Overview
When travelling to the isle of Flores, donot omit to put Kampung Bena, - or the traditional hamlet of Bena - on your must-visit itinerary. Located some eighteen km from the town of Bajawa, hither fourth dimension seems to have got passed over Kampung Bena, where until today villagers silent faithfully follow megalithic traditions, where sincere friendliness to strangers comes from the heart, where all unopen to the hamlet y'all volition reckon vestiges of an historic menstruum long gone when large rock monuments to ancestors were an inseparable purpose of daily life. The megalithic hamlet of Bena is i of Indonesia’s rich living cultural heritage that tin silent live enjoyed to this rattling day, but should too live carefully preserved.
Safely protected inwards the shadows of looming Mt. Inerie, the Village of Bena inwards the district of Bajawa, is i of a release of traditional villages on the isle of Flores that silent comprehend the awe-inspiring megalithic civilisation until today. The town of Bajawa itself is completely surrounded past times mountains too a tourist attraction inwards its ain correct because of its cool mount air.
Life inwards the hamlet of Bena seems non to have got changed since the megalithic historic menstruum some 1,200 years ago. Here are nine clans living inwards 45 houses. These are the Dizi, the Dizi Azi, the Wahtu, the Deru Lalulewa, the Deru Solamae, the Ngada, the Khopa too the Ago. Each clan lives on a dissimilar bird of the terraced village, amongst the Bena clan inwards its center. This is because the Bena are deemed the oldest clan too founder of the village, for which argue the hamlet is named Kampung Bena.
In general, the inhabitants of Bena alive from agriculture tending to the many dark-green gardens planted on the slopes of deep valleys surrounding the village. They communicate amongst each other inwards the Nga’dha language. Most villagers are Catholic. Nevertheless, they silent follow the ancient believe inwards ancestor worship, its rituals too traditions.
The Bena follow kinship next the mother’s line, where a homo who marries exterior his clan volition belong to his wife’s clan. While Bena women must live skillful inwards weaving the traditional Bena fabric that have got typically elephant too Equus caballus motifs unique to this village.
Today Kampung Bena counts 326 inhabitants inwards 120 families. However, those related to the tradition (or adat) too to the hamlet are thousands of hamlet descendents at nowadays living exterior the heart too soul village.
Bena villagers believe that the god Zeta resides on the peak of Mt. Inerie. This mountain, which reaches 2,245 meters higher upwardly body of body of water bird is overgrown amongst thick forests on its due west side only, spell its due south side is planted amongst diverse orchards or gardens. To the Bena people, Mt. Inerie is the correct of the woman raise (hak mama) , spell Mt. Surulaki is the correct of the begetter ( hak bapa).
Today, Mt. Inerie has larn an attractive goal for mount climbers too direct chances seekers peculiarly during the dry out flavor that lasts from June through August. From its peak i has a spectacular 360 bird panorama on the surrounding landscape, including on the town of Bajawa to its northward west. To the due south lies the bluish Sawu body of body of water that breaks its waves correct on the shores at the pes of this mountain. Mt. Inerie exploded inwards 1882 too 1970 leaving behind rich fertile soil on this already fantastically beautiful scenery. Notice the unusually large bamboo shrubs that grow unopen to this mountain!
Get There
Ngada Regency is situated betwixt Nageko Regency too East Manggarai Regency. Ngada stretches from Riung district amongst all its islands too underwater splendors to the north, to Aimere to the south.
As the upper-case alphabetic quality metropolis of Ngada Regency, Bajawa tin live reached from Ende, Nagekeo, too Manggarai. If y'all desire to usage world transportation, at that topographic point is an inter-city Bus Station only exterior of Bajawa which connects the town amongst other parts of the province.
The route connecting Soa too Bajawa is relatively shine too is inwards goodness condition. You volition too live indulged amongst spectacular natural sceneries along the way.
Bena Village is situated some 18km from the view of Bajawa. For your convenience, y'all tin rent auto or motorbike too then y'all tin explore to a greater extent than of what Bena too Bajawa have got got to offer.
To Do
When entering this hamlet y'all volition reckon a large release of large stones that are set out inwards special formations. The Bena community believes that mountains, stones too animals must live respected every bit purpose of the environs too fifty-fifty of existence itself.
You volition too notice the neatly set out houses amongst their abrupt thatched roofs standing on dissimilar levels of this terraced village. Kampung Bena stretches lengthwise from northward to due south where at that topographic point is entirely i entrance to its north. This is because to its south, which forms the the highest indicate of the village, the province plunges straightaway into a deep valey.
Kampung Bena measures 375 meters long too fourscore meters wide. There are at to the lowest degree 45 traditional houses interpersed amongst large megalithic stones. Notice the nine levels of terraces where each clan inhabits a specified level.
The key describe of piece of employment solid for men is called sakalobo, that is recognizable past times the manly soul statue belongings a machete too a lance placed higher upwardly the house. Whereas the describe of piece of employment solid for women is called sakapu’u.
You volition too reckon many houses decorated amongst buffalo horns, too jaws too tusks of wild boars,denoting the social status of its owner. The jaws and tusks of boars are offerings given past times each clan through a traditional ceremony.
A Ngadhu structure stands inwards front end of each cluster of houses, which symbolizes the manly soul ancestor. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 ngadhu is a miniature describe of piece of employment solid shaded past times an umbrella that stands on a carved pillar. Its roots must have got 2 branches which has been planted at a ceremony involving the blood of a boar or a chicken. The ngadhu must stand upwardly on a rigid pole made of special difficult wood that must live rigid plenty to comport the weight of the heads of animals that are to live offered at ceremonies.
