Sipiso piso Waterfall , the tallest waterfall in indonesia

When someone visiting North Sumatra, they used to thinking to visit Lake Toba. But Lake Toba is not the only attracting place that located in North Sumatera, Sipiso piso waterfall is another place that you shoul d visit when you arrange your holiday trip to Lake Toba. Sipiso-piso waterfall was located on the shores of Lake Toba, unfortunately this Sipiso piso waterfall is a very interesting tourist attraction but less visited by tourists because of its location on the edge and located not in  Parapat city, where tourists usually visit.
 

Sipiso-piso is located in the north of Lake Toba, about 24 kilometers from Kabanjahe. This waterfall is the highest waterfall in Indonesia with a height of 120 meters. Sipiso-piso waterfall made from an underground river in the Karo plateau that runs through a cave on the side of the crater of Lake Toba.When I had occasion to visit this place, the scenery was incredible. A small waterfall, but high fall in between the cliffs greenish. From the viewing post built by the government,  visitors not only enjoy the scenic waterfall, but also they can enjoy the beautifull sight seeing of Lake Toba.

Sipiso-piso waterfall is about 800 meters above sea level. Waterfall flowing down the cutting of green hills covered with pine trees. Sipiso-piso itself literally means "blade".Not only can you see the waterfall from a distance, but you can enjoy it in close distance. The stairs are steep and far enough away so make sure you have strong stamina and bring drinking water supplies. Trip to go down may not be a problem, but hundreds of stairs to climb back after playing of course is quite tiring.Viewing post itself is quite huge, and frequently visited by local tourists. Unfortunately substation infrastructure in this view is inadequate. There are only basic facilities such as toilets and food stalls, which I think the number of the toilet that available so less and inadequate hygiene. Visitors who want to explore this area further more should stay in a nearby village, which is Tongging.

Tongging located on the shores of Lake Toba, in the north. In Tongging you can perform various activities, such as swimming in the lake, do trekking in the jungle, or visit a small waterfall called Sidompak. You can go up to Mount Sipiso-piso, and did paragliding from the top.

Besides swimming, you can also ride a boat hired from local fishermen to get around the lake. Cycling from one village to another is also a fun activity to do in  Karo residents. For you who fans of ethnic fabrics, you can go to the Village Silalahi in Sabungan, Dairi. The village is located about 11 km from Tongging.Tongging Villagers are mostly fishermen and farmers. They farmed rice and onions as well as fishing in the lake Toba. Arsik fish and the red fish is a common species of fish reared in Lake Toba. You should try the traditional dish of fish with seasoningSome options include accommodation in Tongging Sibayak Pensions, Pensions parultop, and Roman Sinasi Bungalows, all of which exist in the Road Silalahi, Tongging. Travelling here is perfect place for the backpacker on a budget because it was cheap accommodation.Go to Sipiso-pisoWhen I visited Sipiso-piso, I was traveling around North Sumatra early in Medan, through Kabanjahe, to Sipiso-piso, Siantar, Parapat, Tuk-Tuk, and ended up in Bukit Lawang.Due to the limited budget, I chose to use public transport through Pematang Siantar. From Berastagi I use public buses that go to Kabanjahe-Tanah Karo district capital, at a rate of less than five thousand dollars.In Kabanjahe, I used the rural transportation across Merek. From the main road junction, I chose the motor rickshaw to reach gardu panjang. Fromgardu panjang you still have to travel by public transport or rickshaw to Tongging, with declining street.For those of you who use a personal vehicle, a trip to Sipiso-piso easier. From Berastagi, you will only take about 2 hours. Landscapes and countryside in Tanah Karo is very interesting, unfortunately the road is not good. So, be careful.

Source : Olenka Priyadarsani

Bulukumba shipyard launches another impressive Phinisi Schooner

Tuesday evening, 8^th November, a special ceremony marking the launch of the largest Phinisi schooner was held at Bulukumba, South Sulawesi.

“This is an important moment “, explained Nazaruddin, Head of the Culture and Tourism Office of Bulukumba ,”since this is the largest  phinisi ever built here in the history of Bulukumba,  and was ordered from Poland”.  Construction on the schooner’s hull took place at Tanjung Bira under master builder, Haji Muslim Baso, from the village of Ara, of Bonto Bahari.   “The building of the entire phinisi’s hull took 9 months. At its completion, the boat will be towed to Semarang in Central Java, for finishing and interior fitting.” added Nazarudin.

The schooner, estimated to cost around IDR 4 Billion has a frame measuring 50 meters in length and at its widest part measures almost 10 meters. The finishing process in Semarang will probably cost triple its construction. The local government of Bulukumba through the Office of Culture and Tourism intends to preserve Tanjung Bira, Bulukumba, as the traditional site for the construction of the Phinisi Schooners. 

These impressive schooners that can be seen at full sail all around the Indonesian seas have for centuries been made by master craft builders here in the south eastern corner of Sulawesi by the beautiful white beaches of Tanjung Bira. Shipbuilding here is a long tradition that has been handed down through generations.  The sturdiness and sailworthiness of the phinisi have long gained worldwide reputation.

 “Our biggest threat is that these phinisi builders may move to other provinces to obtain easier access to materials. Therefore, this has today become an issue of national importance that needs to be discussed” said Nazarudin as he showed off the beauty of the Pasir Putih Beach of Tanjung  Bira. If the problem persists, then Tanjung Bira will face the threat to be scrapped from the tourism and cultural map of Indonesia altogether”, he said.

The launching ceremony of the Phinisi that was built by 100 of men was attended by the Deputy Mayor of Bulukumba, Samsudin and officials of the Culture and Tourism Office. All workers and builders also joined the traditional ceremony.

From the first shifting of the boat on Tuesday evening November 8^th, it will take approximately 3 weeks before the ship finally reaches the water to be towed to Semarang.  “The ship’s hull is about 3 meters deep, so I chose this place, since its depth is appropriate” said Baso as he commanded the workers in the shifting of the schooner which can only be moved 15 to 20 meters a day.

For the people of Tanjung Bira, building this Phinisi Schooner may have meant only a collective project for the year. However, Tanjung Bira’s fame is actually being carried far beyond that for its achievements in the production of world class schooners, while at the same time preserving its proud identity as a creative and persistent society.

Master builder Haji M.Baso has built over 200 schooners and boats of various types and sizes in his lifetime.” This is , however, the largest tourism ship that I have ever built in Bonto Bahari since 1991” Baso explained as he answered some of the questions from the media who covered the launching ceremony.

The schooner is not the only boat being built here.  There are other types of boats being constructed by Haji Muslim Baso at the moment.

Near the Phinisi schooner, there was also a smaller boat in construction orderd by a Belgian businessman.There were also 12 other boats and tables ordered from Colombia. Clearly, the skills and knowledge of the local genius of Tanjung Bira are well recognized by the international seafaring community.

source : indonesia.travel