Sengkang-Toraja-Makassar (Tana Toraja : Land of Heavenly Kings)

Safely protected beyond the lofty mountains and rugged granite cliffs of the central highlands of the island of Sulawesi, are the Toraja people who live in valleys that are lush with green rice terraces and fertile coffee plantations.

“Discovered” and opened to the world from their long isolation only since the beginning of the last century, the Toraja today still adhere to their age-old beliefs, rituals and traditions, although many of her people are modernized or have embraced Christianity.

When one travels to the Tana Toraja highlands, therefore, expect to be awed by the spectacular beauty of nature, at the same time experience how communities have through the ages sustained their beliefs and traditions in splendid isolation in order to survive this eternal cycle of life and death on earth.

The road from Makassar to Toraja runs along the coast for about 130 km's and then hits the mountains. After the entrance to Tana Toraja at the market village of Mebali one enters a majestic landscape of giant, gray granites and stones and blue mountains afar that form a sharp contrast with the lively green of the fertile, rain-fed terraces and the rusty red of the tropical soil. This is Tana Toraja, one of the most splendid areas in Indonesia.

Here, the nobility of Toraja are believed to be descendents of heavenly beings who came down by a heavenly stairway to live here on earth in this beautiful landscape.

And to keep up the energy of the land and its people, the Toraja people believe that these must be sustained through rituals that celebrate both life and death, which are attached to the agricultural seasons. Here rituals in connection with life are strictly separated from death rites.

Toraja is most well known for its elaborate funeral ceremonies that can take days and involve entire villages. These are not only moments for mourning but are moreover events to renew family ties and to ensure continued unity among villages and communities.

Death ceremonies, however, are held only after the last rice harvest is in and cleared, which is normally between July to September, while ceremonies celebrating life are held in conjunction with the planting season which starts in October. These timings are possible since the dead are not buried immediately but are kept for months, sometimes for years, in the ancestral house until time and funds allow for a proper funeral.

Tourists to Toraja, therefore, are either attracted by its unique culture and rituals, most of which are mostly centered around graves and death ceremonies. While others prefer to avoid the morbid images and go trekking through the spectacular, almost untouched Toraja countryside visiting remote villages, or exhilarate in rafting the Sa’dan river rapids.
Capital of Toraja is Makale but visitors usually head to the town of Rantepao, heart of Tana Toraja – the Land of the Toraja people.
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Sengkang-Toraja-Makassar 6D/5N
DAY 01. ARRIVAL IN MAKASSAR / DEPART FOR SENGKANG (L,D)
According to your schedule of arrival, you will meet our Tour Guide at Hasanuddin Airport Makassar. Then we drive to Sengkang, famous as the center of traditional sutera silk clothes factory in South Sulawesi. On the way, we visit Bantimurungwaterfall which also famous for its colorful butterflies. Lunch en route. In the afternoon arrive in Sengkang and directly to the Lake Tempe where we will have a boat trip to discover the way of life of Buginese fishermen with their floating houses. Dinner and overnight stay at simple accommodation in Sengkang.

DAY 02. DRIVE TO TANA TORAJA (B,L,D)
After breakfast, we will visit the traditional silk factory where women hand spin and weave silk clothes. Then drive to Tana Toraja via Palopo where we will find many spectacular views along the road from Palopo to Tana Toraja. Lunch en route. In the afternoon arrive in Tana Toraja. Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.

DAY 03. FULL DAY TANA TORAJA TOUR (B,L,D)
After breakfast, we will visit the stone hanging grave of Lemo with its Tau-Tau effigies. Then to Kambira where we can find the peculiar baby graves in the trees. Onwards we will explore the architecture of Tongkonan houses in Ketekesu village and Londa, which is a natural grave with entombed deceased. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant in Rantepao. In the afternoon, we visit Nanggala and Siguntuk, local Torajan villages famous for their old Tongkonan houses and rice barns. Then back to the Hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 04. FULL DAY TANA TORAJA TOUR (B,L,D)
In the morning we will visit Tinombayo where we can enjoy the spectacular view of the megalith stones spread over the extensive rice fields. Then to a burial cave ofLokomata. From Lokomata, we continue our trip to Batutumonga where we will a have short trekking, enjoy the beautiful panorama and experience a moment of the unique Torajan life style.. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant in Batutumonga. In the afternoon, we will visit Pallawa & Sa’dan, local Torajan villages famous for their wood carving. Then back to the Hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 05. DRIVE BACK TO MAKASSAR (B,L,D)
This morning, we drive back to Makassar with the different road ( via Pare-Pare ). On the way stop on the Bambapuang for a coffee break and enjoy the extraordinary view of mount Buttukabobong. Lunch will be served at seafood restaurant in Pare-Pare. Afternoon arrival in Makassar and direct transfer to the Hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

DAY 06. SHORT CITY TOUR / TRANSFER AIRPORT (B)
After breakfast, if we still have any time, we will take you on a short city tour around Makassar. First we will visit the Sulawesi Miniature Garden to see all types of South Sulawesian typical houses and the Fort Somba Opu. Then to Balla Lompoawhere we can find all ancient collections from the royal family of the former Gowa kingdom. After enough time, transfer

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Watch the entire 'Decade of Difference' concert

The William J. Clinton Foundation's Decade of Difference concert, celebrating 10 years of the foundation along with the former president's 65th birthday, had relatively few snags (read on about Usher's pants), yet kicked off with a few tears—from the guest of honor himself. Stevie Wonder opened the evening with his classic "Sir Duke" and capped his funky set with "Superstition." Forget warming the audience: Wonder had everyone on their feet and Clinton tearing up in his seat.

