The beauty of Mentawai Island

It was in March 2016, me and my x girlfriend planned to go to mentawai island west sumatra, indonesia. where there is a tribes that still retains their cultural heritage, and best surfing spot for those who love it.
The journey starts from Bandung city, approximately 2 hours to get to Padang city by flight, and 1,5 hours by public transportation to Teluk bungus port where there are several choices of boats and we chose the ferry which takes 10 hours because it's cheap than a fast boat that only takes 3 hours to the island, hahaha.

• Teluk bungus port
  

Our first destination to south siberut because we want to try our first experience staying with tribe for few days and learn about their ways to survive and how they treat the nature.

• Economic class life
  

A few hours later after the ship left the port suddenly there is bad news from BMKG (Indonesian Agency for Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics) which makes everyone shocked and scared.

Television was talking about this earthquake, suddenly the signal disappeared and we hard to get the news, and everyone is busy to connect with their family and ask about the progress, while I try to calm down her and try not to panic.
We stuck in the middle of nowhere on the Indian Ocean, Due to the major earthquake ( 8,3 SR ) close to Mentawai Islands and the high potential of a Tsunami.

After a few hours we received a good news that the potential for the tsunami would not happen and the ferry continued to the destination and took almost 17 hours, and we learned a lesson last night - "a serious fear of life makes you feel alive"

We arrived at the island, we stayed a day and looked forthe information so that we could go to the jungle and live with the tribes, and we meet with someone who can take us and become a translator because they can not speak Indonesian.

The next day, the journey continued using 'pongpong' ( boat) and takes 2.5 hours down the river

and we had to walk into the jungle within 2 hours to reach the tribes

finally! we arrived at one of the tribe villages, we introduced ourselves and asked for the permission to stay with them, we brought food, drinks and most importantly tobacco, which we prepared before.
their lives are very dependent on his nature, respecting his ancestors and preserving his culture, not many tribes who still maintain this heritage of today, because there is a new civilization and government issues.

• one of Mentawai Shaman or "Sikerei"
  One of the functions of tattoos in Mentawai is to show identity and social status differences, In addition functioning as a self-identity, tattoos are a symbol of the balance of the nature also and this is the oldest tattoo art in Indonesia maybe in the world too.
  

• The skin of Baiko tree for my 'Kabi' ( loin cloth )
  

• Uma ( house )
  

• First time i tried sago worm and it was delicious hahaha
  

• maintain their pigs
  

• Shaman's wife went to catch fish and shrimp
  

• Skeleton hunts at the entrance of the house
  

3 days and 2 nights we've spent with them,they are very friendly and kind, and i learn a lot about how they survive and how they keep their cultural heritage.
our next destination is Awera island, tua pejat, which is on the next island of Siberut, of course we had to go the same way as we were to the tribe, and continue the trip by inter-island boat, there is also a fast boat whose prices are quite expensive and it takes several hours to get the island.

as we arrive at Tua Pejat we meet someone who offers his villa which we think is good for us, he was very friendly and his crew was very helpful.
It is time for us to relax, enjoy the beauty of the beach!

• CHILLaxing while surfers are looking for the waves
  

• A new friends on this island
  

• The hunting of Napoleon fish and lobsters in the waters of the Mentawai Islands by fishermen using potassium cyanide at that time has resulted coral damage
  

• which is my leg? LOL
  

• Sunset sensation
  

• Unforgettable
  

Early morning on March 9, 2016 is the most precious moment for TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE and the island is in line when the eclipse will happen, we rushed to find the best spot to watch it in the middle of the ocean using a small boat, Too bad my cheap camera lens can not capture this most precious moment.

Last but not least, our eye lenses are the best lens to record everything we've been through and thank you for being a part of my history.

See you next post guys!!!