Buzz
Our journey to Sentani, one of the largest lakes on the Papua island – an eastern province of Indonesia, coincided with the Kalkote festival.
Discovering the Festive Hues in Sentani, Indonesia
By the end of June, the high tropical equatorial heat intensifies the lively atmosphere of the summer festival. Kalkote festival, not widely known among tourists, follows the local indigenous schedule, making it less known to outsiders based on the Gregorian calendar.
This year's festival spans four days, featuring the participation of 19 tribes with diverse cultural performances, handicraft exhibitions, and a rich culinary festival. A cultural parade involving various ethnic groups from Papua and across Indonesia adds a colorful touch to the event.
During the festival, people dance to the traditional isolo rhythm on boats, following the tunes and folk tales, while another 500 individuals dressed in traditional attire join the dance to the Tifa music. Exciting boat races, drumming competitions, and lively flute playing are also organized.
I was particularly impressed with the mesmerizing isolo performances, featuring collective dance routines on several boats docked near the lake shore. Each show had five or six boats, each with over 20 dancers with beautifully painted faces and bodies.
Colorful feathers of various birds were used to adorn the dances, blending mountainous vibes with riverine hues. The intricately decorated boats were unique, with no two alike.
It seems the more extravagant the boat, the more fervently the dancers move, and the larger the singing and drumming, the higher the acclaim. The people of Papua are striking, with well-proportioned bodies, bright faces, a penchant for grooming, and a fondness for betel chewing to keep their lips perpetually red!
In recent years, since the opening of flights to Sentani, this lake region has gained recognition among nature-loving travelers for its breathtaking scenery. Nestled amidst the Cycloops mountain range, adorned with lush vegetation, Sentani Lake sprawls over nearly a hundred square kilometers like a precious gem in the midst of a verdant forest, housing a variety of rare fish species.
One of the specialties of the lake that is facing extinction is the swordfish. The local people hold a particular fondness for swordfish, often creating wooden decorations resembling this fish, hanging them on walls as a way to introduce the distinctive feature of Sentani Lake to visitors.
When visiting Sentani, travelers often explore the unique traditional cultures in the lakeside villages. We chose to visit the Asmat village – home to one of the oldest tribes in the area. The Asmat people have a rich tradition of wood carving, showcasing artistic mastery, and they still commonly wear vibrant traditional attire.
Exploring the stilt houses of lakeside fishermen proves to be a fascinating journey. The breeze dances freely, the fresh air fills the surroundings, and the friendly smiles of the locals make it hard for visitors to resist enjoying a lunch featuring the special kerambah fish.
The residents here are very hospitable, accustomed to tourists coming for sightseeing or resort stays in Sentani. Visitors can use local fishermen's boats to explore the lake and witness the beauty of the surrounding hills covering the dry land like an expansive plateau.
Many Western guests often stay here for a week, immersing themselves in the lake, chatting with the locals, observing the preparation of sago cakes, tasting local specialties, and savoring the flavors of matoa fruits displayed along the streets or in local markets…
According to Doanhnhansaigon.vn
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Reference: Travel guide from Mytour
VIVID.comJanuary 8, 2016
