Making the most of Pare Pare Sulawesi
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Public transport is available at the port or terminal, with shuttle buses arranged by tour operators.
This small coastal town starts an exciting journey into Toraja country, known for its unusual death cult. Jewelled sarcophagi stand upright in rock-cut tombs, watched over by tau tau, carved figures representing the dead. Alternatively, take a country and people trip to discover Bugis boatbuilding art.
Bring a printable map.
Sulawesi is one of Indonesia's biggest islands and the world's eleventh-largest, covering 174,600 km². Borneo lies west, the Philippines north, Maluku east, and Flores and Timor south. Four large peninsulas give the island its distinctive shape, while rugged central mountains have traditionally kept the peninsulas remote from one another. It is better linked by sea than road, and Sulawesi people are celebrated for diverse arts, including pottery and weaving, and dedication to varied artistic abilities…
Getting around
This small coastal town is the departure point for Toraja country, renowned for an unusual death cult: jewelled sarcophagi stand upright in rock-cut tombs and tau tau, carved representations of the dead, watch over them. A country and people excursion is an alternative route into Bugis boatbuilding art.
Food and shopping
Eating with the hand, instead of forks and spoons, is common in Indonesia. Use four fingers to form a small rice ball, dip it into sauce and push it into your mouth with the thumb. The key etiquette rule is to use only the right hand, because the left is used for bathroom cleaning. Do not put either hand into shared dishes; instead use the left hand to serve yourself with utensils, then eat. Wash hands thoroughly before and after meals. In some places, eating by hand is frowned on…
Money
ATMs are common in Indonesia's major cities.
Use credit cards with care: cloning and fraud are major Indonesian problems. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted, while American Express may be difficult. Smaller businesses often add a 2-5% surcharge over cash.
Staying connected
Indonesian, or Bahasa Indonesia, is the sole official language.
Internet prices vary greatly and generally reflect what you pay, but expect around Rp 5,000 per hour. Large cities have free hotspots in some shopping malls, McDonald restaurants and Starbucks cafés; some hotel lobbies also have free hotspots.
The mobile-phone emergency number is 112.