After berthing around Losari Beach, Makassar, South Sulawesi on Sunday (4/10), along with the Spice Routes Program, Arka Kinari crews continued their journey to Fort Rotterdam. The locals welcomed them with two traditional dances: Angngaru and Pakanjara dances.
They continued the welcoming procession of the nine sailors who have sailed through the Spice Routes points of Nusantara to the hall of Fort Rotterdam. Denny Irawan Saardi, the Head of the Department of Culture and Tourism of South Sulawesi, briefly explained the history of Makassar as the largest spice trade port in the eastern part of Indonesia before the Arka Kinari crews continued their journey to trace the history of Makassar.
They then took the Arka Kinari crews to the Spice Routes Exhibition, initiated by the Cultural Heritage Conservation Center of South Sulawesi Province in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Culture. Taking place in the Building J of Fort Rotterdam, the visitors could see the historical evidence of Makassar as the spice trade port in the past. They also got the chance to see the spices traded in Fort Rotterdam and taste the traditional cuisine of South Sulawesi, made with spices, such as Bolu Rempah [Spice Sponge], Bubur Kacang Rempah [Spice Nut Porridge], and Sarabba.
After the exhibition finished at 3 p.m. Central Indonesian Time, they continued the welcoming event in the evening with art performances by artists and maestros of South Sulawesi. The field by the west Building P was transformed into a stage for the art performance, which started at 7 p.m. Indonesian Central Time.
There were three traditional performances of South Sulawesi in the evening; Kelong-kelong tu Riolo, Pakkacaping, and Sinrilik Kesok-Kesok, and closed with the music performance by Arka Kinari crews, Nova Ruth and Grey Filastine. Before closing the performance, Nova told a story about their journey of tracing the spice routes points of Nusantara. She also reminded the audience that through the Spice Routes Program, we can open our eyes to the treasure we own, that we can exploit our country without doing any harm and destruction.
