FLOATING HOUSES AND THEY'RE NOT BOATS. AUGUST

​

All aboard. Off to the lake

Sengkang heading south and we stayed at a local hotel, less salubrious but very clean and welcoming. A fabulous traditional meal was served to us by the owner (a princess), and staff.

​

Lovely welcome and snacks in the floating house.

Our next destination from Sengkang was south to a fishing village floating on Lake Tempe. To get to the village we boarded two long narrow boats called long-tails because of the long shafted propellers used. These are driven by a variety of engines but the technique employed to drive one is the same. The boat is pointed in the right direction by use of paddle then the propeller is lowered into the water and off you go!. There is no steering aside from the paddle, and no reverse. Only forward and more forward!. They go quite quickly and at the bends of the river the prop is lifted out to enable the operator to change the direction with the paddle again. They prove useful for crossing the myriad of floating nets, lines, ropes and other debris encountered during the half hour run to the village. The boats took about 20 minutes to get to the village.

Kitchen aboard the floating house

​

Bryce takes the helm

This village consists of a number of floating houses laid on bamboo poles anchored within a bamboo fence to keep out the floating water hyacinth. The lake, only about 2 m deep and fresh water, covers many thousands of acres and about 300 homes roam about out here. Property is defined by tall tepee shaped bamboo poles driven into the mud. These poles hold the water hyacinth in place and provide boundary markers as well as shelter for the fish. Fishermen only may fish within their boundary. There are some common areas but these are used mainly as thoroughfare or anchoring area for the houses. Fish and shrimp caught here are salted for market. We had some lake fish for dinner the night before and it was delicious, sweet white and quite firm. We were invited to take tea and fried bananas with a local fisherman’s wife and the interchange was as delightful as ever. They were fascinated by the idea that we also lived on the water and came all the way from Australia with our houses.

Property lines.

​

Makassar is a thriving city of one and a half million people. Taipan was docked alongside the wharf at the Indonesian Naval Base where we were treated as honoured guests again. We paid A$7 per day for the privilege and this included power, water and 24 hr security. Pretty good deal!

​

Salting and drying  lake fish.

Our guide for the tour to Tana Toraja was named Mustari. A and he was fantastic. We had he and his wife, and two small boys to dinner with is in the city one night and he insisted we visit his home for dinner another night. This meant a foray out into the suburbs, about half hour by taxi, and an hour return in the night by pety pety, (small public busses). Everyone again was super helpful and all want to try to talk with you. Another day we went shopping at two of the huge shopping malls. These are as big as anything in Perth and stock everything except cheese!

​

Flag lowering ceremony with Navy

After a little over a week we managed to drag ourselves away from Makassa. The last boats to leave, Taipan, Silver Fern (Kiwis) and Tweed.(West Ausie) There is so much still to see.

​

​

​

​