INDONESIA – Pacu Jawi

WINNER of “Competitive Events” –  INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2014  (link) Batusangkar, Indonesia The pacu jawi(cow race) originated in the Minankabau region of West Sumatra. It is held on rice fields as a celebration or auspice of good harvests and possibly increase the value of well performing cows and bulls. Jockeys also bite the animals’ tail to increase speed.…

INDONESIA – Mentawai

The Mentawai people have their own language, traditional law and religion (animism). Their society is based on equality, there’s no hereditary title and there are no subordinate roles. Their origins were unknown to me before receiving info in the comments below. The elder shamans normally gather to discuss issues concerning more than one family or village…

INDONESIA – Nagari Sungai Pinang

From Singapore, after three days of taxis, busses, boats and scooters, I finally got to this little village south of Padang in order to meet my guide to Mentawai and plan the trip. People asked me why I didn’t fly and I wondered that myself too a few times. Especially when I dropped my mobile…