Visiting Kulati Village in East Tomia Sub-district, Wakatobi Regency

Indonesia is the heaven for tourists. It makes sense, as the nation has many references of nature tourism. In this case, Wakatobi Regency is one of them. Being the part of Southeast Sulawesi Province, such archipelago is famous among travelers and nature lovers. For those who look for unique cultures, Kulati Village is a quite recommended. The location is in East Tomia Sub-district and it is the home of a renowned local festival called Potapaki. It is an annual ceremony and provides numerous types of attractions and performances, especially Pajuju and Lemba Kangsodha. Thus, Kulati should be on everyone’s list when visiting Wakatobi.

The Nuance
The village features lots of stunning nature landscapes like various bushes, trees, plants, savanna, and beaches. That means visitors have the chance to perform a small adventure in Kulati. Not to mention they would be astonished by interesting local life and its culture. Even the local houses look beautiful and they worth a photo shoot! What about the villagers? They are definitely friendly and warm. Some of them talk English, in fact. This way, tourists can easily communicate with them and learn more information regarding their ethos.

Exploring Kulati Village
The most common thing to do in the village is to explore its nature. Kulati has valuable nature attractions, after all. All of them can be wonderful objects for photography. Due to this reason, visitors should have prepared some items beforehand. These include a camera, extra clothes, and snacks. It is likely they would spend much energy and time to explore all parts of the villages, including the hills and a small forest. When it is about accommodations, they can take advantage of local houses. What they need is a good communication, so some villagers may allow them to use their room, even freely!

In the next day, they must find out whether Potapaki Festival is available or not. As for the tip, they must have learned about the schedule of such annual event. This way, they only need to come to Kulati when the ceremony is going to be held. So, what is it about? According to the locals, Potapaki means “discussion”. It is said the event represents a happy moment when nomads come home and gather with their families. They may tell a story about their adventure and conduct a small party with the elders.

The most interesting parts of the festival are Pajuju and Lemba Kangsodha. These are joined by mature teenagers and include several ornaments. Those youngsters would be carried by sedan chair and decorated with flowers. Before such festive event, they should undergo seclusion for about 8 days and 8 nights! This traditional ritual is called Sombo Alalungku. Overall, Kulati Village is a great place to enjoy such tradition, so tourists can learn a bit more about the life of local people. Isn’t that great?

Nearby Attractions

• Wakatobi National Park
• Lintea Tiwolu Island
• Kaledupa Island

How to Get There
As mentioned earlier, Kulati Village resides in East Tomia Sub-district. First, tourists should head to Matahora Airport, which is located in Wangi-Wangi Island. From there, they need to take a speedboat to Tomia Island. That’s it.

Where to Stay
Wakatobi Resorts