27 Sep - 29 Sep 2011 Bomba

Republic of Indonesia
Central Sulawesi
Bomba
Losmen Ningsih +6285241488000
Overpriced, small twin room with attached bathroom (Indonesian mandi) and with a nice communal porch, including breakfast and dinner for two, for INR 125,000.- or US$ 13.80 per night.
Duty-free but heavily diluted Cap Tikus aka Bada Valley Moonshine available from the neighbouring Islamic not-so-super supermarket for INR 30,000.- or US$ 3.30 per litre.


Click below for an interactive road map of the Losmen Ningsih in Bomba and for directions:










Hiking independently the beautiful and less travelled Bada Valley along the Sungai Lariang (Sulawesi’s largest river), meeting helpful and hospitable Suku Bada people, young and old, and bagging Central Sulawesi’s historical star attractions, its mysterious (always west facing) first millennium CE megaliths, large stone carvings along the lines of those on Easter Island: (i) the female Batung Langke Bulawa near Bomba, (ii) the female Batung Loga near Pada, (iii) the animal Batung Kerbau, the Buffalo Rock, near Runde, (iv) the animal Batung Oba, the Monkey Rock, near Lengkeka and (v) the super star, the king-size, male Batung Palindo near Bewa at exactly S 01° 51.57' E 120° 15.30'.















Meeting a small group of up-market tourists from Western countries and learning that the going rates for a local tour guide start at a gross price of INR 600,000.- or US$ 66.- per day (the guide comes with car and driver since a “licensed” guide worth his salt can’t use public transport), almost the price of a reliable and non-chattering handheld GPS receiver:




Taking the same rugged Pamonaraya bus +6281341175080 back to Tentena (65 km, 4 ½ hours, INR 60,000.- or US$ 6.60 per person), another bone-shaking bus journey with awful music and cramped seats through hell...
  
   
Facing Sulawesi
© Konni & Matt
         

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