Tanimbar Kei - The Explorers

Hi,

if anyone wonders why our organisation, Arsitektur Hijau, chose to pick Tanimbar Kei as our destination for expedition this year, the reason could have been so many. But for sure it's because of the architecture of the village; why the people still maintain all the traditional houses, which have their own function and history of ancestors, in this modern era. Before I tell you further, there are 8 things you should know about this island: (don't ask why I pick only eight things, I don't know either)

1. Tanimbar Kei has diverse people in their five religion (Hindu (animism), Islam, Protestant, Catholic, and Advent). 

2. People in Tanimbar Kei still believe the existence of their ancestors among them.

3. There are seven sacred places in their village (Upper and Bottom included), one of them is a forbidden forest.

4. Every traditional house has their own function, ancestor, history why the house was built, and a sacred room where everyone can't go in except the owner of the house.

5. Tanimbar Kei has the sacred island called Nuhuta Island. It doesn't have people to stay and animals like mice and lizards (cicak, biawak) are forbidden to be killed.

6. Their main food is 'hotong', because rice production in Eastern of Indonesia is hard to grow. You can see more about hotong in here.

7. There are no bicycles, motorcycles, or even cars in this island. They only have boats, the little ones. And, children only go to school for primary and mid school, and for high school they have to go to outside the island and go to bigger island that has high school facilities. 

8. It has a lot of virgin beaches; you can find more than three pure beaches around the islands and they are all beautiful.

So probably some of the things I've mentioned are just repeating sentences from my post before. But that's what I think about Tanimbar Kei, what I've repeated is the unique things about it. 

Talking about houses (again), we always gather (it's likely our base camp) in one of the house in Bottom Village, it was Rahan Sokdit (House of Sokdit). It is included in traditional houses, but the construction itself is not included in vernacular houses (it's already made from bricks). The ancestor of Rahan Sokdit was Muslim, so this house can't be entered by pigs or dogs (because those animals are haraam in Islam). This house in unique like the other traditional houses in Upper Village. The history is quite complicated. Once this house was located in Upper Village and its function is to greet the visitors outside the island. For the sake of visitors' comfort (they don't have to go upstairs to Upper Village, they can take a break first in Rahan Sokdit), the house was moved in Bottom Village. Traditional houses should be built from woods in the forest. It's to keep the house traditional and to maintain the ancestors' heritage. But, the owner of Rahan Sokdit cut the fresh woods/trees from the forest. It is forbidden for people to make a house from fresh woods/trees. The trees should age first, then people can cut them down. The good thing about it is to maintain the forest and keep it dense, and the trees that aged have stronger woods than the younger ones. So, after the owner did that, he was punished by one of the houses in Upper Village. Finally, the house was moved to Bottom Village but it should be obedient to all the rules from that one house in Upper Village (I honestly forget the name of the house he he). 

We, the members of our expedition, always gathered in Rahan Sokdit to eat, have a tea time with the local people, discuss our research, and mostly talk to each other and have fun with the locals.  

Our members were 22 people (13 girls and only 9 boys) and we were totally happy to be a part of this incredible experience. We had preparation to do this expedition since the mid of September, 2016. But, to be honest, we had not enough preparation for this (if I could percentage the process, it could only be 70%). Despite the preparation, I had amazing time in Tanimbar Kei, so did my everyone who joined. And we survived! We could go back to Bandung safely and we got a lot of unforgettable memories. Here are some photos of the members, enjoy.

Left to right: Devin, Putri, Thirafi.

She is Putri, and is totally in love with nature and like to explore about it more. I took her picture when we were in Pelni Ship for 20 hours.

This is my little cousin, Niti. She does photography as well, more to digital one.

They are Yana and Zahra, who are one-year younger than me, but we get along as good friends.We were watching sunrise together.

El Yub, the wood stairs, made manually by bare hands of Tanimbar Kei people and tools to help such as saws and axes.
 We tried to reach the Upper Village at out first day in Tanimbar Kei through the wood stairs, it was scary but fun.

The sun shined so bright, and it gave the good light to take a picture. People in frame: Thirafi and Metha. 

Late afternoon situation when we were told generally about the Upper Village (still day one in Tanimbar Kei). 

Thirafi and Stella, my partners in interviewing local people (we were an interview team), with three beautiful local girls.

Some of the members of expedition with the locals. Look at them; looking so excited and happy.

This was a good scene. We were given the fresh coconuts and we were asked to try them. The coconuts felt so fresh and pure. It was so great tasting the coconuts for more than three times in around 10 days. :) (in frame: Yana)

This is Radhian, I think he tried to feel the moment of tasting a coconut in a hot day.

This is Stella, she kept being amazed with all of the things in Tanimbar Kei; the nature and the people. So did I, so did
 the other members.

This is Putri (again), staring at the view of great sea in the beginning of sunset.

Devin tried to keep his eyes closed because the sun struck hard our skin. He was in Rahan Maslador, and it all was only
 the construction, not fully covered yet. He sat right at the door of the house.

Stella (again), with her best smile, as an evidence of being grateful and happy.

Zahra and her phenomenal hat. We were about to go to Tanjung Kor (the cape) with a little boat. It is still lcoated in the
 island of Tanimbar Kei.

Zahra was trying to keep focus on taking pictures. The sunset created perfect temperature and shadows, didn't it?

Left to right: Hani Tangko, Stella, Zahra, and Niti. Were were on the one of the beaches in Tanimbar Kei. They were so
 many beaches here!

I was taking Niti's portrait in Tanjung Kor (the cape), it was full of sharp corals and stones.

This is Devin. Don't you think he's like one of the japanese tourist? He he. Anyway, we were in the Mun Village at mid day. Look at the background, it was beautiful!

This is Spain Louis. He was about to go topless, just like Devin did. Minutes later, they were playing around the shore.

Left to right: Spain, Devin, and Michael (we call him Miki). We were standing at the dock in Mun Village. They were about to jump together!

Left to right: Hafian, Hafizh, Metha, Zahra, Ifaza, Stella, Andhira, and Niti (the half body).The girl at the back was the local.

He is Danu. He's responsible for our subject; it's about the villages, the houses and its constructions, and the people and
 their cultures. He was standing in front of one of the traditional houses in Upper Village.

This is Najda, her face is kinda straight, so every time I took a pic of her, her face was always stay still like this. Despite the face, she has amazing talent at drawing and she is one of a kind.

This is Thirafi, we were in Pasir Panjang in Tual City (it's outside Tanimbar Kei and it got more facilities for public). Pasir Panjang is known as one of the top beaches that has smooth sand in the world.

All photos were taken by Yashica fx3 super 2000 and film Kodak 200, except for the first four photos were taken with film Fujipro 400H.