Bulukumba Regency located in the eastern part of South Sulawesi Province, that is southeast of Makassar. Geographically located at 5.20 degrees 5.40 degrees southern latitude and 119.58 degrees of longitude 120.1930 degrees east with the southern boundary includes the Island of Selayar Regency, and Flores Sea the North and the East with Sinjai Regency and Bone Bay, west of the Bantaeng Regency. The strategic position makes Bulukumba potential in several sectors, and in this decentralization Bulukumba much supported by the four leading sectors respectively of Agriculture, Fisheries, Tourism, Transport, Land and Sea.
Bulukumba Regency is famous for traditional boat craftsman name it Pinisi Boat, a lot of economic added value for society and local government, the total area of about 1154.67 km2 with distance from the city of Makassar about 153 km. Bulukumba was titled Butta Panrita Lopi, "The Land of Pinisi Boat Craftsman", because Bulukumba People well know as boat craftsman since long time ago, the center of Pinisi boat craftsman is in Tana Beru Village, Ara Village and Lemo Lemo.
Bulukumba tourism travel guide and tourist attractions popular destinations can be enumerated as follow :
Tana Beru (The Pinisi boat craftsman).
Tana Beru is located 176 kilometres from Makassar City or 23 kilometers from Bulukumba City. Tana Beru is widely known as a place for Pinisi boat craftsman. In the dry dock we can see a great amount of sailing boat are being made in various size. Pinisi boat (Perahu Pinisi) is well-known as a means of traditional sea transportation amongst the Buginese People since many centuries ago. According to the manuscript of Lontara I Babad La Lagaligo, the phinisi boat has already existed since around the 14th century. Pinisi Nusantara, one of the greatest sailing boats that have sailed to Pacific Ocean, the Pinisi Nusantara was also made in there and the other great famous sailing boat is "Ammana Gappa" which has sailed to Madagaskar.
The pieces of his ship were cast into three territories of Bulukumba Regency: Ara Village, Tana Beru Village, and Lemo Lemo. The local people in those territories used the pieces to make a new luxurious ship named Pinisi Boat (in Indonesia call it Perahu Pinisi).
Being in the Center of Pinisi Boat Craftsman Industry in Tana Beru, visitors will be amazed by the skill of the artisans for making the boat. They can make a very strong and luxurious ship only based on the experience and knowledge passed down from their ancestors, without using picture or even written sources.
The making process of Pinisi Boat is some what unique, because it mixes technical skill with magical power. The first stage starts with deciding the good day to collect the wood. It is usually the 5th and the 7th day of the coming month. Number five symbolizes naparilimai dalle‘na, which means bless is in the hand, while seven symbolizes natujuangngi dalle‘na, which means always having blessing. The next stage is chopping down the tree, drying the wood and cutting it off. Then the wood will be made a ship by putting keel, board, boat caulking, and ship‘s mast. The last stage is launching the ship to the sea.
Every stage requires certain traditional ceremony. Before the boat is launched to the sea, maccera lopi (purify the ship) ceremony must be held, marked with the animal sacrifice. If the the boat weights less than 100 tons, the sacrifice is a goat. And if the weight is more than 100 ton, the sacrifice is a cow.
Tanjung Bira (Bira Cape).
Tanjung Bira or Bira Cape is the one of tourist attraction in Bulukumba Regency, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. It can be reach about 5 - 6 our drive from Makassar the capital city of South Sulawesi. Tanjung Bira is located on the southernmost of South Sulawesi Province. It lies in Bonto Bahari Sub-district, Bulukumba Regency or about 40 km away from Bulukumba City.
The area of Bira consists of lowland coastal plains and high hills. Landscape brought beautiful scenery. From the rather high plains, you can view the activities of Bulukumba Port, the crossing port to Selayar Island.
Tanjung Bira Beach is a totally bewitching beach whose white sand is like wheat flour spread along the seashore facing to the ocean and background soar up the “Puang Janggo” mountain with the more than 40 m of height make this place ideal as place for relax during vacation and holiday trip in Sulawesi, especially in South Sulawesi. Main tourist attraction of Tanjung Bira is diving, swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling. You can also watch the sunset or sunrise in the same position. In addition, the enchantment of Liukkang Beach and Kambing Island located in the trans marine of the beach will amaze you during the visit to the destination.
Beside the beach, snorkeling, diving, and swimming, you can also take time to visit the local wooden boat craftsman in Tana Beru Village and Ara Village, the famous Phinisi boat from the local Bugis - Makassar people. They received boat order from Indonesia people or overseas market due to the quality and the beautiful of design.
