Racing sewing machine

Jakarta, January 2010.

Shoe repair that comes to your house

Jakarta, January 2010.

Dead 12 years and still enjoying family life

Basically, we are longer dead than alive. We know that, but ignore it. The people from Sumba are very well aware of it, and prepare accordingly for life in the afterworld. So the former rajah of Pau and his younger brother. The rajah died 12 years ago, his brother 5 years ago. Both were still in their family house, waiting for proper funerals to take place. In the meantime, the rajah in seated position was wrapped in 200 pieces of ikat, the traditional Sumbanese woven cloth, his wrapped corpse put in a wooden cabinet itself covered with ikat. His brother as a Christian was also wrapped in ikat, but in a reclined position. As the daughter of the rajah opened the wooden cabinet where the corpse was, she immediately put a small table with some betel nut on it for the dead to enjoy.

Nobody knows when the funerals can take place. Funerals request a huge amount of sacrificial cattle (chicken, pigs and buffaloes) as well as a proper grave. The huge tombstone was already bought, but still had to be carved and moved to the village (70 km away). Upon arrival in the village, it would be dragged to the burial place in the traditional way, by men moving it on logs. The family would have to cover the costs and the meals for all workers involved. Plus entertaining hundreds of people. The rajah and his brother could well enjoy their sirih (betel) for a few years more…

East Sumba, February 2010.

Ancient times meet modernity

Solar power it is!

Lamboya region, Sumba Island, February 2010.

Free the bird

Kuan Yin Temple, George Town, Penang, Malaysia, December 2010.

Betel nuts

Chewing betel nut (or sirih in Indonesian) is one of the favourite occupations of the Sumbanese, men and women, young and old. Three elements are required: a nut from the areca palm tree, some lime, and a leaf or the fruit of the betel vine. The nut is cut into pieces and put into the mouth. Then the betel fruit is chewed a bit to cut it open, put into lime and put into the mouth. The reaction of the lime with the betel fruit makes for abundant, reddish saliva. Old people may require a small areca nut ponder to replace missing teeth.

Chewing betel nut is a social activity. Offering betel nut to a guest is welcoming him in the house.

... and the winner is...

Sumba Island, February 2010.

PLA climb

Chinese wall 1985.