Tana Toraja: We Celebrate Death!

This has been one of my favorite travel stories and it has produced jaw-dropping reactions at many of my dinner table conversations. The reaction it produces is the same when I first encountered this unique culture, which is of absolute disbelief.


Whether you are Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist or any other religion, we have all been taught to celebrate life. We welcome the birth of a new child. We celebrate the joining of a man and a woman in holy matrimony.


In simple terms, we celebrate life. But, have you ever heard of anyone celebrating death? Sounds confusing right?


This is because all of us have been taught to mourn death. But, the people of Tana Toraja, they live by a different set of rules in this department.


Thought to be sea-farers from the Philippines or one of the many islands in that belt, the Torajans settled in the lush green and fertile mountains and valleys of South-Central Sulawesi, one of the islands in Eastern Indonesia many hundreds of years ago.


Originally, they used to follow Animism, but over the course of many centuries, they embraced Christianity, but still kept their Animist beliefs close.


Everything about them is very unique and that is what makes them very interesting if you are a culture buff. All the houses in Tana Toraja are shaped like inverted boats. Some folks tales say that, the Torajans used their boats to set up their first houses. Other folk tales say that the chief of the group dreamt of such houses in his dream and thus orchestrated the first village in that fashion.


Whatever the folk tale or the reason, seeing these beautifully different houses in every corner of Tana Toraja is a sense of ‘high’ for the eyes and for the mind. But, the houses are just the start. The thing that is the most interesting in Tana Toraja are the funerals.


Many villages are invited. Everyone works in the funeral. Families and friends are there in full attendance. Food is provided in plenty. There is lots of drama and action. Animals are sacrificed in plenty. Funeral Celebrations can last from some days to some weeks. Sounds pretty different right?




I am a Hindu. We burn the dead. In Islam and Christianity, they bury the dead. The Buddhists, depending on their geography follow either burning or burial. But, irrespective of religion, we try and complete the funeral procedure as soon as possible. This is to prevent decay of the dead body and to prevent spread of any diseases.


In some cases, close family might be living in a different part of the world and hence the dead is kept in a ice box or frozen in a mortuary for preservation. But, this again is done for a maximum of 7 to 10 days and then the funeral is completed.


Here, in Tana Toraja, when someone dies in the family, there is no immediate plan to hold the funeral ceremony. Instead, the entire family works hard to put together enough money for a grand funeral that fits that social status. In the meanwhile, the dead person is injected with formaldehyde and preserved in the house.


The family members do not treat the dead person as ‘dead’. Rather, they treat them as a sick person. For example, the wife would go to her dead husband and say, ‘I made some nice pork curry and rice for lunch today. Your favorite! Why don’t you take a bite?’. Then, she leaves it near him and goes back to her other work.


The other members of the family keep having conversations with the dead person (can be his son, daughter, siblings, wife, father, mother, etc.). Everyone treats the dead like a ‘sick’ person and tries to engage him in a conversation like when he was living.


At a periodic frequency, someone keeps injecting the body with formaldehyde so that the body is in an embalmed state. The family continue their daily life with the dead person in their midst. In their minds, the dead is just sick and hence, they do their bit in taking care of the sick person. They keep doing this till they have saved enough money for a grand funeral.


In Tana Toraja, there are various social classes. Depending on their class, people are obliged to have a certain type of funeral. If you are of the highest order, you have to have a grand funeral. There will be no changes to that. Hence, many families have been known to keep the dead body in their house for weeks, months and even years, till they have enough money for a funeral that suits their class.


Well, I am sure that by now, you are all hypnotized and dumb struck. It is pretty weird, but it is true. Once the family has the money for the funeral, they send out an invite to all their extended family and friends. Every Torajan is invited. People from different villages of Tana Toraja come to contribute their bit for the funeral. Some of them help in building and decorating the funeral house. Some of them take care of the event management. Some of them bring in pigs and buffaloes. Some of them orchestrate the music. Basically, every one contributes to the funeral.



If you see the funeral up close, you will feel like everyone belongs to the family. But, the truth is that, it is the Torajan family and not just the family of the dead. The funeral house, the funeral coffin, the entire funeral event is designed in the traditional inverted boat design of the Torajans and with all their intricate art and designs.


