Where is Sumba located ?

 

The island of Sumba lies towards the eastern end of the Nusa Tenggara chain, which stretches from Bali in the west to Timor in the east. It is relatively small, undeveloped, island about 210 km in length with a population of about 510,000. Sumba lies to the south of Flores and the belt of volcanoes that runs through most of Indonesia. Its soil is based on coral and limestone and is not particularly fertile. The north and east of the island tends to be very dry, while the south and west is much wetter and more fertile. The rainy season lasts from December to March although it tends to be longer in the west and along the south coast. Because of the long dry season in many parts of the island access to water both for drinking and for agriculture is a big problem. Maximum temperatures throughout Sumba are uniformly in the low thirties centigrade although it can be slightly cooler along the central ridge of the low mountains.


For tourism, Sumba is unknown and for some politicians in Jakarta, Sumba is forgotten. They have no idea and information about Sumba. For many years ago, there was no information about Sumba. Often, I experienced some people in Java and from another island in Indonesia didn't know where Sumba located is. Many years in the past, whether the government in Sumba or Jakarta had no idea how to improve or develop Sumba. Sumba has been a forgotten island and it seems there is nothing to attract tourism, politicians and investors come to visit Sumba. If they heard SUMBA, they really confused and presume as SUMBAWA. Sumba has been a part of Nusa Tenggara Timur, the "Southeastern Islands", with its administrative capital in Kupang on the island of Timor. Sumbawa located in Nusa Tenggara Barat (Southwestern Islands), with its administrative capital in Mataram on the island of Lombok.

 

In recent times, the government has greatly improved airport In Tambolaka, Sumba Barat Daya. Mauhau in East Sumba and has been an access to the island and the road network linking administrative capitals of Weetebula (Sumba Barat Daya), Waikabubak (West Sumba), Waibakul (Central Sumba), Waingapu (East Sumba). Sumba has two pearls in Waingapu, East Sumba and Waikelo in Sumba Barat Daya. These pearls, as well as, airports have been a gate from everywhere to enter in Sumba.

Sumba is one of the poorest islands in the Indonesian Archipelago. There are many people are really poor; not enough food and clean water. Live in the simple house. Many children are bad nutrition; affected malaria and infants' mortality are high.

Even though Sumba is a forgotten island but culturally is rich. Most of cultural objects are related to the Marapu religion such as the shape of traditional houses, megalithic tombstones, funerals and Pasola ceremony. Besides culture, Sumba has exotic landscapes pure and nature; ong line cost and white sands beaches surrounding the island.