8 DAY PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCE : DISCOVER THE NATIVE MENTAWAI TRIBE AND SUMATRA COW'S RACE

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OVERVIEW

Type trip                   >       Guided tour ( small group tour )

Group size               >      1 up to 8 people

Adventure route    >      Minangkabau inland and Siberut, Mentawai, West Sumatra

Charateristic           >      Photography, Human Interest and Cultural Immersion

Comfort                     >      3 / 5

Total Duration         >     8 Day

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Strong point of Photography interest

• Journey to encounter the Mentawai flower men in isolated area / remote village

• Photography trip to any nature enthusiast, human interest

• Photography in rainforest and photogenic Mentawai tribe

• Local living and traditions

WHAT IS THE TRIP ABOUT

An exclusive combination photography trip in Sumatra, for photography enthusiasts who looking for a real cultural experience and meet amazing people with a unique culture and traditions. Discover an extreme event that only exists in Sumatra, "Pacu Jawi"  or Cow race, the race is very muddy and extreme in the paddy rice field, it's an opportunity for the locals to demonstrate the strength of their bulls while celebrating harvest time, and encounter one of the oldest tribe in Indonesia that still preserve their ancient culture in a unique way of life.The Mentawai flower men who live traditionally in the heart of jungle Siberut.

This photography tour designed for photographers to experience immersion with native Mentawai people in their authentic environment to explore a location and blend into the local scene.

Travel theme          >  Local Immersion, Culture and Nature

Adventure route     >  Tanah Datar, Bukittinggi and Siberut, Mentawai Island

Itinerary Focus        >   Photography, Human Interest and culture

This off the beaten track and it will stretch your comfort zone. They don't always feature tourist highlights, but dive deeper into local life and culture

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Trip Summary 

• Arrival at Minangkabau intl’ Airport meet and greet service by our team / guide

Day 1 : Padang – Tanah Datar, ( Pacu jawi spot ) – Bukittinggi

• At 07:00 a.m breakfast in your hotel, start our journey to Pacu jawi area in Tanah datar Regency, arrival in Tabek Patah village enjoy photosession local coffe industry, after finish coffe photosession continue our trip to pacu jawi location. Arrival at the location scouting the perfect spot to shoot pacu jawi, then procced pacu jawi photosessions. 16:00 pm journey back to Bukittinggi, arrival in Bukittinggi and transfer to your hotel. 

Day 2 : Bukittingi – Maninjau village 

• At 08:30 am pick up from your hotel,  at this  day our journey will start from Bukittingi to maninjau village  and have a stop at Lawang village  to see how procces local sugar cane (“photo activitiy”), after photo activity we will continue our trip to Maninjau traditional Minangkabau village, Photo activity with the inhabitant in the traditional village and at noon visit local fisherman village with some photo activity and back to Bukittinggi

Day 3 : Bukittingi – Padang 

• Travel straight to Padang City ( lunch at local restaurant on way back to Padang ) Continue our journey to padang via Anai valley  approximately ( 4h ) arrival in Padang,  arrival in Padang check in to your hotel. Evening and prepare for our next adventure to Siberut island, Mentawai

Day 4: Padang city – Siberut island, Mentawai

• Our journey will start from muara port, Padang at 07:00 am by fast ferry , we will have transit in Sikabaluan ( north part of Sibeurt ) for 1 hour, arrival at South Siberut harbour, transit in the Siberut town ( Muntei ) and  start our journey to Mentawai tribe by motor canoe to cross scenic jungle river Siberut (canoe ride: 3 hours to reach another transit village before our adventure to the deep Siberut jungle. (overnight in the small village ).

Day 5 - 6 - 7 : stay with the Mentawai clan in the jungle, Photography session

• In the morning we will start  our journey to meet the native Mentawai tribe, continue cross the jungle river siberut, once we reach our trekk point, start trekking to the Mentawai tribe community.

• During our staying with Mentawai family we will start doing activities with mentawai clan in the jungle and ( Photo session of Mentawai tribe with their natural environtment )  activities that we will do in the form of daily activities of the mentawai community, which their traditional daily life in the jungle and also the Mentawai flower’s man ( shaman ) will lead you to learning about the uniqueness of Mentawai culture and traditions.

• There is no fix itinerary the program and activities it depens the avaibility the local family / communities once we present there and you can also free to create your ideas and interest during our photography trip.

Day 8 : leaving jungle remote Villages and transfer to Muntei Village 

• After breakfast farewell with the family, and prepare to leaving jungle remote village and trekking back to the bank river motor canoe will ride back to Muntei village. on arrival at Muntei village transite at local house , take rest and cleaning, washing our stuff and departing to mailepet harbour and procced to lunch at local restaurant and transfer to Padang by fast ferry, estimated time arrive in Padang 07:00 pm and transfer to hotel

Tour End

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PRACTICAL INFO
Terms & conditions

• Sumatra Cow race known as Pacu Jawi is a traditional game of Minangkabau people, to celebrate the end of harvest time in the rice field. So please bear in mind there is no animals violation or maltreatment as it looks in this event. The cows that participate in this event belong to the local farmer, they feed and take care of them for their living hood.

