Sengkang is the capital city of Wajo Regency, its one of regencies at South Sulawesi Province, Sengkang also famous as tourism destinations, located at center of South Sulawesi, or about 242 kms to the northeast of Makassar. Majority population of Sengkang is Muslim and well know and famous with Silk Weaving and therefore is the center of Buginese Silk, a great amount of multy colored silk for clothing and sarong, are widely sold in many silk shops and studios in the regency.
The Buginese ethnic group, known for their crossing to other islands as traders of silk, sarongs and other material, populates this area. Tempe lake also located in this regency. Sailing and boating can be enjoyed on this lake.
The boundaries area of Sengkang Regency is :
- North: Luwu and Sidrap.
- South: District Soppeng and Bone.
- East: Gulf of Bone.
- West: District Soppeng and Sidrap.
Sengkang - Wajo tourism travel guide and tourist attractions popular destinations can be enumerated as follow :
Silk Weaving.
Sengkang silk weaving industry which is the result belongs to the people. Sengkang is known as a center of silk industry. The silk fabric is sold in the market Sengkang such as Sarong, Clothing, etc. There are several silk home industry can be found around this regency, usually their work from under house, people weave silk yarn for weaving into a beautiful work, they working with patiently and full of appreciation.
First silk arranged one by one. Motive applications compiled using a special tool made from bamboo which is placed alternately. Then, the threads are arranged to follow the plot. There are two kinds of looms they use, the balls tennung (look like a houses) and welida (balida). Smooth hands were stamped loom. Binding yarn strands into one. Looks complicated. But they do it cheerfully. For days they weave through strands of yarn into cloth is pretty long and smooth. They weave cloth gloves or material for clothing.
Lake Tempe.
Lake Tempe is a tourism destination in South Sulawesi province that are frequently visited by tourists either domestic or foreign. The lake, which is 13.000 hectare in width, seems like a giant washbasin when it is viewed from above. Subsistence for people living around, it is not only used by the inhabitants of Wajo Regency, but also other people in the other regency of Soppeng and Sidrap. Along the lakeside, you can observe the fishermen`s floating houses which were built in Bugis nuance, standing in a row directly face to the lake.
Lake Tempe is the biggest wetland fishery area in the world. It is assumed that the lake is located on the meeting point of two continents. Therefore, many wetland fish species can be found there than the other places in Indonesia.
In the middle of the lake, the floating fisherman village stand in a row decorated with colorful flags and can be reached by Traditional boats about one hour from Tempe port. Above those, you can watch sunrise or sunset in the same position while enjoying various species of birds, fishes and water grasses. At night, it is the right time to angle for fishes while enjoying the beauty of moon lighting the lake.
On every August 23, a sea festival usually called Maccera Tappareng (literally means purifying the lake) is started, signed by butchering a cow that is led by the fishermen leader. You can watch many interesting attractions such as traditional boat race, decorated boat competition, kites competition, the election of Ana` Dara (princess) and Kallolona (prince) of Wajo Regency, Padendang (beating mortar), traditional music performance, Bissu dance played by transsexuals and other traditional performances. It is aimed to keep the unity and the familiarity among the fishermen by “3-S” principals, Sipakatau, Sipakainge, and Sipakalebbi (Respecting, advising, and appreciating each others). Watching these performances, you will know more about Bugis culture especially Bugis in Wajo regency.
