Exploring the Toraja region

After a week of bliss on the Togian islands (still need to blog that one, got my SD cards mixed up so will add that part later): off to Toraja country, a cultural island in the middle of South Sulawesi where old traditions still thrive despite a veneer of portestantism and katholicism. It's relatively high up in the mountains so for the first time in 4 weeks I put on my jeans and shoes :D. That was really necessary because there was torrential rain every other day. On the good side: no sweating and no mosquitos :)
Travelling by public transport in Sulawesi is quite a challenge, all in all it took 2,5 days to travel from the Togian islands to Rantepao, a quiet provincial town from where you can explore the countryside, see the rice paddi's, the old graves cut out in the rocks, in caves or just suspended coffins, and the typical architecture for rice barns and the tons of water buffalo horns that are nailed to the houses as a satus symbol.
The ceremonies for the deceased here are famous for the many buffalos that are sacrificed, leaving the ceremonial  ground covered in pools of blood. First time I saw a pig being killed, pretty gory, you won't easily forget those squeals...