We know that Wakatobi is an acronym for four islands in Southeast Sulawesi, namely, Wangi-wangi Island, Kaledupa, Tomia, and Binongko. It is famous for its beautiful underwater scenery and astonishing marine biodiversity. Indeed, Wakatobi is part of the world's coral triangle route. There are six countries included in this "golden triangle" in the world, namely Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia (Wakatobi, Bali, Kalimantan, Lombok, and Papua), Timor Leste, Papua New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands in the Pacific Ocean. We should be proud that Indonesia is included in it, and Wakatobi is right at the heart of this golden coral triangle.

However, when reading the writings in the book "Wakatobi in the Whirlpool of Time: An Anthology," we seem to discover things that have never been mentioned in any narrative. This book contains stories passed down orally, crafted into interesting writings that invite even deeper interest in Wakatobi. These writings fill the voids in our knowledge of Wakatobi and complement the answers to our ignorance of the island's stories.

These stories are compiled as part of the implementation of the GEF SGP Phase 6 program in Wakatobi. Learning about the culture and people of the places where we work is an integral part of the field implementation process. GEF SGP Indonesia Phase 6 has been collaborating with communities in Wakatobi since 2017 until now. Although the implementation of phase 6 is complete, the bonds of storytelling, relationships, and activities will never end.