Sumba Island, my first visit

I first visited Sumba Island on April 1988. I went there with two of my French clients. It was just on its early stage of tourism development on the island. There was not much choice of hotels. With very little knowledge of Sumba, we explored the island from the Waingapu at the eastern part to Waikabubak in the western part.

Sumba was once considered as one of the Remote Destinations Indonesia. Outsiders confused Sumba with Sumbawa - the neighbouring island to its north. Sumba is just about one hour flight from Bali.

Eastern part of Sumba is rich on Sumba Ikat. Most of the villages are producing the wel-known Sumba Ikat. Each village has their own design. Kanantang area is known for its Indigo blue Ikat. Move further east, we arrived in Pau known for the combination of Ikat and Pahikung. It is a technic of woven different pre colored thread to create design on the textile. Then combined with Ikat. Pau is one of the village of the east Sumba Noble family. There are typical Sumba traditional houses and huge carved stone tombs.

7 km to the east of Pau, there is Rende which is also known as Praiyawang. It is the village of the one of the prominent clan on Sumba Island. Raja of Rindi Umalulu - the other name of Rende - leave here. The ladies and girls in the village produce typical Rende Ikat designs. Woven onto hand-spun cotton thread. It is one of the most sought by collectors. Rende is one of the most beautiful traditional villages on Sumba Island. The houses are the typical traditional Sumba House and huge carved stone tombs dominate the village yard. For those who really interested on Sumba Ika may proceed further east to reach Kaliuda, known for its specific Sumba Ika design. Most of Kaliuda Ikat Pattern are in horse design. Whilst western part of Sumba known for its more fertile land with lots of Traditional Sumba villages with its high roofed Sumba traditional houses, Sumba is the only island in Indonesia with has lots of traditional villages.

Sumba Traditional Houses in Waitabar village

The entrance of Sumba House in Waitabar village

Sumba Village

Carved stone, on the Noble's burial place

Sumba Horses

Marosi Beach, Sumba

Sumba Road