Tanah Sumba nan Exotic

Waingapu, Ngadulanggi, Pulu Panjang, Goa, Waikabubak, Kodi, Tarung, Roteng Garo, Pero and, Tambolaka are the name of those beautiful places, I visited last July. The people, nature and cultures are unique and beautiful there. We rented a truck and rode for the destinations. The access road to reach Ngadulanggi village is not yet properly built. It is just a simple bumpy road, and too much uncomfortable, I must say. During the travel, we were jolting throughout in the truck, like being surrounded in the middle of Tsunami wave. The view to reach Ngadulanggi is awesome and beautiful like paradise. We went from one hill to another hill just like heading from one to another heaven of the world. To be in this hidden heaven in one corner of this universe is just like a dream. I went there to carry out some volunteer works, as a participant in 1N3B activities. We organized fun games for about 400 children. We donated some stuff to them, like school uniforms, food, school bags, stationeries, and also distributed medicines to around 700 people of Ngadulanggi and Pulu Panjang village. 

We reached at Ngadulanggi village at around 7 pm. Our truck had to cross the small river to reach the place, where we planned to spend the night, and to begin the activities on the next day. It’s an elementary school name SDN Ngadulanggi. It was too bad, the truck was stuck in the river, and we had only option left to walk across it. When we reach there, people greeted us with the traditional music and dances. It was as dark as no electricity was there, when we entered through the gate made by coconut leaves. My eyes were watery, water drops were rolling down one, two, and three. I was lucky as nobody saw me due to darkness. We worked hard, to arrange the things needed for the next morning. The goody bags for 400 students and gifts were prepared ready before we went to sleep. Then I was thinking about my bad habit,” I can’t sleep without taking bath”, so that I had taken bathe with crude water. Any ways I was so happy comfortable despite this limitations.

We spent two hectic days in different activities, started with the opening ceremony by Bapak Camat, Kades, leader of 1N3B etc. Our expedition started with breaking ice activity when we sang Ram Tam Tam (its Ram zam zam) and Potong Bebek Angsa. All people applauded us when we started our next activities. The children, most of them barefooted, were so much happy and excited to participate. Grade 1 and 2 did colouring activities, grade 3-7 played scientific games. The old people were watching us with great enthusiasm. Some of them received free medical treatments by the two senior doctors who accompanied us in this trip.

The first day ended with joy on very much satisfactory note. At night we arranged some movies for them to watch, i.e Denias and Tanah Air Beta. We set up a big screen for the movies and rented a generator set along with the operator for the provision of electricity. While they were watching movies, we packed goody bags and school uniforms to be distributed the next day. The weather was so cold but we had sound sleep that night.

The next morning we were fresh and ready for another games and activities. It was busy, hectic but fun day. The Educational team remained busy with finding the Treasure games. These are fun games. The children had to fix the puzzles and name it. It was all dinosaurs’ puzzles. It’s something new for them to learn about Dinosaurs. Again the doctors were busy with the patients. To communicate with the children it’s not really easy, but we enjoyed this hard work and succeeded. Some of them do not really understand Bahasa Indonesia. So we need the help of the Kades, the head of the community and teachers as our interpreter. The children were smart but looked shy to speak out to the person who does not belong to their community. This is something ironic, in this modern era there is a place like Ngadulanggi village that have no essentialities of life like electricity, TV, clean water, and foods of proper nutrition values. I hope the government will take notice about this serious matter. I heard a voice deep inside me, I thank God about what I have this far.

At night the people watched another movie. In the middle of watching the generator-set stopped due to its diesels finished. We have to go 10 km to get it. It was dark, no light but the people were waiting patiently till the diesel reached, and generator set restarted. Finally when the movie was re-continued. I saw their faces again shinning with happiness with just a simple thing, watching a movie on big screen on the front yard of the school.

The next day we prepared for going back to Jakarta. Our flight was cancelled from Waingapu so we went other way, Tambolaka West Sumba. Its blessing in disguise, we can see more beautiful places and cultures of Sumba people. We had chances to visit some traditional villages’ like Kampung Tarung, Roteng Garo and as a bonus we can see an amazing beach called Pero. It was a short trip, just we got a glimpse of those places then we rushed to the Tambolaga airport and flying to Denpasar, Bali. After having transit there we flied back to Jakarta and here I am again back to a modern civilization. But the journey will remain be unforgettable with its wonderful memories

Glossary:

Ngadulanggi language:      Bahasa Indonesia:                 English:

Ngara natamu mu            = siapa namamu             = what is your name?

Nggara ulam                   = apa kabar                    = how are you?

Lundu tapa hambur         = sampai jumpa              = see you later

Baru                              = pagi                            = morning

Tidu lodu                       = siang                           = noon time

Laku                              = jalan                           = walking

Nahun da rambu              = permisi                       = excusme

Rambu                           = panggilan tuk wanita     = woman

Umbu                            = panggilan tuk pria         = man

Ngangu                          = makan                         = to eat

Unu                               = minum                         = to drink

Nggara pa unu                 = kamu mau minum apa?  = what do you want to drink?

Mbeli harumu                  = pulang                        = going home

Mbeli mayaka nyuma rambu = kami mau pulang       = we want to go home

Lima                               = tangan                        = hand

Uru                                 = hidung                        = nose

Kahilu                             = telinga                        = ear

Kambaku                         = lutut                           = knee

Malangu                          = maaf                           = sorry

Uhuk                              = duduk                          = sit down

Ngadulanggi, East Sumba

July 28-30, 2010