Secret Safe With Me: Makassar, Indonesia!

Makassar had got me good, girl! Hobbling, I did have some apprehension as my 'Rammang-Rammang Karst Village' day tour arrived. I was ready in mind and in spirit to see those untouched karst rock formations but in body I wasn't! I did the most the previous day, those aches and pains weren't not dulled by that locations beauty, I needed a pharmacy on the double! 

Bali was going to bring her own love, before landing on that island the following day, I wanted to provide that Makassar had something to say! Finding this tour online, I was able to book through WhatsApp with ease, those Rupiah zeros had me feeling like I had spent a small fortune on that trip but the price was right! That morning pickup wasn't early, I was able to eat breakfast at my hotel at least once, the offerings were good and I struck up conversation with a fellow guest. On the road, my guest was a true chatter box, his stance on a woman's place in the home would be revealed on the way back to Makassar. The buzz of Makassar had long passed me by, I hobbled into a long-tail boat at the first pier that I saw. Heading along the 'Pute River' was a tranquil and peaceful moment, I appreciated those calmer settings because my trip to Indonesia had been manic! I really didn't have nay expectations for this day out, it was truly a scenic wildcard! Being just me in the group, it all felt very exclusive, did I have the river to myself? Yes!

Peaceful and lush, I was about to see my second set of karst mountains since visiting China's Guilin twice before. Scenic views were being served, all I needed to do was sit back and relax. I felt like I was going into my own version of the 'Jungle Book', "Sher Khan, She Better Do!" The view was lush, those trees were hanging over the rivers path, it was giving everything but physically I was not in a good way! My go-kart accident had been about 6 days previous from that Rammang-Rammang moment, my location was my antidote but really all I wanted was a stiff drink to push away those aches. A drink? Makassar had been drier than the Sahara Desert without any lies told, it's those moments you just need to numb your trauma with a beverage! Makassar was great and Rammang-Rammang would be gorgeous but what in the Sharia Law was going on? I wanted to speak with the nearest Imam! Making peace, I soaked up that paradise moment even though my body was in shambles, a beer in Bali would be bought next! 

Getting off that long tail boat was actually hilarious when I look back on that moment! My guide was actually quite charming, he told me to take my time and did his best to help me out of the boat. I was cautiously ready to embrace that gorgeous village, I think all my stamina had been used climbing up to the top of Jogja's Borobudur Temple! There was no question about that! Traversing like a boss, no I was like a mess, I did my best to follow my guide as we entered the village, no roads or paths were present. I am not the most agile of people at the best of times, I did my best to keep it moving as I had rice paddies on one side of me and then village huts on the other. I wanted to take in every single moment, the beauty of that village was unbelievable, I had left the dust and chaos of the city well and truly behind me. People were living a simpler life, it made me think of my days I would spend on Gili Air. A little bit of love goes a long way, Rammang-Rammang gave me the love that I needed to keep on moving! Oh, I was still moving!  

I was being schooled about the development of the village, tourists had been encouraged to visit but responsibly to not harm the area. The largest house in the village was owned by the village chief and his family, they had space to accommodate visitors for a reasonable fee. It was such a chilled environment, with the crops having been cultivated by village elders with a water buffalo doing its daily chores. I snapped a couple of videos for my students to share in our class parent group. I needed something to eat but I was informed we'd take the boat back towards the pier we left earlier to a halfway point. Taking a brief moment to pause, I bought a fresh coconut, I needed something to drink! I was ready to tap out, I needed to eat some lunch and respectfully I needed to rest before I made my way to Bali the next day. Lunch was nice, void of an alcoholic drink but I had to deal with that continued period of enforced sobriety. Makassar was the hidden gem that I wanted to experience, Rammang-Rammang was the perfect ending to that sector, M! 

Leang-Leang, who? I didn't know her! I don't like hidden charges, the guide asked me if I wanted to visit another rock formation for an extra fee? I politely declined because if truth be told the view outside of the car window looked just as good without any extra charge. I politely asked for the car to stop for a few moments, I needed another photo for this blog. That roadside scenic spot reminded me of Kunming's 'Stone Forest/石林', a blast from the past? Yes! It was looking like this tour would be a half day thing, judging by the way I felt, that wasn't a bad thing! The weather was perfect although the village had been cooler with the mountains acting as shade. I appreciated those surprise roadside settings, after those snaps had been secured I politely requested Makassar be the final destination. The conversation took a religious turn and I'm all about a quirky topic even though I don't bow to any god-like figure. Blind misogyny? I wasn't impressed because the guide expressed some backward views regarding a females worth! 

One goat for a girl but two for a boy? The birth of any child should be met with equal jubilation and respect shown! The guide expressed that girls don't bring too much to the table, one sheep scarified? Really though, hun? He glowed with pride to say that after the birth of a boy, two sheep can be sacrificed because Islam favoured the patriarchy. I calmly expressed, "Who carries and gives birth to those boys?" Girls grow into women and without girls you don't have a womb to carry a boy, I was low key horrified at this backward view because these Islamic families tend to have multiple births in one family. I was both in pain and bothered by such a mindset, I remembered I was a tourist and needed to watch my mouth. I couldn't sit properly without being in constant pain, I requested we stop at a pharmacy before the driver dropped me at my hotel. I was thankful for that diversion, I bought a tube of 'Deep Heat' and some ibuprofen to get me through until Bali! Rammang-Rammang and Leang-Leang were both gorgeous, enough said, M! 

It's A Woman's World! 

Desperately Seeking Adventure