Lembata Island

Lembata Island


Pulau Lembata (the island of Lembata), formerly known as Pulau Lomblen, is the largest island of the Solor Archipelago, in the Lesser Sunda Islands, Indonesia. It forms part of the province of Nusa Tenggara Timur. The length of the island is about 80 km from the Southwest to the Northeast and the width is about 30 km from the West to the East. It rises to a height of 1533 m.

Lembata Island is known throughout the world as the home of traditional whaling .
See the nice site from http://www.vanhulsenbeek.com/lamalera
But what is not known is that the people of this Island are especially rich in cultural tradition. The beautiful rich Ikat weavings are entirely made from homegrown cotton, spun and dyed by the weaver. These cloths are still important as they are exchanged during marriage for Ivory tusks between the two families. The scenery throughout the Island is breathtaking, from the ever-imposing "Ile Ape" volcano of the palm fringed bays to the colorful bustling local markets - beauty and excitement are everywhere.
Lamalera village located on the southern tip of Lembata Island is the home of a traditional whale hunting community. Here, Sperm Whales have been hunted for centuries using all hand made equipment; their spears, rope and boats are all made in the village. The boats are without motors and the harpooner must jump from the boat to implant his harpoon in to the whale to ensure success. All parts of the whale are either consumed or traded with other Islanders for corn or other food. While whale hunting is not generally condoned by modern societies, when consider the ancestral links, the primitive equipment used and the importance to the people of Lamalera it is understandable that this traditional hunting has been sanctioned by the United Nations.
A remark from Sander van Hulsebeek : Commercial whaling is banned throughout much of the world, but subsistence whaling is permitted by International Whaling Commission
regulations in Alaska, the USA, the USSR and Greenland. Indonesia is
not, however, a signatory to the IWC.

The Whale Hunter Adventure

http://www.floressa-bali.com/tour-catalog/flores6d.html
6 Days Lembata Flores - The Whale Hunter Adventure to joint with the Whale hunter, see muscular harpooners chasing the whale using the wooden canoe called "Pledang" in which its sail is made of palm leaves.


DAY 01 : MAUMERE
On arrival at "Waioti" Airport of Maumere - Flores, our guide will meet you and transfer to FLORES SAO RESORT or Sea World Club for accommodation and meals. (D)

DAY 02 : MAUMERE - LARANTUKA - LEWOLEBA (LEMBATA)
Breakfast at hotel. Drive 127 km (4 hours drive) to Larantuka, a small town on the Eastern tip of Flores Island. On arrival direct to a local restaurant for having lunch, then transfer to the pier for boarding on a wooden boat to cruise to Lowoleba - Lembata/Lomblen Island. Accommodation and meals at LOSMEN REJEKI - Lowoleba. (B,L,D)

DAY 03 : LEWOLEBA - LAMALERA
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the pier to depart for Lamalera - a village of Whale-Hunters in the South of the Island. On arrival joint with the Whale hunter, if you may be lucky you will see muscular harpooners chasing the whale using the wooden canoe called "Pledang" in which its sail is made of palm leaves. Accommodation and meals at villagers' houses in Lamalera. (B,L,D)

DAY 04 : LAMALERA - LOWOLEBA
After having breakfast having another opportunity to observe the whale hunting activities learn their ways of hunting, customs and listening to their stories of conducting whale hunting. After lunch boating back to Lowoleba. Accommodation and meals at LOSMEN REJEKI or similar. (B,L,D)

DAY 05 : LEWOLEBA - LARANTUKA - MAUMERE
Breakfast at hotel. Cruise back to Larantuka. On arrival direct drive to Maumere, on the stops will be made according to local happenings. Accommodation and meals at FLORES SAO RESORT. (B,L,D)

DAY 06 : MAUMERE - OUT
Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to the Airport to depart for next destination. (B)


Island info

http://hurek.blogspot.com/2006/05/lembata-tenun-ikat-ile-ape.html
Lembata: Tenun Ikat Ile Ape

THE residents of the peninsula that is dominated by Ile Ape (Gunung Api, active vulcano) belong to the most traditional part of Lembata Island. The adat houses on the slopes, in which traditionally spirits are honored, are still in use and festivities like the 'bean-fest' (pesta kacang) still takes place.