Everyone in the family dresses in black. There are traditional dances, getups and dresses that others indulge in. Many buffaloes and pigs are sacrificed. Only male buffaloes and pigs. Sometimes as many as hundred buffaloes and pigs are sacrificed at the funeral house. This is because…The Torajans believe that animal spirits accompany and carry the spirit of the dead to the path of heaven. The more the animal spirits, the safer the passage is the belief.


And that is not the end of it. Even in the buffaloes that they slaughter, they prefer the albino ones. They believe that the albino ones are special. And just so you know, these buffaloes don’t come cheap. They quote quite a premium in Tana Toraja and are single-handedly one of the main reasons why they have to work so hard to put together the money for the funeral.


All these buffalo bulls are decked up and marched in front of the funeral procession that begins at the house after many rituals. And once they reach the funeral house, each buffalo is slaughtered (at one or two or even three per day) over the course of the multi-day or multi-week funeral celebration. The slaughtering process is painful as the buffalo dies a slow death. The same is the case with the pigs.


And once dead, all of these end up at the funeral kitchen for a grand feast. The funeral event setup is in such a way that all the family, friends and other Torajans are given a place at the funeral house. Alcohol flows. Delicious food is served. People dance, sing and make merry.


There are even bull fights that are organized for the entertainment of the people. Do note that only the rich Torajan funerals include such bull fights. The super rich funerals organize bull fights every day of the celebration as they have enough money to buy a lot of buffaloes.


I attended close to 20 such funerals during my stay at Tana Toraja and saw many slaughterings, bull fights, feasts, dances, celebrations and much more. There is no mourning in the atmosphere.


Rather, people are all happy and smiling. I took me a while to understand this emotion. But, that is because, the sick person will officially be pronounced dead at the end of the funeral celebration and that the dead will find a safe passage to heaven.


The culture is unique. The funeral is unique. The people are unique. And hence it will be apt only if the burials are also unique. The people of Tana Toraja indulge in a variety of burials. And have their own set of beliefs and rules for this too.


There are cave burials. There are rock burials. There are stone burials. Some dead are buried in a vertical cliff wall. However, they might be buried, all their coffins are intricately designed with traditional Torajan symbols and drawings.


And spirit guardians are kept at the front of the burial sites to protect the dead from negative forces.


You can get a good idea of these various burial forms as you explore the different villages of Tana Toraja.


You will also get a good idea of the beautiful landscape of Tana Toraja that is so lush green with its waterfalls, rice terraces, mountains, valleys, mountain streams and much more.


I am sure you are still dumbstruck at this story of the Torajan culture. Such cultures are one of the main reasons for my traveling far and wide. We see a world that is so very different than what we have been taught and made to believe!!

My Tips Featured in Travel Secrets Magazine

Are you looking to start a new travel blog? Are you looking for ways to promote or market your travel blog? Well, here are some tips from my personal experience that have been featured in the Travel Secrets Magazine Sep-Oct 2014 issue. I am hoping that these tips of mine come in handy while you work on the marketing strategy for your travel blog.



Above are some screen shots of that article. For a full and high resolution PDF version, click here. And for a real feel of the magazine, you can buy it here. The magazine has many interesting destination stories and other travel tips. Thank you Travel Secrets Magazine for the feature.

Board Game at Bhaktapur

It was a warm and humid day. I had just had a carb heavy rice lunch after an entire morning of exploring the heritage zone of Bhaktapur. I was visibly slow and not in the mood for more sightseeing. Instead, I wanted to talk to someone while sipping some water or cold juice. With this thought in mind, I kept ambling trying to find an interesting street scene in Bhaktapur and that’s when I chanced these locals playing a board game.


The game looked similar to the game of Ludo, but it came with its own set of rules. I tried understanding the game, but may be it was the heat, that I gave up too soon. But, the people playing the game noticed my interest in them and their game. They offered me a seat and that’s how we began talking. I found out that the heat was getting to them too and that is why they were trying to add some entertainment through the board game. After basic introductions, they asked me questions about India, about how I liked their town and more. After an hour or so, the effects of the food and the heat began to abate and I said my byes and went back to exploring the heritage town. This time, I made my way to Changgu Narayan.

Volunteering in India: How to get started

If you are thinking of volunteering abroad then one of the most important things to remember is that it takes a lot of time and energy, and it won’t be easy. With this in mind though, you should also be aware that, if you end up doing it, it will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.

