A couple of weeks ago, Bayu received a phone call from Aman Lepon; he was on his way to Padang. At the end of his time here our friend, the Mentawai Shaman, invited us to join him on the trip back and visit his home on Siberut.
That was the start of what became our teams journey into the heart of Siberut to live among Aman Lepon’s clan for a week…
The Mentawai Fast boat left Padang early on Saturday morning, arriving in Muaro, Siberut, by early afternoon. Aman Lepon has a small house in Muaro where his eldest son stays to be close to his studies, along with his grandmother. This is where we stayed for the first night of our trip before making the four hour journey by boat inland to Aman Lepon’s home, the following day.
Whilst in Muaro, Aman Lepon’s mother showed us how to make fishing nets and also, after a trip into the jungle with Bayu to collect a few necessities, how to prepare and cook sago – the traditional Mentawai staple diet.
Soon it was time for the team to make its way inland on a couple of pompong – small traditional boats, accompanied by Aman Lepon and his two brothers; Aman Gotdai – the youngest Mentawai Shaman, and Aman Karo.
The Mentawai clans each live in communal Uma, with each Uma traditionally being home to one Shaman and his extended family.
Aman Lepon lives with his wife and children in a recently built Uma in Hulu, Butui, a short walk from the family Uma of his father, Aman Lau Lau, where his entire extended family lives.
An unforgettable week was had by our team; we learned a so much about traditional Mentawai culture, and formed a strong friendship with Aman Lepon’s family. Have a look at our video above to see some of the things we got up to..
If you want to make your own journey to Mentawai, why not contact us.
We base our tours on an ethos of authentic and ethical eco-tourism. Our leading concern, alongside your enjoyment and safety, is the well being of the families that we work with, both on Mentwai and beyond. We work with host families to ensure that everybody benefits fairly from your visit, and in this way help to ensure the sustainability of tourism on Siberut.
Jen is an English girl who found herself in Sumatra one day and never went back. A wife, mother, traveler and book worm, she has lived in Padang long enough to speak the language and unearth plenty of useful hints and tips for the weary traveler…
