The Expedition Diaries – Savu Indonesia

Author: S.Patton – Product Manager, Cruise Traveller

29th March 2017: Savu Indonesia | Silver Discoverer, Silversea Expeditions

To arrive on an expedition cruise turns the tables on traditional tourism. While you have come to observe and learn about lands and peoples far away and exotic, so too are you the subject of intense local scrutiny. The island of Savu in Indonesia’s South East sees about four cruise ship visits a year and when one comes, the island all gathers to watch.

The people of Bo’Do village are talented weavers and dyers, producing unique black/gold fabrics hand-dyed with local seeds and leaves to produce stunning textiles. Dressed in this finery, they treated us to a beautiful song and dance about the rice harvest and cycle.Ric

Next came a lusty and energetic song with local men and women stomping in circles. They wore on their feet small baskets filled with rice that accompanied the music. All of this as we sat in a circle under a massive shady tree. Next it was off in our stylish cattle truck to a hill top village named Namata, to see a traditional village where sacred stones sit like gifts from aliens in the centre.

Dinosaur eggs? Ancient people? Erosian? I suppose there could be any number of stories to explain these huge round rocks, but to the villagers, they are sacred and precious. The folk here live in houses with roofs shaped like upside down boats. It is odd to see a TV going inside such an ancient form of accommodation. But how wonderful to see ancient ways adapting in small ways to a modern life and keeping the village alive.

A little dog adopted us in Bo’Do and came with us to Namata on our flash truck (below), but sadly we had to say good by when we left by Zodiac that afternoon.

Note – Mrs Patton travelled as a guest of Silversea on this cruise.