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ᨀᨚᨈ ᨆᨀᨔᨑ
Makassar
So, best of Makassar? What even comes to mind when you hear Makassar? South Sulawesi? That weird-looking mosque? Anything else? I doubt it. No disrespect but total disrespect. I hate you! Get smarter! Now!
No, but that award winning hook suggests that Makassar is not a very well-known city internationally. Ooh, watch that curtain pull back!
Frankly, Makassar doesn’t have much of an image outside, even among the scattered metropolises of Indonesia. I flew into it on my trip to Sulawesi without knowing exactly what to expect. But you’ll be glad to know I discovered the city actually has several amazing hidden gems. That’s right! I DISCOVERED WHAT THEY WERE! NOBODY ELSE! ME! WORSHIP ME!
So if you are in Makassar on a layover or trapped within a limited time frame, let’s dive into the three places that ought to be at the top of ye old list!
Satu
Fort Rotterdam
Are you a fan of colonialism? Don’t actually answer that. Just know that this structure dates back to the Dutch colonial period of Indonesian history. We’re talking 1600s to be specific and the colonial style showcases the flare of the age. It’s simple color pallette makes it easy to breeze through yet not overwhelming. Additionally, against the rest of the incredibly modern city, it stands out like a sore thumb that I guess has feet or something to make it stand…
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So, Fort Rotterdam emerged over what was a local fort of the Dowa Sultanate. Its life dream was to defend Makassar against Dutch encroachment. However, encroachers gonna encroach as they say and so the Dutch won the fort and redesigned it to something akin to the shape it has today. Of course, it has seen numerous periods of remodeling though. This is something you can observe in the petite yet enduringly fascinating museum inside one of the side buildings. It focuses mainly on naval history and seafaring. Indeed, you can see local Buginese and Makassarese shipbuilding techniques as well as the later Dutch and Japanese additions to the city’s tradition. They both occupied Makassar. See everyone wanted to be there! You should too!
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I visited Fort Rotterdam in July 2021, during the Height of Covid, especially in Indonesia at the time. Accordingly, they told us access denied upon entry attempt. Thankfully, as in many places, a quick bribe opened it back up. RIP Benjamin Franklin and then they let ya boi and my Torajan friend enter. It actually has nothing to do with Ben Franklin. We paid in rupiah. Rupi-duh! Also, my friend bribed them by the way. Not me. I am an upstanding gent. That’s why I can never sit down. Regardless, I found the revelations of traditional cultures and shipbuilding traditions, naval technology, and fishing more fascinating than you know, the Dutch doing Dutch things. Still, both partners supported each other like players in a healthy relationship should… Moving on!
Dua
Samalona Island and Smaller Islands
There’s a bunch of small islands accessible directly off the coast of Makassar. It’s Indonesia after all, don’t you forget. Islands are their specialty. When on the waterfront area of Makassar there are plenty of cheap boats offering rides to the various islands including the one I took which ended up taking us to three islands. The primary destination became secluded Samalona Island. It shimmered in the Summer sun with bright clear water filled with little fish and coral. It was such a relaxing vibe to sit back on the hot sand and sip coconut milk as umbrellas hung overhead.
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One of the best things to do on Samalona Island is to spend the day snorkeling. Equipment is easily provided at the beach’s tiny little base camp and you really just float about the water without a care in the world. This is partially because of the life jackets we wear and partially due to the shallowness of the water. However, this is actually a huge draw as it feels like you get an up close and personal look at all the wildlife found in the surrounding waters without the risks attached to swimming out too far or risking breathing in the open ocean. And I mean risk. Indonesia got some crazy critters in the ocean sometimes! So best be careful!
