Nusa Kenari, beautiful and captivating

Nusa Kenari, beautiful and captivating

Yemris Fontuina, Contributor, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara

Alor, one of 14 regencies in East Nusa Tenggara, is widely
known to boast abundant natural resources. The regency,
consisting of 15 small islets, is intimately called Nusa Kenari.

Nine of its islets are inhabited by Abui, Alor, Belagar,
Deing, Kebola, Kawel, Kelong, Kemang, Kramang, Kui, Lemma,
Maneta, Mauta, Seboda, Wersin and Wuwuli tribes characterized by
their own unique customs, cultures and vernacular styles.

These tribes speak at least 13 different dialects such as
Alor, Lemma, Kafoa, Abui, Tewa, Blagar, Woisiki, Kabola, Kolana,
Kui, Kolona, Tulangpui and Kiraman.

Some 160,000 people live in the area and about 74.16 percent
of the population is Protestant, 22.40 percent are Muslim and the
rest are Catholic, Hindu or animist.

Most of the islands in this regency have steep, lush green
hills where flora that have potential economic value such as
candle nuts, coffee, vanilla, almond, cocoa and clove trees grow.

This regency is also rich in natural resources like black
rocks, kaolin, quartz, pumice stones, tin, iron ore, gold and
scenic white sandy beaches.

Nusa Kenari possesses great marine wealth ranging from sea
weed, coral reefs to beautiful sea beds with a wide variety of
sea fauna, including Napoleon fish.

Despite differences in their culture and faiths, the people
there are relatively tolerant, respecting each other's beliefs
based on brotherhood and fraternity concepts which have been
handed down from generation to generation and locally known as
Bela Baja or a vow of brotherhood. Nusa Kenari is indeed gorgeous
and captivating.

As is the case in other places under the sun, Nusa Kenari has
its own natural and mystical uniqueness and wonder, a reflection
of the legends prevailing among the people there.

About some 35 kilometers away from Kalabahi, the capital town
of Alor regency, or an hour's drive by car, you can find Tuti
Springs.

Locals believe that the springs were originally two lovers.

A legend prevailing among the people of Bukapiting village,
North-East Alor district says that once in a dry season a village
girl called Aribe, hailing from Maremang village, was making love
with Salbe, a young man from Bukapiting village, in a cave and
got trapped there.

This love relationship was not approved by their fellow
villagers. So, when Aribe and Salbe were making love, the
villagers blocked the entrance to the cave.

Aribe and Salbe tried hard to escape, but to no avail. They
finally died of oxygen deficiency. Their dead bodies exploded,
creating two springs of hot and cold water in the area.

Located at the top of a hill and covered with green foliage
with captivating postcard natural beauty, Tuti Springs is a home
to many animals like deer, boars, parrots, cockatoos, snakes and
porcupines. You can play with them as they peacefully co-exist
with the locals living around the springs.

What is also unique - or mystical? - about these springs is
that despite their location of some three kilometers from the
coast, they can generate salt with a high level of iodine
content. The water spurting from these springs, is accompanied by
a booming sound, and is very nice to look at.

In a recent interview with The Jakarta Post, Zet Tanti,
Bukapiting village chief, said that Tuti Springs could produce a
large quantity of salt with a high level of iodine content. When
the dry season comes, people from other areas of Alor island will
come to these springs just to get the salt.

Besides, many people come to the cold spring as it is said
that the water can cure various ailments such as flatulence,
asthma and a liver disease.

Meanwhile, people flock to the hot spring as the water is also
said heal to skin diseases. Visitors also take eggs, bananas and
edible tubers to the hot springs and put them into the hot water
then eat them.

Locals from Bukapiting and Maremang, however, refrain from
taking any of the salt from Tuti hot springs as they believe if
they eat this salt they will court disaster or get a deadly
disease.