Wae Rebo, NTT. ©2015 Merdeka.com/www.indonesia.travel
Brilio.net/en - UNESCO recently handed out its prestigious Top Award of Excellence to the tiny village of Wae Rebo, for its stunning mbaru niang (traditional cone-shaped homes) situated in Satar Lenda, West Satarnese, Manggarai Regency, Flores. At 1,100 meters above sea level the remote village offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the mountains, and surrounding Todo forest.
Empu Maro, founder of Wae Rebo, built the first seven mbaru niang more than 100 years ago! Over the last century, his descendants have remained in the village and preserved the authenticity of Manggarai traditions. Today, the inhabitants of Wae Rebo are the 18th generation of the Empu Naro family tree!
The distinctiveness of Wae Rebo comes from the uncommon style of Manggarai. These conical shaped homes are covered entirely in thatch and theyre constructed without using a single nail! They are made entirely of wood and bamboo tied together rattan-style! Theyre also very cool and comfortable, even in hot summer months.
Although they look simple, each mbaru niang has of five floors. And, as the Wonderful Indonesia website explains, each floor has a special function! Lutur (first floor): this is the main living space, with a common room and sleeping area built around a central kitchen. Lobo (second floor): Its here that crops and other food supplies are stored. Lentar (third floor): seeds to planted in the next planting season are kept warm and dry on this level. Lempa Rae (fourth floor): special food supplies for use during famine are safely stored here. Hekang Kode (fifth floor): located at the very top of the mbaru niang, this important space is for honoring family ancestors.
Photo byLeonardus Nyoman via Indonesia.travel
Originally, there were just seven mbaru niang in Wae Rebo but over time, three of the homes were damaged or destroyed. The residents didnt have the resources to repair the homes themselves and worried they would lose all seven mbaru niang. Thanks to the help of local government and several nonprofit organizations, the mbaru niang were successfully renovated. They even built two new houses in honor of those that helped fund the renovations!
Photo byLeonardus Nyoman via Indonesia.travel
Now, each year, people come from not only all over Indonesia, but all over the world to see Wae Rebo! The residents are happy to show tourists around the newly renovated mbaru niang and the new visitors are an extra source of income for the Wae Rebo residents, who depend heavily on farming for their livelihood.
Photo byLeonardus Nyoman via Indonesia.travel
Located about 108 kilometers from Laubuan Bajo, on the top of a hill, accessing this isolated village is quite a challenge for travellers. Youll need your climbing shoes to reach this picture-perfect destination!
Photo byLeonardus Nyoman via Indonesia.travel
Once youve made the trek up the hill, youll need a place to stay. And, what could be better than staying with the local residents, who open their homes to sightseers? Tourists are always welcome here! But, remember to follow the rules set out by your host...including a welcoming ritual, where local residents ask permission from their ancestors for you to stay!
And, theres even more to experience in the area! In addition to the unique traditions of Wae Rebos residents, you can also explore the surrounding breathtaking natural beauty. From fields to forest, and from orchids to ferns, there are countless varieties of vegetation to be explored. Don't forget to bring a camera! You might be lucky enough to get pictures of some of the one hundred or so different bird species who make the forest their home.
(brl/tis)
