Well this was a very different way to spend New Years Eve.
I had heard about the ‘water village’ and I wanted to see it! Today! It didn’t matter that storms had prevented ships from sailing, it didn’t matter that some of the fishermen, who fished the lake, were coming home– I wanted to visit the ‘water people’ while I had the opportunity.
All I needed was the transport and a fisherman to drive it.
Cruising the banks of the river (in a boat I could barely fit it) through the city of Sengkang, it was obvious that water was an integral aspect of their lives as the ‘river people’ were attending their morning toiletries.
LAKE TEMPE is huge! And yes there are people who live their entire lives on water. The homes, which are made from bamboo poles, thatching and anything that can be used as walls, roofs etc., are tethered by a single pole.
Due to the storm rising, we had to take refuge in one of the homes. We decided to take refuge in the house that was the water village ‘warung’.
It is a very isolated life, with children attending school until year 6. Their lives are then very limited, with many marrying into the fishing fraternity and continuing their lives on the water.
I felt very claustrophobic after several hours in the house on the water.
Well this was a very different way to spend New Years Eve.
I had heard about the ‘water village’ and I wanted to see it! Today! It didn’t matter that storms had prevented ships from sailing, it didn’t matter that some of the fishermen, who fished the lake, were coming home– I wanted to visit the ‘water people’ while I had the opportunity.
All I needed was the transport and a fisherman to drive it.
Cruising the banks of the river (in a boat I could barely fit it) through the city of Sengkang, it was obvious that water was an integral aspect of their lives as the ‘river people’ were attending their morning toiletries.
LAKE TEMPE is huge! And yes there are people who live their entire lives on water. The homes, which are made from bamboo poles, thatching and anything that can be used as walls, roofs etc., are tethered by a single pole.
Due to the storm rising, we had to take refuge in one of the homes. We decided to take refuge in the house that was the water village ‘warung’.
It is a very isolated life, with children attending school until year 6. Their lives are then very limited, with many marrying into the fishing fraternity and continuing their lives on the water.
I felt very claustrophobic after several hours in the house on the water.