When planning your trip, it’s essential to have a clear idea of your expectations and to consider whether you wish to look for something that is relevant to your intended career or current field of expertise as this can make your volunteering experience particularly satisfying. For example, if you enjoy working with children then it’s worth seeking out a program that is specifically concerned with education.

The magic of India Among the many beautiful places in the world that are attractive when it comes to travel and volunteering, India is one of the most exotic destinations for people interested in social change and development work. It’s no surprise that a lot of people from other countries seek to get involved by volunteering in India. If this sounds appealing to you, there are a few things you need to think about when setting up your volunteering plans.

Here is a brief guide of what to consider and what to do before you make any definite decisions…

Get organized
In many ways, going with an organization is a big help when volunteering abroad: people who are already working in India and familiar with how things operate can assist newcomers with many aspects of life there. These include opportunities that may be strange to a new traveler such as the best places to go for particular experiences (for example, nursing, construction work or teaching), who the most welcoming host families are and the most comfortable shared volunteer accommodation.

Choosing the right organization is important, and there are a number of free online databases that can help you identify the kind of organization that might work best for you. Many of these are focused on specific skills, employment sectors or political interests. For example, FairMail offers opportunities to photographers; the East West Foundation of India deals with children’s rights, community development, education and childcare; and, Prime Trust works to increase the empowerment of women.

What you will need Requirements for working with a specific organization vary; however, most will expect you to have some experience or a degree of expertise in your chosen area of interest. For instance, if you would like to experience a medical internship but have no medical background then your role will be mostly that of an observer. People with a medical background, on the other hand, are likely to have more contact with patients and may be given certain medical tasks to undertake.

Official requirements Your requisite travel documents will include a volunteer visa, which is actually an employment visa, usually granted for one year, though they can be extended. Applicants for a regular employment visa must be earning a minimum of $25,000, though exceptions are now made for volunteers as well as a number of other specialist employees.

Get there With all the admin sorted, it just remains for you to pack the appropriate gear and get out there. Now is the time to think about the journey there and back, your transport methods and how to coordinate the adventure. On balance, direct flights are the most realistic solution – see Flights.com for further information (for example, from JFK – New York City to BOM – Mumbai).

Once in India you have a number of different choices when it comes to how to get about and where to stay. Timetables for buses and trains between major cities, such as Mumbai and Delhi, can be accessed online using mobile technology. When it comes to accommodation, host families are great for getting to know local people and finding out about lifestyles and customs in the neighborhood. Shared accommodation with other volunteers means you can learn about others’ experiences, share your own and evaluate what motivates people from all corners of the world to volunteer.

Finally, you need to make the most of contemporary technology to make sure that your finances stay in order. If you check out online resources, you’ll discover that India is renowned for being one of the cheapest places to visit; for example, taxi prices in Delhi are among the cheapest in the world and public transportations are also very inexpensive. However, Delhi and Mumbai are more expensive than, say, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand.

Make the most of the information available and enjoy every bit of your volunteering opportunity in India.

Monk at World Peace Pagoda, Pokhara, Nepal

The World Peace Pagoda is one of Pokhara’s iconic landmarks. Perched on a hill and overlooking Pokhara city, it offers one of the best views of Pokhara city and also of the snow capped Himalayan mountains on a clear day. One can either trek up to this monument or take a circuitous route by motorcycle, car or bus.


On my recent trip to Pokhara, I visited this peace pagoda twice. On one day, it was all rainy, cloudy and misty. On the other day, there was nice bright sunshine, but it was still cloudy in the distance. I saw this monk on the brighter day and was very surprised to see him dressed in all white and wearing a paddy field hat. The white walls of the peace pagoda just adds a feeling of white into the frame.

5 Wild and Warm Winter Getaways: USA-Style

America offers some truly spectacular holiday destinations and many visitors from the UK simply can’t get enough of all that it has to offer.

Winter is rapidly approaching and we will probably notice the chill even more this time around, considering how warm the summer has been. This means that a good number of us will be looking to jet off to somewhere wild and warm this winter, to get our fix of fun and sun USA style.

There are so many amazing places to visit in the United States and the choices on offer in this vast country can sometimes make it hard to choose where to go for your next holiday. Travel operators like myamericaholiday.co.uk can help you to find the perfect winter getaway, and here are some destinations that will make for a memorable holiday.