The women make the nicest ikats of the island. The landscape is very beautifull. From Ile Ape, you can see the big protected Teluk Waienga in the east, with deep blue water and surrounded by coconut and lontar-palmtrees.

The weavers of Ile Ape don't use synthetic dye or prefabricated threat. They make the threat by hand or self-grown cotton and the dye is made from roots and leaves of flowers. In all villages along the coast women are working behind their weaving machines.

The best fabrics are expensive, but can be very expensive if you have the best quality. They form an important part of the bridal treasure. During marriages the family of the bride gives the nice fabrics to the family of the groom.
Most villages have KOKER, small huts which are used as temples for the ancestors.

The koker are outside the village, on the slopes of Ile Ape. Sacrifices are regularly brought, but the most important spiritual annual event is the 'Bean Festival', Pesta Kacang.
In the 1960's the Pesta Kacang was hardly performed anymore. The 'ban' on regional religions is eased now and the government has become aware of the political and economical benefits of the cultural diversity. In an effort to bring back to life several local traditiona, the government stimulated the Pesta Kacang.

The 'new' Pesta Kacang lasts three days. In earlier times it took upto one week. In a small group the first day is spend on prayers and sacrificing the village spirites, the goodlike ancestors of the village as well as the spirits of the soil.

The following two days are public. Several hundred people participate in the dances (HAMANG). For important guests, among foreigners, a stay for the night is arranged.
The festivities take place in Lamagute (July), Mawa (August), Lewotolok (September), Jontana (October) and Lamariang (November).

Under the influence of the modern time the old habits have been changed slightly. Stickfights, in which young men hit each other on the legs, are abolished. And married women nowadays cover their breasts.

The road from Lewoleba to Mawa (Napasabok), along the western side of the vulcano, is reasonably good. The road from Mawa to Tokojaeng at the eastern coast is not that good and there is no public transport. Between Tokojaeng and Jontona, only motorcycles, jeeps and people walking can travel. From Jontona, the road is better; it merges with the better road just north of Lewoleba. Passenger trucks maintain connections with the villages on the peninsula.

Especially on Mondays there is a lot of traffic because of the market in Lewoleba. But none of the - mostly overfull - trucks drives around the entire peninsula. During travelling you will look at a whole lot of dusty faces, unless you are in the lucky position to sit alongside the driver.

Who travels this area on foot and - where possible - by public transport, will have to get a nights stay offered by the residents of the villages. This shouldn't be a problem; look for the kepala desa (village head) and ask permission to spend the night in the village. It's not expensive. The dinner is local food (corn, maniok, vegetables and maybe some fish) and in the mornings there is coffee.

You can also travel on the island by rented motorbike with a driver. The easiest way to travel is by chartered jeep or bemo. These can transport more than five persons and comes along with a driver for a cheap price.

The road that runs towards the north from Lewoleba, passes a turn to the landing strip and leads to the 'neck' or Ile Ape and then follows the western shore of the island. Meanwhile, small cotton plantations can be seen, salt-panes and every once in a while a row of reo-trees, which were planted by the Dutch.

About 12 kilometers from Lewoleba is Waowala, dominated by the mosque. The road now runs over low coastal hilla; the landscape changes drastically here. All villages have small fields on the slopes, where maniok, corn, beans and nuts are grown. There are several coconut trees and the traveller can have a drink of air kelapa muda (coconut milk).

On the slopes of Ile Ape mountain, the men hunt with their dogs, and crossbows on wild pigs. In contrary to the eastern coast, the western side is no place for fishing.

In Lamagute or Mawa, at the northern coast, you can see the production of ikat fabrics. Take a local guide to the koker of the village. In the most important is a bronze drum with looks like a timeglass.

Most drums which were found in that region - on Lembata, Solor and mainly Alor - the copies of the old drums are of those of the Dongson culture, about 2000 years ago. They were used as merchandize and were made in the 17th and 19th century in China and mainland Jawa. The drum of Lamagute is probably an original dating from the Dongson period.

