As it had been so many times on Lewis the Lion’s exciting adventure around the world, he seemed to be in the right place just at the right time. He had accompanied Helen to the nearest cash point, about a 20 minute walk outside of the tourist resort area of Bira Beach when he saw a familiar face. “Salamat pagi!” he nodded towards the young man. It was the driver that had taken him to the dive boat earlier on that day.
Lewis the Lion is taken down a track where the fishermen and boat-builders live
The driver then kindly offered to take Lewis the Lion and Helen to see something rather special. The people of South Sulawesi, near Bulukumba, are famous boat builders: the Bugis boat builders. Lewis the Lion had seen some traditional boat building as the taxi had raced along the coast line on his way to Pantai Bira. Perhaps it was not surprising seeing as this was an island where the marine heritage remained strong. However, what was unique about this particular style of boat building was that they were mainly crafted in wood and were called Phinisi boats.
First of all his new friend drove them along a sandy track running alongside the beach. Lewis the Lion smiled as he looked upon a father and son playing in the water fully clothed while goats sauntered between the beach and the houses on the other side of the track.
Goats rummage for food near the beach
The traditional houses were wooden and surrounded by tall, spindly palm trees and Lewis the Lion passed by a traditional fishermen and boat-builders graveyard. It was very different to what he had experienced in Tana Toraja: a much simpler affair.
A fishermen and boat-builders graveyard
At the bottom of the track was a huge construction site. On approaching it, he saw piles upon piles of quality wood stacked up ready for use: teak, mahogany, oak and pine.
Stacks of wood are laid out ready to be used in the construction of the boat
However, he then cast his eye beyond the stacks of wood where an enormous wooden ship was under construction. Here you can see some photos as Lewis and Helen explored the unfinished boat where they were truly blown away by the scale and craftsmanship of this unique, luxury boat.
Lewis the Lion sees how this enormous wooden boat is being built using traditional methods
Lewis the Lion really does feel small as he stands by the huge hull of the ship
Helen and Lewis the Lion get a chance to see this unfinished boat
Lewis stands on the huge deck as workmen move around him
The ship had been especially commissioned by a Russian tycoon and the cost of such a ship was truly astronomical. Not only was every luxury catered for (there was even a place on board for jacuzzis and a steam room) but Lewis the Lion also thought about how the building of the ship affected the lives of the local boat builders and moreover, what was the impact on the environment after felling so many trees? He struggled with the concept that just because someone was so rich, they could destroy so much of the world’s natural resources? But at the same time, he was conscious of its benefits. After all it was paying the local people a wage, like his friend here. He only hoped that this pleasure boat would last for many centuries to come and provide many more people with jobs in the future.
The view from the deck of the boat as it’s being constructed
As he looked along the beautiful beach, he felt saddened that even on this paradise island there seemed to be so much litter lying around. His boat-builder friend told him that once upon a time, waste was mainly organic and so the goats would eat it but these days, with plastic packaging etc, the rubbish did not disintegrate. Lewis the Lion thought it might be a good idea if there were some sort of publicity campaign to remind people of how they could take care of their environment, like he had seen in countries like New Zealand and Australia. He was aware however that Indonesia was a much poorer country and perhaps the best thing to do would be to educate children in school?
Nonetheless, Lewis the Lion was very grateful to his friend for giving up his time to show him around this wonderful construction site so that he could learn about the tradition of boat building in this area. On the way home, they picked up his friend Marion and the boat-builder then took them to a fantastic vantage point to see the sunset.
Marion with the kind Sulawesi boat-builder
What another amazing learning opportunity had befallen Lewis the Lion on his unique journey. He truly was a very lucky lion!
Lewis the Lion sees a wonderful sunset thanks to one of the Sulawesi boat-builders
Lewis the Lion would like you to design a poster aimed at the children in schools in Sulawesi encouraging them to pick up their litter and to look after their environment.
