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.