Expected The Unexpected

Beautiful Savanna

It's a confusing title isn't? I just thought about it a few minutes ago while walking down the streets to get here, my favourite place of all time, Coffee Shop. A place for searching my inspiration and peacefulness.

Well a few days ago I just flew back from my last trip to Sumba island, an island that located in East Nusa Tenggara province, about 1,5 hours by plane from Bali. I'm really grateful to had this opportunity to experienced the exotic island of Sumba. It's a very beautiful island with tons of cultural heritage that still exist until now.

For a couple months I had desired to go to Sumba, to cover the annual traditional event of Pasola. A traditional war game that played by Sumbanese men. They are riding their decorated selected horses fling wooden spears at each other. The event usually held every year in February through March in two district, West Sumba and South West Sumba. According to local belief, is an accident occurred, it means the soul victim has not been purified or he has violated the rules. Blood spilled on the ground is regarded as an offering to the god of the earth so that the land becomes and protected from the pests.

I think for me it's a great chance to visit a place that I've never been before despite that I also love to do video shooting that covering a traditional event that contains a lot of traditional values and discovering the unique culture of Indonesia.

After completing my script about Bali I started to find out more about Pasola, when and where it will be held? After gathered all the information I need, I started making a coverage proposal. Although I was really excited about going to Sumba, but there is a little pessimistic deep down inside that the boss don't allowed us to go there because of the time was close in just three days. But Voila... surprised surprised I was permitted to go with a number of condition and obligation. Well, this is something that I'm not expected but I'm really excited!

The ticket booked! The stuff packed! So what are we waiting for?
LET'S GET LOST!

In early dawn on Friday I was preparing to go to the airport, with sleepy eyes both of us (me and my cameraman) immediately checked in the luggage. It's terminal 3 again we were waiting for our flight to Bali for transit before heading to Tambolaka airport of South West Sumba. It feels like Deja Vu, about two weeks ago we're both here in Ngurah Rai airport Bali, and now here we are again.

After breakfast at the airport and waiting for about 1,5 hours finally we flew to Sumba! It's truly an unforgettable experienced, for the first time riding a small plane with also a limited capacity of passengers. A bit scary at the beginning but then after another 1,5 hours flight I could see the beautiful view of Sumba coastline. Great!

A Coastline Somewhere In Sumba

Finally we touched down at Tambolaka airport of Waitabula. After meeting with our driver we ride to Waikabubak about 55 minutes and then try to get some sleep before the work begin.

Hard work begins the next day from late afternoon until dawn. We begin with the traditional boxing event that held on the beach at night. The event was followed by dozens of Sumbanese men, a fight with bare hands amid the darkness that only illuminated by the moonlight.The beach was so crowded with hundreds of people who are curious. The crowd made it difficult for us to do the video shooting, It's really a struggle!

With only three hours sleep we're ready to do another video shooting about Marapu religious ritual. The ritual ceremony is cutting chickens to see the liver and intestines which results determines the success or failure of the Pasola that will be held the next day. Then in the afternoon we do video shooting about Pasola training activities conducted by all the participants. The Sumbanese men wears a traditional cloth that tied on their waist and head.

Pasola Training
Rato of Wegali Tribe

Sumbanese Man Ready for Pasola

Traditional House of Indigenous Tribe

It's another early dawn it's 3 am and both of us were prepared to wait to be picked up by driver to go to Wanokaka district. It's the P day, the Pasola day, the day we've been waiting for. Were so ready and hoping that today all things will go smoothly and we can wrap this episode today.

But like I said expected the unexpected, sad news surprised us. My cameraman father's had died that morning. With a feeling of confusion he continued working professionally to wrapping one episode before we decided to go back to Jakarta that noon.

After we passed through the crowd we went back to the hotel to pack our bag and immediately went to the airport to catch a flight,  it was the only flight to Bali. But then my boss told me that I had stayed there and continued to work, while my cameraman flying solo to Jakarta.

So after drop him of, I just staying all night long at the hotel  while waiting for other cameraman that expected to land in Sumba in the next day. Well technically it's a good opportunity for me to had some sleep but really I can't. My mind can't stop thinking about the episode that still not done because we missed the Pasola event earlier.

It's Tuesday morning and finally I met my other cameraman in the airport, I'm a bit relief! Well let's started working and finished the job!

For the second episode we're making a story about the indigenous religious belief which is Marapu. It's a story about how they lived and how they survived. I got to say that this episode is more relaxed not chaotic like the episode of Pasola.

It's a great opportunity for us to know the local people more, and also to enjoyed the beautiful view of the savanna. I just can't help feeling amazed by the beauty of Sumba nature. I also can't stop myself taking pictures. It's just a breathtaking!

Ethnic Getaway

With one of the indigenous people

So after nine days trip it's time for us to go back to Jakarta. Thanks God we managed to work by schedule and finished the job! Despite the rain and some difficulties we're succeed! It's a wrap!

I decided to spend my holiday time off relaxing in Bali. After 9 days full of thought and hard work it's time for me to chill out a bit. Let's get some tanned in the beach! Yiipppyy....

I had a great adventure, See you again Sumba!
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