Miami Beach This is a location that ticks a lot of boxes with warm temperatures, stunning boutique hotels and a party atmosphere.

There are so many entertainment options on offer at Miami Beach and it is far too easy to melt the plastic at an upscale shopping centre like Lincoln Road Mall. The place is not all about great beaches, excellent shopping and brilliantly unique hotels, there is also a fair amount of culture on display too.

Art Deco architecture is a prominent theme around Miami Beach and the Bass Museum of Art is an inspirational way to soak up some culture once you have finished soaking up the sun on South beach.

Key West If you are looking for a snorkelling or scuba diving adventure then Key West would definitely be a wise choice.

Key West offers a lot of positives for the perfect winter break, with not just the renowned snorkelling and scuba diving options, but also the chance for plenty of other outdoor adventures, including some great bike trails to help you keep in good shape.

There are plenty of opportunities for sightseeing in the area with Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park and the Key West Aquarium, not to mention the almost obligatory visit to Southernmost Point for a picture next door to the infamous colourful buoy that marks the spot.

Orlando Staying with the sunshine, the best time to visit Orlando is between January and April, when you will find that temperatures as well as the travel prices should be more to your liking.

Summertime is when Orlando becomes a magnet for families making the most of the school holidays and this often means that brochure prices soar in line with the temperatures, so aim to go against the crowd and visit during the winter.

You really need to organise car hire to get the best out of your trip and be able to bet around between the different attractions as easily as possible. Walt Disney World is the place where you are never really allowed to grow up and do remember when booking, that Disney World is actually in a different city, Lake Buena Vista.

Vail Size isn’t everything, and despite its relatively small size and remote location, Vail has a big heart and is one of the best loved ski resorts for good reason.

Vail is situated between the Gore Mountain Range to the North and Sawatch Mountain Range to the south, with its near-neighbour Jagged Peaks, offering miles of slops and excellent skiing conditions, as you would expect for the country’s largest single-mountain resort.

The ski resort of Vail definitely punches above its weight or size at least, and the beautifully manicured slopes and excellent spa’s and restaurants will excite the senses, although prices can in places reflect its deserved reputation.

Kauai Hawaii has a unique feel and is one of the more iconic states that you have to visit at least once in your lifetime when planning a holiday to the U.S.

The superlatives like aquamarine skies and sun-kissed beaches can often be used too liberally in some places but Kauai is definitely not one of them. The oldest island in Hawaii doesn’t feel that it needs to go over the top to attract visitors so Kauai is simply perfect if you are someone who can appreciate the natural beauty of the surroundings and simply want to unwind or would like to explore the Kalalau Trail or Waimea Canyon, amongst many of the natural attractions that await you.

Whether you want wild adventures or feel the warmth of the sun this winter, the U.S has plenty of destinations to fulfil your requirements.

About the Author: Kayleigh Clarke loves finding spectacular out of the way places to visit. Living on the road and blogging every chance she gets, she enjoys sharing her discoveries on travel and holiday sites.

Portrait Stories from Rajasthan

The colorful state of Rajasthan offers a lot to the traveler. It has forts, palaces, beautiful bazaars, great food and lots of history. But, I connect the most with its people. I don’t want to sound biased, but sometimes I feel that they are the most hospitable state in India. The people of Rajasthan are so very nice and so eager to help people. I have been all around the state a multitude of times and have had my best people experiences in this state. The Rajasthani people have always welcomed me with both their hands and their warm hearts.


Story: This old man with a very kind face was sitting outside the Jaisalmer Fort and playing this traditional musical instrument (Does anyone know the name of this instrument?) He seemed to be very content and happy playing his music and did not seem to be interested in receiving any money, but when our group gave him some money, he was overjoyed.

And since I like the people of Rajasthan so much, here is a short portrait story from my recent trip to Jodhpur and Jaisalmer. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did while I spent time with these various personalities.


Story: This Rajasthani man with the big moustache sells scarves at one of the souvenir shops in Mehrangarh Fort. He speaks French, Italian, English and Spanish fluently and is quite a good salesman. He was kind enough to give me tips on how to grow moustaches like his. He even shared some of his older photos and we shared a good laugh.


Story: This sardarji was selling peacock feathers in the Patwon ki Haveli campus where I spotted him. I tried engaging in a conversation with him, but he was more keen on selling his peacock feathers to me.