ILE APE

Who wants to climb the vulcano should realise that young, healthy climbers from the village take about two hours. Start before sunrise and take a hat, enough sunblick and water with you. Who wants to spend the night at the summit and doesn't want to freeze should bring a sleeping bag as well.

East of the peninsula is Teluk Waienga. In Jontona - and also in Lamagute - you can order people to perform a traditional dance for you.

LEWOLEBA MARKET

The weekly market in Lewoleba is one of the biggest in Eastern Indonesia. It attracts visitors and merchands from Alor and Pantar in the west, places like Larantuka, Maumere and Ende on Flores in the west and the islands of Savu and Raija in the south. In the dry season (March through December) several thousand people flock to this market in the west of Lembata.

Most visitors come to sell and buy their food: fishermen, farmers and women from the highlands with their colorfull ikat-decorated fabrics.

They sell and buy food, clothing, spices, cattle and tools. Other visitors to there to gossip or to enjoy the atmosphere. And for the children the market place is one big playing field.

Around 4 A.M. trucks deliver the first - sleepy - passengers. Until 11 A.M. the trucks and bemo keep on driving. Throughout the day all kinds of boats with marketeers arrive and depart. Canoo's with a diamont-shaped sail glide to their parking place. Noisy boats with engines move besides the pillared houses, pull out their engine and load their passengers on a shallow place in the water. With their merchandize on their heads, the women in colorfull sarongs walk to the shore.

Sweated farmers arrive on foot, some have a long trip behind them - on foot - of sometimes eight to ten hours. A trip with a truck is too expensife for them. They just bring a small bag of nuts, beans or tamarind with them.

A number of farmers uses the transport on Mondays to bring their harvest to Lewoleba. Kopra is the most important product, followed by green beans, nuts and tamarind. The government stimulated the cultivation of new crops, among them coffee, cashewnuts and palmsugar, so they can be bought at the market as well.

RISE OF LEWOLEBA

In the Dutch time, Lembata was then named Lomblen, Hadakewa – 20 kilometers east of Lewoleba - was the most important market place of the island. After the Second World War the small Lewoleba started to grow.

In the early 1950's the first Bajo - semi-nomadic fishermen from the island of Adonara - built pillar houses off the coast, on grounds that were flooded a part of the day. But at the end of the 1950's there were stil wild pigs around Lewoleba and Hadakewa was still much more important.

The Indonesian government and the Catholic Church were at the base of the rise of Lewoleba by making the village of arts the center of their activites. Hadakewa now is a neglected provincial capital of a subdistrict.

The trade between the coastal residents and the population in the hinterlands dates back for many years. The gatherers on the beach needed corn, maniok, onions and vegetables, because the coastal area was dry and the soil was infertile. The people from the hinterlands needed proteine and fish.

Most visitors of the market sell or buy small amounts: one kilo of corn, a few eggs, a handfull tobacco, one or two pineapples and a little bit of coffee. The women have spread their merchandize on a cloth. Chickens are hung by the legs, a snorring pig is tied to a rope, just in case. For the entire day, traders exchange the latest gossip, always chewing on a sirih-prune, which colors the teeth red.

Some women sell homemade fabrics, which are as usual reasonably cheap. Every once in a while you can find a great ikat, often a heirloom, saved for a bridal treasury. These can be very expensive.

Traders from Savu also bring ikat; it looks like useless, but the designs from Savu are very well received among the women on the market. They trade their threads for these sarongs. Handmade cotton is popular because natural dyes maintain better than the manufactured fabrics.

The most serious trade is that in daily needs: dried fish, nuts, rice, corn, beans, maniok and kerosine. Everyone knows the price - trading level - of these goods. As soon as a sale is approved - and often before - the men drink a glass of palmwine.

Sellers of small snacks offer numerous snacks: roasted fish, sticky rice in banana-leaves, colored cookies and cake, lemonade, fresh bread, popcorn and fresh roasted peanuts.