Odessy Clipper Called at Krui

(LAMPUNG POST/HENDRI ROSADI)

MORE than 100 foreign tourists enjoyed cultural performances and a number of attractions in Lampung Barat, Indonesia, Sunday, Januari 16, 2011. 

The vacationers docked at Port Kuala Stabas, in the town of Krui, Lampung Barat around 07.00 a.m, unboarded the Odessy Clipper cruise ship from United States. 

They were welcomed on the port pier by the sub-district in chief Edi Mukhtar by draping a piece of tapis (traditional cloth) to one of them as a representative. Sitting in an awning shelter on the pier, then they enjoyed watching a welcome dance Bedana (traditional dance) performed by local teens.

As the welcome ceremony over, the tourists took a trip by six buses to Lamban Gedung Palace of Paksi Pak Skala Brak kingdom in Batubrak sub-district (about 60 ks from Krui, past Liwa, the county seat of Lampung Barat district). At the palace, the congregation were welcomed by the princess Dalom Putri Arigina N.F.Z. Pernong, daughter of the King Edwar Syah Pernong, who entitles Sultan Skala Brak yang Dipertuan the 23th. The princess explained the history of the kingdom in a fluent English. “Lamban Gedung Palace, as the center of the kingdom, holds the history of the foundation of the kingdom as well as the historical relics,” she said.

After following the explanation from Dalom Princess, the tourists took a look at the historical relics in the Lamban Gedung Palace, before mingling with the crowds in the palace-yard to watch a traditional dance. 

In the palace. the tourists were enthusiastic at what they saw. They took some pictures of the relics and the traditional cloth (tapis). Then they were taken to a place where civet coffee (kopi luwak) is processed. There, besides watching the process, they also took a sip at this unique kind of coffee. 

At Kopi Luwak. Some tourists tasted the truly unique Civet Coffee
Foto: EDI/RNN/Radar Lampung

Some of them took home the coffee for souvenirs, "I really can see the difference in taste and aroma of ordinary coffee from Luwak coffee," said Richard, a tourist from Australia. 

After that, they drove back downhill to Krui, to Pahmungan village, at the sub-district of Pesisir Tengah. There they watched the attraction of damar tree climbing by locals, man and woman. (Damar tree climbing is what damar farmers do everyday to pick up the damar gum (resins) off the damar trees. You can watch this in Krui everyday.)  

Tuch (64), a tourist from USA, said that he had been to more than one hundred countries, but here he saw something different. "I have been to more than a hundred counties, but here in Lampung Barat, they have their own dictinctive characters,” he said.  

Later, the 103 tourists enjoyed the natural beauty of the South Bukit Barisan National Park that has many varieties of orchids.

Before ending the safari, they were introduced to the culture of cultivation of damar trees in the village of Pahmungan. "This one day visit here is very  impressive and there are a lot of interesting things about the nature and the culture of the people here,” said Christian  a Spanish tourist. 


After a series of enjoyful trip in Krui and around, the yacht left port Kuala Stabas late in the afternoon.  

Source: http://www.lampungpost.com/cetak/berita.php?id=2011011701094314