2. Circumnavigation of Sumatra

Nias Island

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Ceremonial lion figure with its paw on a model of the take-off stone, Bawomatuluo village, Nias Island, Sumatra<br /> <br /> Nias Island is the site of one of the last living megalithic cultures. Stone Jumping is a manhood ritual where young men leap over stone towers 2 to 2.5 meters high. To accomplish this they run up to the stone monument and place their foot on a smaller take-off stone, which can been just seen in the lower right here <a href="http://goo.gl/ihvxR">http://goo.gl/ihvxR</a>.
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Ceremonial lion figure with its paw on a model of the take-off stone, Bawomatuluo village, Nias Island, Sumatra

Nias Island is the site of one of the last living megalithic cultures. Stone Jumping is a manhood ritual where young men leap over stone towers 2 to 2.5 meters high. To accomplish this they run up to the stone monument and place their foot on a smaller take-off stone, which can been just seen in the lower right here http://goo.gl/ihvxR.

  • Villagers with jumping stone and warrior with his foot on the take off stone, Bawomatuluo- village, Nias Island, Sumatra
  • Stone Jumper in mid-jump, Bawomatuluo village, Nias Island, Sumatra<br /> <br /> Stone Jumping is a manhood ritual where young men leap over stone towers 2 to 2.5 meters high. Best seen at larger sizes, where the expression on the faces of the spectators can be seen.
  • Stone Jumper in mid-jump-2, Bawomatuluo village, Nias Island, Sumatra<br /> <br /> Stone Jumping is a manhood ritual where young men leap over stone towers 2 to 2.5 meters high.The take-off stone can just barely be seen in the lower rigiht.
  • Stone jumper in mid-jump-3, Bawomatuluo village, Nias Island, Sumatra
  • Portrait of Bawomatuluo village chief and elder in traditional dress, Nias Island, Sumatra
  • Warriors paradng symbolic lion figure around village square, Bawomatuluo Village, Nias Island, Sumatra<br /> <br /> Notice that the lion has its paws on a rock that symbolizes the rock used to launch the stone jumpers into the air (see <a href="http://goo.gl/lhKW9">http://goo.gl/lhKW9</a> for a photo and explanaition of the stone jumping)
  • Ceremonial lion figure with its paw on a model of the take-off stone, Bawomatuluo village, Nias Island, Sumatra<br /> <br /> Nias Island is the site of one of the last living megalithic cultures. Stone Jumping is a manhood ritual where young men leap over stone towers 2 to 2.5 meters high. To accomplish this they run up to the stone monument and place their foot on a smaller take-off stone, which can been just seen in the lower right here <a href="http://goo.gl/ihvxR">http://goo.gl/ihvxR</a>.
  • Nun by old Standard treadle sewing machine c1900, Nias Island, Sumatra
  • For all the seamstresses out there, who may still have a treadle machine in their basements or attics!<br /> <br /> Note the extremely worn condition of the belt by the fly wheel, at larger sizes! It is still working after over a century of use! Will we be able to say that about our new electric sewing machines? Another pic of this venerable old machine can be seen here <a href="http://goo.gl/9RFq2">http://goo.gl/9RFq2</a><br /> (plus some other photos of this fascinating culture)<br /> <br /> Nias woman at old Standard treadle sewing machine c1900, Nias Island, Sumatra
  • Carved wooden stool in chief's house, Bawomatuluo- village, Nias Island, Sumatra
  • Nias villager with a carved artifact from the chief's house, Bawomatuluo- village, Nias Island, Sumatra
  • Curious children, Bawomatuluo village, Nias Island, Sumatra<br /> <br /> Other photos, posted today, from this megalithic village can be seen here <a href="http://goo.gl/Ad2Hm">http://goo.gl/Ad2Hm</a>
  • Mothers and babies, Bawomatuluo village, Nias Island, Sumatra<br /> <br /> I debated for several days about whether or not to post this picture, and in the end decided to post it in the hopes that it might provide a cautionary tale about the dangers of drug use during pregnancy. When I pulled this photo up for editing, I noticed that the baby on the left is suffering from a number of deformities, likely caused by unknowingly taking a teratogenic (i.e., deformation causing) substance during a critical stage of fetal development. The deformaties are similar to those caused in the past by thalidomide, which was sold as an anti-nausea drug for morning sickness, and as sedative from 1957 until 1962, when it was banned in most countries. The tragedy triggered a number of changes in the way we now test drugs.<br /> <br /> Sorry I didn't have time to comment today, but too busy with gardening (a rare sunny day this month) and other work that couldn't wait.
  • Three 'cool' young men, Bawomatuluo village, Niias Island, Sumatra<br /> <br /> One is engaged with my camera, one appears to be in his own little world, and one is multi-tasking with his cell phone and IPad.
  • Snall girl on the take-off stone used by stone-jumpers Bawomatuluo village, Niias Island, Sumatra
  • Man and boy sitting on the gunwale of an old boat, Teluk Dalam, Nias Island, Sumatra
  • Boys showing off by climbing the anchor rope so they can dive back into the water, Teluk Dalam, Nias Island, Sumatra
  • Small boys showing off their jumping skills, Teluk Dalam, Nias Island, Sumatra
  • Small boy hanging on the anchor line with a nice reflection, Teluk Dalam, Nias Island, Sumatra
  • Boys hanging on a fishing boat with cool reflections, Teluk Dalam, Nias Island harbour, Sumatra<br /> <br /> All you can see of the other boy is two hands on the rear of the boat.
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