Rantepao (1999)
Photos per year (number): 1999 (156)
In the middle of the summer, rice is harvested and put out to dry in all the villages of Toraja land

First house typical of the region that we see

with the house hosting the body of the deceased

The owners of the buffaloes are waiting to know if their animal will be bought for the sacrifices

The owners of the buffaloes are waiting to know if their animal will be bought for the sacrifices

Overwhelming agony, so passive and yet so certain. The buffalo does not seem to realize anything

In vain the buffalo will seek to get up again, in vain it will try to resist. We watch passively

In vain the buffalo will seek to get up again, in vain it will try to resist. We watch passively

The fatal blow is dealt with rapidity and precision without leaving the animal time to react

Overwhelming agony, so passive and yet so certain. The buffalo does not seem to realize anything

The men move a buffalo to make it easier to take the meat and the hide off

The buffalo is perfectly domesticated and awaits its execution without even moving

until the violence of the low makes it leap, and provokes its slow death

The fatal blow is dealt with rapidity and precision without leaving the animal time to react

All the men start to collect the blood of the buffaloes which will be used to elaborate dishes

All the men start to collect the blood of the buffaloes which will be used to elaborate dishes

These children stick the bamboo poles in the throat between two moves of the head by the buffalo

These children stick the bamboo poles in the throat between two moves of the head by the buffalo

Calm is back after the massacre, because the cockfights have begun. The cutting up continues

Aside from the fights, money games are also set up to satisfy the players

Methodically, everything is taken off with a lot of skill by the men

The men move a buffalo to make it easier to take the meat and the hide off

The cocks judge and impress each other before leaping into a quick fight watched with intensity

The heavy hides are dragged to the entrance of the village

where they are cleaned

the hides are put to dry

Methodically, everything is taken off with a lot of skill by the men

The stomach is emptied of all the grass with still as much serenity and skill

The stomach is emptied of all the grass with still as much serenity and skill

Promoting the quality of the local cloths

The cocks judge and impress each other before leaping into a quick fight watched with intensity

Presentation of the two protagonists a few seconds before the beginning of the fight to death

Entrance of the village

The cutting up continues

The last pieces of meat are being removed

In the middle of the summer, rice is harvested and put out to dry in all the villages of Toraja land

Woman and children at a crossing point

Charming stream very close to the capital

Universality of childhood: in Indonesia like elsewhere, children know how to play with everything

Big plains typical of the country, where not one place is not used for the crops or the animals

It's time for lunch for all those who work to prepare the funeral ceremony

It's time for lunch for all those who work to prepare the funeral ceremony

Children intrigued by my presence deep inside a small village nested in the heart of the valley

The rice put to dry, then stocked in the granaries guarantees the Torajan prosperity, under the protection of their ancestors

Bori hosts many kinds of funerary constructions, including megaliths

Tombs carved in very hard stones

and baby graves

and decorated with much care

The rice put to dry, then stocked in the granaries guarantees the Torajan prosperity, under the protection of their ancestors

Mountains and cultivated lands which are the scene for any landscape of Toraja land

My little improvised guide climbing

Seen from above, this village reveals the typical disposition of the Torajan houses and granaries

Seen from the valley, it's not as impressive and tiring

A few hours after lunch, things have been well done to welcome the hosts of the deceased

Big plains typical of the country, where not one place is not used for the crops or the animals

The owners take pretty close care of the most valuable buffaloes

All the buffaloes are brought once every 6 days to the market of Rantepao

Here is a pig who has just been bought

and which is freed in the truck, but - my - how it squeals !

The owners take pretty close care of the most valuable buffaloes

Fascination of the young for the grinding of the beans

just like I do also

Stand of a coffee seller

Duck eggs

Pigs are just a good like any other, tied and exposed with no feeling to a whole day at the market

Pigs are just a good like any other, tied and exposed with no feeling to a whole day at the market

Young fish sellers confronted with quite curious and amusing tourists

The mass of fish takes shapes which Claire spots out

Young fish sellers confronted with quite curious and amusing tourists

Amongst all these objects, Claire notices a baby sleeping

and a young girl

Other shops have kitchen tools almost solely bought by the local people

The assembling of the richest colors does not go without being caught by Claire's artistic talent

The assembling of the richest colors does not go without being caught by Claire's artistic talent

Close-up on the beans

and bottles can be seen in the same way

who grinds the beans himself with the help of his machine

and this buffalo cooling off represent the basis of the richness of Toraja land

All the buffaloes are brought once every 6 days to the market of Rantepao

In the heart of landscapes with fabulous colors, we see the peaceful Indonesians live their life

Without especially expecting to, we fall upon our first tau-tau and graves in these cliffs

Without especially expecting to, we fall upon our first tau-tau and graves in these cliffs

Statuette of an ancestor contemplating the valley

The buffalo is a working tool, a source of food and a symbol. One finds them everywhere in Indonesia, but especially here

Coffin and bones at the bottom of the cliff

A few days later, one can see the work that has been done from a far away viewpoint

In the heart of landscapes with fabulous colors, we see the peaceful Indonesians live their life

Women with their best dresses to welcome

The space beneath the granaries hosts the guests

These women strike the beat to announce to all that the wedding ceremony will take place

These women strike the beat to announce to all that the wedding ceremony will take place

Young dancers performing to the rhythm of the drums played by the boys, in front of the married couple and its hosts

Young dancers performing to the rhythm of the drums played by the boys, in front of the married couple and its hosts

enjoy themselves somewhat more than the young bride's maids

Beautiful young woman

These grains of rice left to dry

The buffalo is a working tool, a source of food and a symbol. One finds them everywhere in Indonesia, but especially here

View of the villages surrounded by trees and rice fields

The married couple and the parents

It is here that one can find the largest number of statuettes, protected by the height of the steep cliff

This tree hosts the corpses of babies having died before they were weaned, exceptional tradition of the Torajas





























In front of the famous Lemo cliff, no tourist can resist to get his camera out at once

It is here that one can find the largest number of statuettes, protected by the height of the steep cliff

In front of the famous Lemo cliff, no tourist can resist to get his camera out at once

This tree hosts the corpses of babies having died before they were weaned, exceptional tradition of the Torajas

In Kambira, there is a forest of huge bamboos, giving a mystical aura to this place where the dead rest

In Kambira, there is a forest of huge bamboos, giving a mystical aura to this place where the dead rest

One of the rare houses painted in green

Richness of nature and richness of all these colors which melt into their environment anywhere we go

which is yet in any landscape typical of the country

Richness of nature and richness of all these colors which melt into their environment anywhere we go











Funny music

Girls performing a ritual dance

Three yound dancers













Toraja decoration







Datura flowers



Car decorated in a very stylish manner by our driver in Toraja land

Children demonstrating fighting







    






Impressive cliff of Pona

Impressive cliff of Pona



    

 

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