km from town, on the main road towards Bajawa. Beautiful and very peaceful lake, interesting flora and fauna. It is possible to walk around the lake on a small path (around 45 minutes). The area is very calm with a few fishermen plying their trade. It is also possible to visit a 75m waterfall near one of the surrounding villages.
• Goro Curu: This small hill is a perfect early morning walk. It takes around 45 minutes from the center of Ruteng and the views are great.
• Ranaka mountain: The famous volcano in the Ruteng area. Some years ago, following some activity, a lava dome appeared that is called Anak Ranaka (the child of Ranaka). It is possible to drive all the way to the top on a sturdy motorcycle. The road is in bad condition. Best thing to do here is trekking, it needs approximately 10hours up and down (depend on stamina).
• Ruteng Pu’u village: Takes 10 minutes drive from the center of Ruteng, here you can see the traditional house of manggaraines, you will go inside the wooden houses that have the shape of a spiderweb (the same pattern as the rice fields). They have some traditional drums on display. There are also traditional villages around Ruteng with more authentic architecture.

ABOUT KOMODO DRAGON.

Komodo dragon is the last heritage of Dinosaurus periode in the world. This giant lizard is the last

population that still existing till now in Komodo National Park. And this animals also made Komodo National Park as the new 7 wonders in the world.

Since it founded on 1910 Komodo Dragon lived in 3 main islands (Rinca Island, Padar Island, and Komodo Island) Of Komodo National Park and Nusa Kode island in the northern part of Komodo Island, but now, they mostly can be found in two islands only (Rinca Island and Komodo Island). The average size of a male Komodo dragon is 2,5 meters, but they can reach a whopping 10 feet (3 meters) in length. Females grow to 6 feet (1.8 m).

As the dominant predators in their inhabit, they will eat almost anything, including carrion, deer, pigs, smaller dragons, and even large water buffalo and humans. When hunting, Komodo dragons rely on camouflage and patience, lying in wait for passing prey. When a victim ambles by, the dragon springs, using its powerful legs, sharp claws and serrated, shark-like teeth to eviscerate its prey.

according to the statistic a stable population of about 3,000 to 5,000 Komodo dragons on the islands of Komodo and Rinca.

Komodo dragon tour normally start from Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai Regency. The trip can take by speed boat or local wooden boat, and almost the destination is Rinca island or Komodo Island. in both of this island the visitor can see this giant lizard. To see this the visitor normally do trekking start from 1 - 2 hours on these island. 

To get to Rinca island by speed boat around 45 minutes - 1 hours and by slow boat around 2 hours. And to get to Komodo Island it will take 2 hours by speed boat and 4 hours by local wooden boat.

FLORES THE PARADISE ISLAND

Flores Island is one of thousands island around indonesia. Lies in the eastern part of

Indonesia. The total area of Flores is 13.540 km2. If combine with some other small islands around it will be  16.039 km2. Flores island spread from west to east or vise versa with the length total of high way is about 640 kms start from Labuan Bajo town (west part of Flores) up to Larantuka town (eastern part of Flores).

Flores Island is Bordered by Sape Straight in west, in the east by Alor straight, in the north by Flores sea, and in the south by Sawu sea. Flores area consist of Flores island as the main part, and some others small island around such as: Adonara island, Solor Isand, and Lomblen Island in east part. Palue Island, Besar Island, Babi Island, and some small island in the north part. Then komodo Island, Rinca Island, padar island and some small island inside Komodo national Park in the west part. And there are Ende Island, Mules island in the south part.

This island has 8 regencies spread from the east to the west, Start from East Flores Regency that combine from East land Flores and some islands around, with the capital city is Larantuka. Sikka Regency with the capital city is Maumere, Ende Regency with the capital city is Ende, Ngada Regency with the capital city is Bajawa, Nagekeo Regency with the capital city is Mbay (this is include the 17 islands os Riung), East Manggarai regency with the capital city is Borong, Manggarai Regency with the capital City is Ruteng and the last one is West Manggarai Regency with the capital city is Labuan Bajo (include the Komodo National Park).

Each regency in Flores Island has own language that make its unique. Every tribe in flores island has mother language as the daily language that use by the people. Not only The language is different in here, also inside the mother language there is some special action that’s used by the people in every village, So to understand each other mostly people in this island use Indonesian language.

Flores is famous because some tour destination can be found inside the island. Start from East part, there is amazing three color lake that’s called Kelimutu Lake, some traditional village such as: Bena Village, Waerebo Village, Saga Village, Then there is on the north Part is the 17 islands of Riung, And the last one is The famous of Komodo National Park by the existing giant lizard and it’s amazing underwater marine life. So Flores island tour packages is including to see all the amazing of them.

How to get in Flores Island?????

FLIGHT

Now a day flores can be reached by Flight, there are three main airport for entering this island, they are: Frans seda airport in maumere, H Hasan Aroeboesman airport in Ende, and Komodo airport in Labuan bajo, all these airport serve flight from/to Kupang and denpasar (bali)

SHIP

There are some main port in Flores island, they are: Labuan Bajo port serve PELNI ship from/to makasar and the others city in Indonesia, beside that daily ferry from/to sape. Aimere port serve sailing from/to Kupang and Sumba island. Ende port serve sailing from/to Kupang, and the last one is Maumere serve sailing from/to surabaya and Sulawesi and Kalimantan.

See also abut Komodo Island and Rinca Island.