Destination: Sulawesi --> South Sulawesi

• Culture & Heritage:

1. Fort Rotterdam

Fort Roterdam or also called Benteng Ujung Pandang is one of the relics built by the Gowa-Tallo Kingdom in 1545. It is situated in the city of Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province, facing the sea. The fort has a unique shape, it resembles a turtle heading out to sea. The fort also received the title "the most well-preserved Dutch fort in Asia".

Fort Rotterdam

The people of Gowa-Tallo called this fort Benteng Panyua, probably because of its shape (panyua = penyu = sea turtle), and used it as a marine base. After the fort was taken by the Dutch during the Dutch Colonialization era, Cornelis Speelman, the Dutchman who commandeered the conquest of the fort renamed it Fort Rotterdam after his hometown.

La Galigo Museum

Inside the fort, a museum called Celebes Museum was established by the Dutch in 1938. It was the first museum to be built in the province and during the Dutch occupation it exhibited various articfacts such as ceramics and jewelries. Thirty years after Indonesia gained its independence, in 1970 the museum was re-established and the name was changed to La Galigo after the prince of the Sulu Kingdom. The name La Galigo also refers to I La Galigo, the world's longest epic poem. In addition to the early artifacts, the museum now exhibits artifacts from other kingdoms such as Sawito and Luwu.

The Fort is open daily from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., but La Galigo Museum only opens from Tuesday to Sunday, from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. The entrance fee is around 10,000 rupiah.

• Eco-tourism: 

     2. Taka Bone Rate National Park


Taka Bone Rate is home to the world's biggest atoll in the world after Kwajifein in Marshall Island and Suvadiva in Moldiva Isles with an area of 530,765 hectares. Taka Bone Rate is   has the meaning of "Coral piled up on sand" and it has become a major marine reserve and is rich in wildlife, both terrestrial and marine.

To get there, first take a local flight from Makassar (Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport) to Selayar Island that is operated by Sabang Merauke Raya Air Charter. After reaching Selayar Island you can take a boat to Taka Bone Rate National Park.

Taka Bone Rate National Park

Taka Bone Rate National Park consists of 21 islands, 19 of which are great dive sites . This  national park is also home to 261 species of coral, 295 species of coral fish and 244 species of mollusk, Dive its pristine waters and you might be lucky enough to encounter Hawksbill Turtles, Green Turtles and Pacific Ridley Turtles.

Hawksbill Turtle