Kei, A Paradise for Beach Goers

September 25, 2017

Kei, A Paradise for Beach Goers

Home Sweet Home, Kei Island-October 2016

Honestly, i have heard many wonderful story about Kei Island, Molucca for years. Last year, 2016 when i was assigned to monitor our project in Ambon City and Central Molucca, i decided to pay for a visit to Kei, accompanied by my Father in Law and Husband.

The three of us

I have experience working in some remote area and island before, such as Nias...Kei is more less the same compare to it. But the ticket fare certainly far more expensive. The total cost for flying to jakarta-Ambon-Kei for 2 persons (Father and Hubby) was around 9M IDR. I was lucky enough, that because of my assignment, the office took care the fare from Jakarta-Ambon and Ambon-Jakarta, so i only paid around 2M IDR return flight to Kei from Ambon. For a small island, the airport base is quite wide though and you can find several restaurants here to fill your empty stomach...because the airline only serve breads.

my camera is too foggy to capture the view

When we arrived in Kei, our beloved relatives Auntie Helmi and Uncle Paul. They both run a billiard place, hostel and Uncle Paul is a public transport driver. We did rely on their assistance for our transport in Kei.

In Kei, i got a chance to meet with the Head of Tribal and Head of Village, as part of a tradition in accepting a new family member into their tribe, they took me to a coral cave inside the forest, which is named Dering. They were talking with the ancestor spirits (they called them tete and nene) and introduce both my Hubby and I.

Hubby and I with the Head of Tribal and Head of Village, in behind us is the coral cave

Folklore has a story that our great ancestor whom they believe are still exist and living inside the hidden cave always protect the member of the tribes. They describe the ancestors as Homo Floresiensis, which was found in cave in Flores (see the following reference http://islandbreath.blogspot.co.id/2009/05/hobbits-and-menehunes.html).

Liang Bua Cave that has the similar structure like the one in Kei

They said that if the cave is open, you can meet with these ancestors and they will fulfill your wishes and you will be welcomed by them with a feast. Unfortunately, we did not get that spiritual chance to meet them. Yet, the Head of Tribal and the Head of Village asked us to carry a coral stone from the cave that they say can give us protection.

After we visit the cave, we stayed in our village, Letvuan and went to swim in Hawang Cave... so stock with the view. A bit dark, mysterious cave that you can actually dive in.

The water so fresh..not salty

Afterward, we visited some elderly and chatted with them...i hardly could remember their names...so sorry

People in this village rely their live from harvesting algae or seaweed...they sell it raw instead of cultivating into several other products, such as candy, beauty cosmetic, etc...they should do that, it will rise the price higher compare raw material.

behind me, you can find the seaweed that they dry under the sun

We also visited our Grandpa grave near the house.. do not surprise if you can actually see his corpse..since the grave has an open casket :(

Grandpa Petrus was the older man in this village, he died in his age more than 100 years

Granpa has a house in the city as well, nobodies stay in that house, although it is fully furnished. Our father decided to stay over there a day before we return to Jakarta.