Next, presenter Laura Ling (the journalist who was imprisoned in North Korea along with Euna Lee after crossing into the country from China) paid tribute to former President Clinton for his public service and literally saving her life. Kenny Chesney followed and took the stage, opening with his fun singles, "Somewhere With You," and "Beer in Mexico." The country superstar welcomed the talented and leggy Grace Potter (of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals), and the two sang their hit single, "You and Tequila."


Next up: K'naan, who moved the crowd with his personal story of growing up in Somalia and being personally affected by Clinton's peacekeeping efforts in 1992. K'naan closed his set by fueling an audience sing-along to "Wavin' Flag." Following K'naan, actress Maria Bello introduced Colombian superstar Juanes, who got the crowd dancing to his hit song "La Camisa Negra."

The evening seamlessly segued into a film starring the Clinton Foundation's global efforts to help fight the presence of HIV and AIDS, and it was Ashton Kutcher's turn to present the next artist (Usher). He spoke about the Demi and Ashton (DNA) Foundation, which he formed with wife Demi Moore to help fight the sex trafficking of young girls.

Of course, Usher took the stage and quickly stole the show by splitting his pants. After covering, "With a Little Help From My Friends," Usher bounced around the stage as he sang "Yeah!" and encountered his wardrobe malfunction. "I work hard," he said, shrugging it off.

It wasn't hard to keep the evening's upbeat mActually, by then it was more like her fourth or fifth. Gaga kept doling out the love, telling the former president she was "on the edge with" him and that she wished he was "playing sax with me, baby." It was all in good fun, and the entire Clinton clan smiled and clapped along. Gaga sang right through her exit.

After Gaga's performance, Jason Segel introduced a Funny or Die original. In it, Ben Stiller led a gathering of Sean Penn, Matt Damon, Kristen Wiig, Ted Danson, and Mary Steenburgen as they all tried to drum up new ideas for the Clinton Foundation. Wiig suggested a ban on breathing, to have everyone in the world hold their breath for a minute, and Penn pushed a "simple initiative" to stop folks from stealing his lunch. It was a light way to look at the hard issues the foundation tackles, and even Clinton himself joined in on the joke. The former president spoke to the group via conference call, but the camera soon revealed the voice on the other line was Kevin Spacey donning an Arkansas accent. Clinton burst into the room and asked Spacey to stop making prank calls from his office—all while holding a brown bag marked "PENN."omentum because icon Lady Gaga followed Usher by working the crowd and singing direct messages to the entire Clinton family. Bill, Hillary, and Chelsea were all on their feet as Gaga incorporated each of their names into lyrics.

Channeling Marilyn Monroe with her dusty blonde wig, Gaga worked "Happy Birthday" into the intro of "Born this Way" and continued by saying, "Bill, I'm having my first Marilyn moment."
Intermission rolled in. But if you missed it, you didn't get to see the celeb-studded video featuring the likes of Maria Bello, Robbie Robertson, Geena Davis, and many others, all thanking Clinton for his public service efforts.

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The classic was slow and beautiful, even sans Pavarotti, though Bono held his own with the opera vocals. Colin Farrell quickly jumped onstage at the song's close to introduce Will.I.Am for the ever-groovy "Feelin' Alright," which heralded the close to the evening.

The music ended, the Hollywood Bowl began to empty, and members of the audience could be heard singing "Happy Birthday" to Clinton, who was, after the evening of accolades, surely feeling all right.

Exotisme Pantai Bira

Menyusuri sepanjang pesisir selatan Kabupaten Bulukumba di Sulawesi Selatan, kita akan bertemu dengan silaunya keindahan pasir putih Pantai Bira.
Salah satu yang khas dari pantai ini adalah pasir nya yang putih bersih dan sangat halus seperti tepung.Kawasan wisata alam ini dapat di tempuh dalam 30 menit dari pusat pembuatan perahu Phinisi.
Tak hanya menyuguhkan keelokan pantai dengan pasir putih nya, di kawasan ini juga terdapat bukit bukit karang sebagai tempat untuk menyaksikan hamparan laut secara utuh dengan latar belakang pulau kecil yang di huni banyak kambing. Sekitar 200 meter menuju pintu masuk pantai, terdapat pelabuhan yang merupakan dermaga bagi kapal kapal ferry yang digunakan oleh masyarakat pulau Selayar sebagai alat transportasi.Pulau ini merupakan tempat yang terkenal dengan taman laut nasional Taka Bonerate.
Di kawasan Pantai Bira juga terdapat sebuah restoran yang bentuk nya menyerupai perahu Phinisi yang di bangun di atas batu karang. Tempat yang sangat tepat untuk menikmati suasana pantai ditemani suguhan