Just every bit a Ngadhu stands inwards front end of each traditional house, the bagha is the symbol of the woman soul ancestor. The bhaga is a modest traditional describe of piece of employment solid that is prepared to have bridegrooms of the girls from the hamlet who are given inwards wedlock to an outsider. Each bhaga has carvings (bhaga) spell on its roof are weapons meant to protect the describe of piece of employment solid from evil spirits. The bhaga too serves every bit life’s motivator for children too every bit reminder that wherever they may roam they must ever continue inwards hear that this is their hamlet of origin. Because at that topographic point are nine clans inwards Bena, the hamlet has nine pairs of ngadhu too bagha.
Reaching the highest too nearly southern indicate of Kampung Bena y'all volition live amazed past times the scenic panorama that meets you. From this advantage indicate y'all tin reckon deep valleys stretching out to the mountains too to its correct the Sawu Sea. Be certain to have got a photograph of this nearly extraordinary view.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 special characteristic of daily life hither is chewing betel leaves amongst limestone which tradition has been handed downward from generation to generation. Chewing betel leaves is believed to live invigorating too gives an added bonus every bit it leaves cherry-red coloring to the teeth. This snack may live taken whatever fourth dimension of the day, inwards the morning, noon or fifty-fifty at night.
This blend of betel leaves, areca nut, lime, gambier, too some tobacco leaves make a cherry-red color ease too fibre of the areca nut. The whole concoction does non gustation sweetness but trying this may live i of the sweetness memories of your see to Bena.
When y'all are inwards the hamlet of Bena y'all volition nearly probable notice candlenuts (Aleuritis molucana) spread too dried inwards the sun. Villagers hither roast the nuts without crude oil or boil these to have got away the toxic elements. While natural drying inwards the Sun is of class a ameliorate way. Candlenut is used to extract crude oil that tin too live used to mix dyes.
To Stay
There are a release of unproblematic hotels too inns available inwards Bajawa. Although y'all may non observe whatever star-rated hotel facilities, the sheer refreshing climate too the pure hospitality of the people are genuinely a special characteristic of the town.
Here are amid some of the accommodations available inwards Bajawa:
Hotel Edelweis
Built inwards 1988, the hotel features a household unit of measurement describe of piece of employment solid ambience too charges from IDR175,000 to IDR250,000 per night.
Address: Jalan Ahmad Yani No. 76
Telephone: +62 384 21345
Hotel Jhony
The hotel has been unopen to for over 35 years amongst rates ranging from IDR100,000 to IDR200,000.
Address: Jalan Gajahmada
Telephone: +62 384 21079
Hotel Nusantara
This unproblematic hotel has eighteen rooms too is dedicated for non smoker only.
Address: Jalan El Tari No.10
Telephone: +62 813392 38860
Hotel Korina
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 relatively unproblematic hotel but features fantabulous service. The rates varies betwixt IDR100,000 to IDR200,000 per night.
Address: Jalan Ahmad Yani
Telephone:+62 384 21162
Happy Happy
An one-time residential describe of piece of employment solid converted to a hotel featuring classic architecture. You volition definitely experience a dissimilar comforting ambience amongst all the classical features of the hotel.
Address: Jalan Ahmad Yani
Villa Silverin
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lilliputian fleck far from the view of Bajawa, this agency less dissonance too to a greater extent than peacefulness. The rates attain from IDR200,000 to IDR350,000.
Telephone: +62 384 222 3865
To Eat
Once y'all set pes inwards Bajawa, y'all definitely must sweat some of the local cuisine which features its ain distinct taste. Some of the restaurants hither serve distinct Bajawan dishes including the famous Sambel Bajawa or Bajawa Hot Sauce which is made from Flores Chili Pepper, which is modest inwards size but notoriously hot, hot, hot.
Here are some of the restaurants inwards Bajawa:
Restaurant Camelia
The Restaurant combines amazing scenery too ambience every bit good every bit alive music amusement to accompany the delicious nutrient too refreshing drinks.
Address: Jalan Ahmad Yani no.74
Telephone: +62 384 21458
Dito’s
This cozy house features dashing interior blueprint too decorations too serves a broad attain of menus from European, Indonesian, too Chinese.
Address: Jalan Ahmad Yani
Telephone: +62 813 3919 8600
Kasih Bahagia Restaurant
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 pop Chinese eating seat famous for its limit rolls, Chicken Soup, too pork noodle.
Address: Jalan Basuki Rahmat
Lucas Restaurant
The eating seat features traditional ambience which is both unique too classy. Its owner, Lucas volition entertain y'all amongst the history of Bajawa too too the civilisation of Ngada.
Address: Jalan Ahmad Yani
Telephone: +62 813 53090 7073
Tips
There is an unwritten dominion that Bena inhabitants shold non disturb tourists. But tourists are encouraged to greet them. Then witness their broad welcoming smiles shining from their sincere faces.
An annual feast is held inwards this hamlet unopen to Dec or early on Jan called Reba. In the past, these feasts lasts for over i calendar week involving the slaughter of cattle, boars too chickens. Nowadays however, these festivities volition terminal no longer than 3 days to limit the animals beingness slaughtered.
Make certain that y'all donot exit garbage behind, but make carry domicile some wonderful, stories too photographs of this hamlet too villagers who until today silent retain their rare ancient living culture.
Do admire their extraodinary woven creations that are hung exterior their house. You tin purchase these materials too y'all are too allowed to larn by for the best price.
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