• This race is a ceremony or entertainment for local people/farmers and there is no very high competition, the main purpose of this game is to have fun.

• For the cows that show good performance by being able to run straight and cooperate with one another, they will get special attention from the owner and the local community and also the selling price will also go up in the traditional cattle market.

• Because the Sumatra area is covered with rainforest and located right on the equator, it has a  tropical climate, the weather is hot and humid all year round. The driest season normally starts from May to September,although there are sporadic rains and may occur during this period. Rains are abundant between November and January. the average temperature is 30 °C degrees in Siberut island. Be ready for hot, humid, and hasty conditions.

• To respect the culture of every local community, for example, local wisdom, their law order, their way of living, the way they dress up, bringing methods, different life perspectives and views of the world and local environment in the community, (for two villages in Minangkabau trip it is recommended to wear trouser below knee length and T-shirt to cover shoulders. Applies to both men and women. During the Minang tour please do not wear shorts, sleeveless shirts, shirts showing cleavage, and skirts above the knee. Also mind that looser clothes help fight the heat, compared to tight clothes. )

• You have to accept living in the same conditions as the local community in the remote village, sleeping in a very rudimentary comfort style on the floor with mat (floor mat) with mosquito net this applies nights in the Mentawai jungle.

• Given the conditions of poverty and isolated areas, families that accept us to live and spend time with them, conditions of comfort and cleanliness are more than basic but far from being guaranteed for "western standards". In this case, it's very important and necessary to be able to tolerate this short inconvenience, to be able to enjoy your full stay and overall experience.

• Because Mentawai traditional communities live in remote areas in the jungle forest, access to these communities isn't simple and easy, so the conditions of a trek include quite a lot of muddy terrain, can be slippery and uneven ground (sometimes you have to walk on the log on the muddy ground that Mentawai make and use it as a bridge to access further route).

• Please bear in mind there is no electricity in the Mentawai jungle, charge your camera and phone and, bring an extra battery. No running water in the Mentawai jungle river is the option.

• Respect the culture of every local community, for example, local wisdom, their law order, their way of living, the way they dress (especially Mentawai) their upbringing methods, different life perspectives and, views of the world and local environment in the community.

 Things to carry

• Small backpack (we can leave some stuff at the previous place we stayed in (hotel/hostel)

• Long trousers, long sleeves, t-shirt, fresh underwear (there will be sweating going on)

• Rain clothes (forget about umbrella)

• We recommend bringing a dry bag/pocket (waterproof) to protect your camera & equipment and any other important you need to take care of.

• Trekking shoes, sleeping bag, a mosquito repellent, high protection sunscreen, a headlamp, toilet paper, a sun hat/cap, sunglasses, water bottle

• First aid such as paracetamol, pain killers, anti-diarrhea, disinfectant, all other medication you would usually take

• Do not overpack! Keep it simple

Food

• All meals ( except breakfast before we start our trip ) will be provided in the local house / Mentawai house, the food such as rice, eggs, chicken, vegetables and, fruits, and you will enjoy local Mentawai food as they do. Drink water we will carry fresh mineral water ( gallon), and we will use boil water from the river too.

Sleeping arrangements

• For sleeping arrangements in the Mentawai traditional longhouse, we will sleep on the floor (with Mattress) and mosquito net, for your comfortability it is recommended to bring your sleeping bag, mat, or air bed.

Whats might be included and not included in the price

What’s include :

• All private transportation ( minivan or bus )

• All meals, drinks, during trip  ( meals will be provide in local Minang restuarant style with typical Minang’s dishes also known as Padang’s food )

• Accomodation 2 Night in Bukittinggi ( Padi Ecolodge

• Entrance fee ( museum and sites )

• Ferry ticket padang – Siberut 2x

• All transportation in Siberut from the port to the transit village 2x ( Motor taxi or pick up car )

• Permit ( Siberut National Park

• Motor canoe from transit village to the trek point 2x

• Logistics ( all meals, drink : Mineral water, coffee, tea fruits during the trip )

• Porter ( whenever you want )

• Accomodation in Mentawai traditional house

• Present to Mentawai clan that we will stay

• Mosquito net, mattrass

• Local Team expert / guide

What’s not include :

• Flights

• Insurance

• Medication

• Personal expenses : souvenirs, alcoholic drink etc

• Accomodation in Padang city ( recomendation place to stay : Ox ville Hotel, Budget hotel by harbour, Deivan hotel “included breakfast” . Riverside hostel, Yani homestay “non –breakfast” )

Insurance

• We strongly recommended that you will have to take your responsibility for your travel insurance during a trip with us, or as soon as you book this tour. And do not forget to bring all those important documents and information with you.

Please inform yourself about getting vaccinated before traveling to Indonesia.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST: You already found all necessary info, what to bring and carry, dos and don'ts, however, there are other details and questions I have for you: - do you have any allergies? - do you have any dietary restrictions? - do you have any health issues (diabetes, epilepsy, asthma, heart disease, etc)? THANK YOU AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HOSTING YOU!