Sarang is the name of a small island in Kelurahan (administrative village) Sekanak Raya, Belakang Padang sub-district, Batam city, administratively. Sarang island is located in the border of international waters, facing Singapore directly. In the 1960–19801, this island along with other area nearby is coastal area with fairly complete ecosystem and in a good natural condition. Mangrove, sea grass, and coral reef create marine ecosystem that are able to support the main livelihood of the local people. Most of the people live as fshermen. The condition of good marine ecosystem is proven to infuence people’s livelihood. They don’t have to...

WRITING stories from the corners of Indonesia, rich with diverse culture, is not simple. Challenges are many. The process is cumbersome and tiring. Anyone interested in writing about any place in Indonesia should first travel far. He or she should spend time to talk and enjoy a few laughter with the local people. He or she should listen to their experience. He or she should capture the struggle and their bitterness of life. He or she should feel the surrounding nature. Then, of course, the stories should be shared narratively, as we enjoy a movie or listen to a storyteller...

MENULIS cerita sudut-sudut wilayah Indonesia yang kaya budaya dan beragam kepada khalayak bukan perkara gampang. Tantangannya tidak sedikit. Prosesnya tentu panjang, dan melelahkan. Seseorang yang berniat menulis tentang sebuah tempat di Indonesia, setidaknya mesti melakukan perjalanan. Berbincang dan tertawa bersama masyarakat di sana. Mendengarkan pengalaman warga. Menangkap perjuangan dan kepahitan hidup. Merasakan alam lingkungan di sekelilingnya. Lalu, tentu saja, menuliskannya dengan gaya bercerita. Mengalur seperti menyaksikan film. Mengalir seperti Anda mendengar penutur dongeng. Lantas, apa jadinya jika itu dilakukan oleh kaum muda yang disebut-sebut sebagai generasi milenial? Ada pihak yang meragukan kemampuan anak-anak milenial ini. Yang sejak kanak-kanak sudah terbiasa...

Pakaian ternyata berkaitan dengan sejarah kehidupan suatu suku bangsa. Asal mula pakaian tak lepas dari situasi ekologis dan geografis dimana mereka tinggal. Itulah sebabnya pakaian tradisional lekat dengan politik dan kekuasaan. Dipulau-pulau kecil seperti Flores, Adonara, Lembata, Timor, Sumba, Sabu, Rote, dan lusinan pulau-pulau kecil lainnya, tenun menjadi bahan dasar pakaian. Tak hanya itu, tenun juga dipakai dan digunakan untuk berbagai upacara tradisional seperti kelahiran, pernikahan, pemakaman, mendirikan rumah, berdoa untuk kesuburan, dan selamatan saat panen (Pollock, 2012). Di Mollo, Kabupaten TTS, tenun juga dipakai sebagai ucapan terima kasih secara umum atas pertolongan seseorang, bahkan juga sebagai penanda penyelesaian sebuah...

Clothing and the history of a nation are one and the same. Its introduction is inseparable from ecological and geographic influences. For this reason traditional clothing can bespeak politics and power. On the small islands of Flores, Adonara, Lembata, Timor, Sumba, Savu, Rote, and a myriad others, weaving has become the main, worn fabric. Meanwhile, woven fabric is still used for traditional ceremonies, births, weddings, funerals, housewarmings, fertility prayers, and mid-harvest festivals (Pollock, 2012). In the TTS Regency of Mollo, woven fabric is worn as a public display of gratitude for assistance given by others, or when an agreement has...