:: Sumba Island - Sumba Island Travel Guide ::
The island of Sumba is well
known of its sandalwoods, horses, impressive megalithic
tombs, typical hand woven textile ("ikat"), and still
untouched beautiful
beaches. There are two entering point in to Sumba island
from anywhere in the Lesser Waingapu & Waikabubak
(Tambolaka). These are the people could enter Sumba for
either by flight or boat
Sumba island covers an area of 11,150 square km which is
now populated by about 350,000 people. Generally the
climate similar to other part of Indonesia where a dry
season (May to November), and a rainy season (December
to April). The island of Sumba is well known of its
sandlewood, horses, impressive megalithic tombs, typical
hand woven textile ("ikat"), and still untouched
beautiful beaches. There are two entering point in to
Sumba island from anywhere in the Lesser Waingapu &
Waikabubak (Tambolaka). These are the people could enter
Sumba for either by flight or boat.
Sumba island has a great and unique position respect to
the Sunda Banda archipelagoes, it is one of the biggest
island on the East Nusa Tenggara region beside Flores
and Timor. It represents an isolated sliver of probable
continental crust to the south of active volcanic
islands (Sumbawa, Flores ) within the forearc basin
(Fig.1). It is situated to the north of passage from the
Java Trench (subduction front) to the Timor Through
(collision front).
It does not show still the effects of strong compression
in contrast to islands of the outer arc system (Savu,
Roti, Timor), while the magmatic units make up a
substantial part of the Late Cretaceous to Paleogene
stratigraphy.
Most Sumbanese are Christian (Catholic and Protestant),
however, and part of them are still strongly keep their
native and original religion called Marapu. Most
cultural objects are related to the Marapu religion such
as the shape of traditional houses, ceremonies, or
kings' graves and tombs.
The Customary houses designed in high-peaked roof to
store the heirlooms and store. It is divided into male
and female section, and generally surrounded by
impressive megalithic tombs. Their famous ceremony are
the wedding and funerals. where they usually sacrificed
animals pigs, buffaloes, cattle, and horses.
The Megalithic tombs are made from the hard stone
forming the megalithic shape. This covered by rectangle
flat stone supported by four pillars about 1,5 meters
high. The Megalithic tombs are actually located in the
front of their houses
A primitive Sumbanese art objects strongly related with
a social functions of Merapu belief. The carved stones
and wood statues are representing the death, Merapu, and
as medium for their contact. Metal ornaments and jewelry
are usually for wedding ceremonies, and are related to
the social status.
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