Pulau Semau or Semau island is part of Kupang District in East Nusa Tenggara Province. It can be reached within 30-45 minutes by 15HP-machined boat from Tenau port in Kupang.
Inhabited by 11.756 people from 2 etchnic groups, namely Helong and Rote, Semau is culturally and linguistically diverse. It is also rich in biodiversity. Surrounded by the blue sea, Semau's land is covered by tropical forest and grassland that turns yellow during the drought and blooming after the rain, making it an exotic island.
Unfortunately, as most of small islands, there is no particular progress in term of development. People od Semau are living with poor water resources, low soil nutrients and less of infrastructures.
This is due the assumption and belief that Semau people have strong magical power. Said that the government officials are relactant to be assigned to Semau for fear of witchcraft. Likewise most of people in Kupang, they believe that most of Semau Island's population is mastering witchcraft or known as Suanggi.
But that was not proven to me and my friends. We stayed at the residents house for quite some time. They were so nice, we're treated like their family. The hospitality of the people and strong social ties
have made us fall in love with the island.
I hope to come back to this mystic and exotic Semau Island.