Story: This Rajasthani man has been playing the flute for more than 35 years. I met him at Jasvant Thada in Jodhpur. His flute music echoes in the inner chamber and he charges tourists if they wish to record his music. If you just want to listen, it is free, he says.


Story: He is a part farmer and part camel mahout. During the tourist season, he takes his guests on camel safaris in the deserts off Ossiyan and when it is lean season, he either tills his small piece of land with his sons or does some odd jobs to make ends meet.


Story: This guard at Mehrangarh Fort was kind enough to explain me Mehrangarh’s history for more than 30 minutes. He was happy to know that I am from South India and asked me questions on how I spoke Hindi so well. His entire family is associated with the Mehrangarh Fort.


Story: I met this Jain priest at one of the Jain temples inside the Jaisalmer Fort. He was kind enough to talk about Jainism, the temple history and to pose for me.


Story: Rajasthani women are very shy and do not like to get their photo clicked. Hence, you don’t see portraits of women in this post, but this one is the exception. I saw this local village lady at Suryagarh. She was singing folk music and her voice boomed through the courtyard.


Story: A very kind soul who noticed me on each of my visits to Mehrangarh and on my last visit, he asked me ‘ Aap pichle do din se aah rahe hain na?’. I said ‘Yes’ and began conversing with him. We spoke about his family, his work, the history of Mehrangarh, the raptor feeding tradition at Mehrangarh and much more. It was a pleasure conversing with him.


Story: I was with some Vietnamese girls who wanted to buy a silk carpet as a souvenir back home and they wanted me to bargain for them. While I was talking to him, I got to understand how he made the carpets sitting there with his hands and how they are 70% silk and 30% cotton and much more. The good news was that both my Vietnamese friends bought a carpet from him making him happy.


Story: I met this musician in front of the Gadisar Lake. He plays the Rawan Hatha musical instrument and is from a village in the desert outside of Jaisalmer. He even showed me his Rawan Hatha music CDs that he sells to make a living. He was even kind enough to allow me to try playing his Rawan Hatha (unfortunately, I am not good with musical instruments and couldn’t get the hang of it).


Story: Another multi-lingual salesman, he sells Jodhpuri shoes at the Mehrangarh Fort. He was also one of those people who noticed me coming to the fort every day for the past 3 days and was curious to know why I visited every day.


Story: This elderly man is a guard at the Jaisalmer Fort. He was enjoying the breeze at one of the fort windows and on seeing me asked me to enjoy the breeze too. A quiet man, he obliged me to take his photograph.


Story: These kids thought I was from Africa and started to practice their English with me, but when I started conversing with them in crisp Hindi, they were surprised, but warmed up quickly and started talking to me more. Typical inquisitive Indian questions and at the end of which, they wanted me to take their group picture and I happily obliged.

Begnas Tal: Scenic Lakeside Retreat in Nepal

Pokhara, one of Nepal’s most scenic cities is known as the land of seven lakes. These beautiful lakes are tucked amidst the mighty Himalayas. While the Phewa Lake in Pokhara city is the most popular with tourists, personally I prefer Begnas Tal for a relaxed scenic retreat. Begnas Tal offers the perfect blend of solitude and a Nepal countryside experience.


Located at about 20 kilometers from Pokhara on the Pokhara-Kathmandu highway, Begnas Tal is surrounded by the Begnas village which survives on tourism and agriculture. Hence, the entire surroundings are in a pleasing green color either in the form of lush green paddy fields or dense tropical forests.


Unlike the Phewa Lake where tourists can be seen in droves, tourists can be seen few and far between at Begnas. Whether you want to swim, go boating or kayaking or even indulge in some fishing, you will always find solitude. The only exception being the weekends or festivals when some local families visit Begnas for a picnic.


While you enjoy the scenic lake surroundings, you can also indulge in some local volunteering (like teaching at local schools, agriculture, building houses, etc.) for a complete rural connection. The villages around Begnas are all small and basic and offer a multitude of options for the travelers to offer their volunteering services.


If you are the water type, you should stay close to the lake and if you are the view type, you should stay on a hill overlooking the lake. The hill has a view point called the ‘Twin view point’ from where one can get a bird’s eye view of this beautiful lake. A lot of home stays and an expensive luxury resort are located on this hill. And if you feel adventurous, you can trek or mountain bike the trail from this hill to the lake and back. It is quite a nice workout!