"Nenek moyangku seorang pelaut". Do Sobat Parekraf read the sentence while singing? As it turns out, the fragment of the lyrics to the children's song, Nenek Moyangku, was not just a composition or imagination of the songwriter. Indonesia has a long maritime history. We can see the real evidence from the existence of the phinisi ship.

Phinisi schooners have been around since the 1500s in Indonesia and are often used by Konjo, Bugis, and Mandar sailors from South Sulawesi to transport goods. Previously, this ship was used for trade, and now many phinisi schooners are used as tourist attractions.

Phinisi schooners are very easy to recognize in the water. This characteristic can be seen from the use of 7-8 sails and two main masts on the front and rear of the ship. In addition, this traditional Indonesian sailing ship is also made of wood. Generally, there are four types of wood used to make phinisi boats: ironwood, bitti wood, kandole/punaga wood, and teak wood.

In Indonesia, the construction of the phinisi schooner is in Bulukumba Regency, South Sulawesi, in three villages, to be precise, namely Tana Beru, Bira, and Batu Licin Villages. Still done traditionally, the making of phinisi must be done promptly.

The process of making a phinisi is divided into three stages. The first stage starts with determining the good day and finding wood to make a phinisi ship. Usually, the "good day" of searching for wood falls on the 5th or 7th day of the shipbuilding month. Today's selection symbolizes the sustenance.

The second stage of making a phinisi involves cutting, drying, and chopping wood. They then assemble the wood into every part of the phinisi ship. This second stage takes a long time, even months.

The third stage is launching the phinisi ship into the sea. However, a "maccera lopi'' ceremony is usually held to purify the phinisi ship before launching. The ceremony is marked by the activity of slaughtering a cow or goat. By calculation, if the ship's weight is less than 100 tons, then people will slaughter a goat, whereas if it is above 100 tons, it means slaughtering a cow.

That is why the phinisi shipbuilding process symbolizes its own philosophical value, namely the value of hard work, cooperation, beauty, and respect for nature. Unsurprisingly, the phinisi ship is included in the Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO (2017).

Photo: Illustation of a pinisi ship used for tourism (Shutterstock/Teddy Mardona)

Tour with Phinisi Ship

In the past, phinisi ships were often used by the ancestors of the Indonesian nation, especially the Bugis tribe, for trading. Currently, the phinisi ship is a tourist attraction in various Indonesian tourist destinations, from the Raja Ampat Islands, Labuan Bajo, to the most recent phinisi ship already in Lake Toba, North Sumatra.

As one of the Super Priority Destinations, the largest volcanic lake in the world has fascinating natural beauty. Sobat Parekraf can enjoy the beauty of Lake Toba with a background of green hills by riding the Pinisi Kenzo ship.

As the first phinisi ship on Lake Toba, Pinisi Kenzo has various unique ornaments depicting the Batak people's identity. The easiest to recognize is the "gorga" carving, or Batak Toba specific carving, with several ornaments depicting the 8 regencies or cities around Lake Toba. Pinisi Kenzo ship also has complete facilities. This ship can accommodate up to 11 people, with four bedrooms, indoor and outdoor toilets, and a minibar.

For Sobat Parekraf, who wants to feel a different holiday sensation on Lake Toba, the Pinisi Kenzo ship will start sailing this August, with a tour package visiting 11 destinations around Lake Toba for 3 days and 2 nights. It starts from Parapat and sails to Agadon Beach, Sigapiton Beach, Situmurun Waterfall, Balige, Pondok Berata Dapdap, Pakkodian, Meat Tourism Village, Bakara, Holbung Hill and Sibea-bea.

What do you think, getting more curious about the sensation of a holiday on a phinisi boat, Sob?

Cover: Illustartion of a pinisi ship sailing (Shutterstock/MARIO ANDI SUPRIA)