Tanjung Bira is also offers distinguish diving typicality, compared to other dive spots in Indonesia. The type with challenging adventure; underwater current, White Tip and Black Tip Sharks swarming around divers. Several dive spots in Bira are highly recommended only for experienced divers though there are also beautiful spots for beginners, those who fancy dives with proper risks especially related to the intensity of current. Bira is one of the place to passively interact with sharks; a rare spot even for Indonesia. Beautiful white sand beaches with steep walls are seagerto satisfy your viewing pleasure. The facility here can be considered as adequate, from small inns to two-star hotel and resorts are available along the sandy beaches. You can also go for snorkeling here, in case you`re not in the mood for scuba dive, or perhaps just to walk around through the natural ambience of Bira Beach.
Night at Tanjung Bira is always romantic. Lying on the beach, enjoying the sound of pounding waves, while see the shining star up there. By the middle of the night, you can interact with fishermen. Buy some fresh fish or other sea foods than roast it and also you can enjoy the fishing traditional boats are parked in other side of beach.
Ara Village (The Pinisi boat craftsman), Mandala Ria Beach and Apparalang Beach.
Ara Village is located at Bontotiro District, in Lambanna Ara district of Bontotiro, its about 11 km from Bira / 2 km from Samboang, or about 45 km from Bulukumba city.
Paople of Ara Village well know as craftsman of Pinisi since long time ago, and even before people in Tana Beru crafts the Pinisi. On this village also there is one beach name it Mandala Ria Beach, its white sandy beach, surrounding by some coconut tree, the beach is not crowded compare to the Bira Beach, its quiet and no touristic, beside the beach visitor also can see the Pinisi boats craftsmen around the beach. From Mandala Ria Beach we also can continue to visit Apparalang Beach, Dato Tiro Cave, Samboang beach and Hila Hila Natural bathing place.
Passoa Cave.
Located is near from Ara Beach, the cave was not a hole in the ground, but a true chasm with stalactites and stalagmites larger than a human. The opening of the cave brought you down into a chamber where the roof had fallen in. In the center of this was a tree growing out of the cave floor, with the leaves right around the height of the ground above. The coffins looked very much like those of the Torajans, and Gappar predicted that an animist culture spanned much of this area, and the traces of them were erased when Islam came to South Sulawesi. The cave have contained some artifacts, but in the early 70s some westerners came and looted the place.
Dato Tiro Graveyard & Limbua Natural Bath.
Small swimming pool close to the Samboang beach. It is located in Bonto Bahari district. The first name of Dato Tiro is Maulana Abdul Jawad Khaib Bunghu. He spread the Islam in South Sulawesi, here also located Limbua Natural Bath a fresh water spring/natural bath.
Samboang Beach.
Located at Ekatiro District of Bonto Tiro. It is about 3 km from Samboang Village, 19 km from Bira. You could find huge rock stone that separated to the main shore, and the local people use wooden bridge with 20 M length to connect both sides.
Lemo - Lemo Beach.
Located at Bontobahari District, about 7 km from main road Bira – Tanah Beru, abuot 11 km from Bira. Apparently there are beautiful coral reefs off the shore. The sunset is spectacular – the combination of green forest and the beach gives beautiful panorama of Lemo-Lemo
Bara Beach.
At the west side of Bira Beach, there is another beautiful beach called Bara Beach. If you wish to stay alone on the beach during your visiting Tanjung Bira, relaxing below the palm trees surrounded by white sand beach with crystal clear water, then Bara beach is the paradise place!, far away from towns and mass tourism. It´s made for a relaxed and recreation holiday.
Timur Beach.
This beach is located on the east side of the peninsula. The beach is located just after the Tanjung Bira Harbour. It has white sand and the coconut palms. If you don't have time to visit Tanah Beru where they built boats then you will find some commercial boat build in here.
Liukang Island.
Liukang Island, or Liukang Loe Island is one of the tourist destination during your trip or traveling to Tanjung Bira. Liukkang Island offer beautiful white sandy beach with clear crystal water, located at South of the Bira long-stretched island of Selayar, it can be reach about 15 - 40 minute boat ride away (depending on weather). There are 2 small villages on this island which is come from Buginese from Konjos tribe.
Liukang Island is pleasant island, you may can see local people daily life during walk through the sandy village, you may also can do snorkeling or diving around the island since Liukang Island also offer beautiful coral reefs which is diverse and colorful, there are about 6 dive site available around Liukang Island.
The beauty of the island is worth to visit both local and foreign tourists, fishing village on the island also provide an attraction for visitors of the island, if you like boats, you’ll enjoy seeing all the different kinds parked along the beach, from tiny one-person canoes through to larger affairs, all in various states of repair and condition.
Kajang Tribe.
The Kajang people is sub-ethnic to Makassar ethnic groups, who inhabited a particular area. The area and the people are quite isolated from other people of Bulukumba. The Head of this group who is ruled by a tribal and religious is called "Ammatoa". For those who are eager to see him are obliged to wear a black shirt and black "Sarong" barefooted is much better.
They live harmoniously with the nature and they do not use a modern facility i.e means of transportation. For that reason, no cars and the likes are permitted to enter this area ...