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The day I went, we spent the bulk of the time at Samalona Island, enjoying a day snorkeling in the sun. On the way back to Makassar proper, the boat stopped at a long, narrow island where we enjoyed an exuberant sunset. Additionally, this setting provided sunbaked images of the city’s skyline, imprinted into the heavens. Upon returning to port, the police accosted us and brought us in for questioning. Naturally, my Americanness morphed into a double edged sword. I was unable to understand what was going on or explain myself. On the other hand, they couldn’t truthfully interrogate me. In the end, they thankfully let us go snorkeling another day. Apparently, there had been cases of local criminals escaping authorities via Makassar’s surrounding islands, which explained the precautionary stance. Still, moments like these are always nervewracking. They show the benefits of having local homies to help you out.
Tiga
Makassar Waterfront
Focusing mainly on Jalan Penghibur, Somba Opu St and down to Jalan Metro Tj. Bunga, the waterfront area of Makassar holds a lot of value in a surprising amount of space. I didn’t expect to see much there besides the iconic and uniquely structured 99 Domes Mosque across the water. However, I found the area filled to the brim with appealing entrees. Not only were there inviting beaches but also restaurants, fancy dining or street stalls. There were art galleries, skate parks, and monuments to the city’s history and culture.
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Most impressive in my view were the numerous monuments to Sulawesi itself. Framed to represent the big three ethnic groups of Southern Sulawesi; the Bugis, Makassarese, and Toraja, historical details and imagery highlighted each group’s unique role in the island’s story. With the added benefit of long rows of palm trees on the waterfront’s inner bend, you never succumb to the horrors of Indonesian heat as in other places in the country.
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I remember seizing the ocean views guaranteed us from Makasssar’s waterfront to take some of the richest photos of my trip. When sunset hit, the whole realm illuminated differently, emitting a supernatural alien glow that seemed undeserving of human eyes. While grand and walkable, the area kept me guessing, revealing little corners of wonder, like the aforementioned art galleries. And Walter White was in the art gallery! Who would’ve seen that coming!? RIP Gus though.
If you’ve got a few hours to spare…
Rammang Rammang
Rammang Rammang is the premier geological, geographic, geo-sexy attraction from Makassar. You can reach it in like an hour and a half on one of Indonesia’s trademark mopeds. Once you do, you’ll feel as if you’ve immediately entered another world.
Rammang Rammang offers boat rides going through narrow crevices and swamplands, down canneering valleys until you walk your way through enormous rice paddies. Conversely, the area seems to rise out of the earth with huge limestone (I guess it’s limestone. Don’t come here for geology curr!) mountains and cliffs zigzagging through the environment, almost closing venturers in if they… venture in!
It’s unfortunate Rammang Rammang isn’t directly in Makassar as it would easily top this list. No one can match its beauty. No plastic surgery’s required to dust off this natural goddess either. Upon visiting the landscape, with Indonesia being my first Asian country, I thought of characteristic journeys down the Mekong River in Vietnam. Images of Apocalypse Now implanted themselves in my head, creating a strong vibe of momentary surrealism. Luckily, these images were all landscape based and featured no extreme violence.
I highly recommend you visit Rammang Rammang if you either finish all the other suggested topics, decide to stay longer in Makassar or would prefer to use your limited time out in nature. Even if you’re stretched for time, the spectacle of Rammang Rammang alone deserves your consideration!
In Conclusion
Post done! Oh what fun! Anyways, this is a new little series Imma do, unless I don’t, about cities that either doesn’t require a long time or cities you may just happen to visit for a short period of time, such as a weekend or week beginning, making sure whatever introduction you get into the city in question won’t be a weak beginning!
I never imagined Makassar to have a special place in my heart. Like many other cities, it’s hard to convey because much of my fun came from socializing there as I didn’t visit one of these spots alone for once. However, who wants to read about me making friends and shit? That’s not what hard boys do! Let’s simp over architecture instead! Or whatever we do here! Now, do what you do here and leave a comment! And then comment which post you’ll read next! Guarantee it’s in contention for the best! (I had my fingers crossed when I wrote that btw)
