Budget Traveler

We wanted to visit Watan Soppeng, South Sulawesi, so we flew from Jakarta by Garuda Indonesian Airlines at 09:00 hours Western Indonesia Standard Time , it took about 2 hours to fly to Makasar capital city of South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. We arrived at Hasanudin International Airport at 12:00 hours Middle Indonesia Standard Time -one hour time difference Jakarta and Makasar and we continued our journey by car to Watan Soppeng.

Watan Soppeng is capital city of Soppeng regency, Province of South Sulawesi Indonesia, Watan Soppeng is famous with it name Watan Soppeng Kota Kalong| Watan Soppeng the City of Bats. Watan Soppeng surrounded by hills i.e. Neneconang, Buludua, Sewo, Lapancau, the distance from Makassar to Watan Soppeng about 175 km via Buludua. Travelling to Watan Soppeng, from Hasanuddin International Airport we have to turn right to Maros, then followed the coastal line to Pangkep turn right to Buludua winding road to Watan Soppeng, it took 3,5 hours.

Pangkep the Capital City of Pangkajene Kepulauan Regency is famous with seafood barbeque especially bandeng fish -fish with small bone, squid, crabs, shrimps, while in Buludua Soppeng at the top of the hills we could drink Balo - a kind of drink from Palm trees and eat sticky rice.

Watan Soppeng also could be reached thru Maros, Camba, Bantimurung -famous with butterfly valley, waterfalls and and old caves then thru Ujung Lamuru before reached Watan Soppeng.

Photo:Watan Soppeng City-otw to Bucello Watan Soppeng

Photo:Watan Soppeng city-Corner of Watan Soppeng city otw to Ompo

Photo:Watan Soppeng City-road in front of Watan Soppeng Mosque

Watan Soppeng is a beautiful city in the east, all of the tress full with sleeping bats hanging, and they make sound like orchestra. Those bats are living around Watan Soppeng only, and it is hardly to find any bats outside Watan Soppeng.

According the fairy tale of Watan Soppeng people, if bats are gone it’s a signal that the bad thing will happen. According to the fairy tale there is a compromise between Watan Soppeng people and Watan Soppeng bats that they will not disturb each other, it’s mean the Watan Soppeng people will not hunt and eat Watan Soppeng bats, vice versa the Watan Soppeng bats will not eat the fruits of Watan Soppeng people.

Watan Soppeng is an old city more than 750 years old, Watan Soppeng a little bit cold at night but hot during the day, the climate has changed compare with 30 years ago. Watan Soppeng has natural bath recreation at Ompo, and Watan Soppeng has a natural hot water at Lejjae.

Beside Watan Soppeng bats, Watan Soppeng are famous with it silk industry and cocoa plantation. They harvest cocoa plantation, to make cocoa bean, could be processed to become cocoa butter, or cocoa flake and will end up with cocoa powder. Watan Soppeng produce silk yarn and silk sarong or silk dress.

Mix cocoa powder with milk, make cocoa mix or cocoa tea, drink it at night so you will have happily time at Watan Soppeng, don’t forget to buy Watan Soppeng putu in the morning, this food is different with putu in Jakarta. In Watan Soppeng you may eat putu with chili sauce, while in Jakarta you eat it with palm sugar.

Eat coto Makasar at Watan Soppeng, or eat barangan bananas (this kind of banana only grow in South Sulawesi and Medan North Sumatra)

After you drink water from Ompo Watan Soppeng you always want to come back, it is according to the people believe, Watan Soppeng is magnetic city, amazing. So what are you waiting for, come to Watan Soppeng, sleep at the Watan Soppeng traditional house. Watan Soppeng here I am, I shall return to Watan Soppeng.

Photo:Watan Soppeng city-Watan Soppeng traditional house full of flowers

Photo:Watan Soppeng city-Watan Soppeng traditional house, high rise,wooden floor and wall and cover up with metal sheet.