Fort Rotterdam

Fort Rotterdam which is known as “Fort Ujung Pandang” is a Historical place which remind us to the greatness of the ancient Kingdoms within South Sulawesi. Kingdom of Gowa was the strongest and the most successful kingdom in this region during 17^th century. Makassar was known as a trading district under their jurisdiction. If it was viewed from the sea at that period, Makassar city was an area which was completely fortified. This Kingdom possessed 7 forts, which protected the city and surrounding area. In the year 1667 when Gowa troops was beaten by the Dutch, all forts except Fort of UjungPandang and Fort of Somba Opu were destroyed. Fort of Somba Opu two years later was totally ruined by The Dutch colony. Fort of Ujung pandang built in 1545 by The King of Gowa X, His Name was I Marigau Bonto Karaeng Lakiung, who was also wellknown as Karaeng Tuni Palangga Ulaweng. The basic design of this fort is square with Portuegese architectural style. It was made of clay. It takes the model of European’s forts during 16^th – 17^th century, with the additional protrusion on each 4 corners, that’s why it looks like “the turtle” if it seen from above. According to some archeologist the turtle represented the philosophy of Gowa Kingdom as the maritime kingdom, and considering this fort as the first line protector where it’s located right at the beach and facing toward the sea.
During The Dutch colonialism, this fort was rebuilt and renamed as Fort Rotterdam. During that period the fort and surrounding area started became the center of Governmental and Commercial activities. During The Japanese Colonialism it’s functioned as the center of agricultural and language studies. At present, the building inside the fort are utilized by the Department of Pre-Historic and Historic Preservation under The Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Cultural center, and including Public Museum. This Museum displays and preserves various historical objects such as, ancient manuscripts, statues, crafts, and traditional clothes together with ethnical objects from most of tribes within South Sulawesi. This fort located at the city center, and can be reached by every public transports.

Behind the name of "Makassar"

Fort Rotterdam - Makassar, view from the entrance

Do you know the city name “Makassar” where it’s came from? There is a holy meaning lying behind that word, according to local folks.
Once in a time, on South Sulawesi land there is a great kingdom known as Kingdom of Gowa, under this kingdom there are afew sub-kingdoms, One of them is Kingdom of Tallo. The story began when The Lord of Tallo Kingdom, King I Malingkaang Daeng Manyonri Karaeng Katangka A.K.A Tuma’bicara Butta Ri Gowa (Kingdom of Gowa spokes man) ( born in 1573) , had a dream for three consecutive days which he was seeing an light, a beautiful light offcourse! illuminated all the Gowa Land and continued spreading over the neighbour lands. At the third night when that light was shining over Gowa territory, Thursday night 22nd September 1605, there is a sailboat landing the beach. It's sail made of turban, weaving hard, and on board there is a man parking his boat and did some odd moves, it looks like he was praying (shalat). As a matter of fact the light that amazed the Lord was came from his body. The Light shocked and amazed all the folks in Tallo land and suddenly became folkstale and finally it heard by The lord.

On The Next Morning The Lord in a rush went to the beach wanting to see that phenomenon, but suddenly intercept by a man wearing white dress with green turban, his face looks greatful, and his body illuminated. The man shaked the Lord hand who was standing still and remain speechless. The man grabbed the Lord’s palm and written some arabic alphabet into. He said “Bring this message to the man who just landed last night at the beach”. The lord got curious and rubbed his eyes to make sure he was not dreaming and this is for real, but at the same time either that man dissapeared from his very eyes, and left no traces. Then The Lord looked on his palm and there was the words truly written, and he was in a hurry went to the beach, once he got to the beach he found a man who was told by the holy man, parking his boat and embraced the Lord. The Lord got trembling, and told the man about his meeting with the holy man at the palace’s gate. “Blessed you My Majesty! This sentence is a syahadat” (the holy and faithful words of Moslem), and the man who met you was Prophet Muhammad S.A.W his self. The Holy Prophet has shown His self in your Land.

This moment is believed by the local folks where the name of “MAKASSAR” came from, which was taken from local language “Akkasaraki Nabiya” it means “The Prophet has shown”. The man who was landed at the beach is Abdul Ma’Mur Khatib Tunggal who was known by Dato’ ri Bandang, originated from Tengah City (Minangkabau, West Sumatra). After that meeting The Lord Of Tallo became Moslem and called as Sultan Abdullah Awaluddin Awawul Islam Karaeng Tallo Tumenanga ri Agamana. He is the first Moslem King in South Sulawesi. So , “Makassar” means The appearance of The Holy Prophet Muhammad S.A.W, in that land, until now that land called as Makassar.

Makassar Traditional Cuisine

Makassar is also known by it’s traditional cuisine, which are inherited from local ancestors (at least that what most of citizen admitted). You can easily find these food around the city. Makassar Citizen said that If you come to Makassar it isn’t complete if you not taste these food, because it’s also a part of Makassar itself. It’s also a part of the culture. So here are some of them:

COTO MAKASSAR (Meat Soup)

This unique cuisine made from meat (cow or horse) curry and mixed with red and white onion, is very delicious cuisine and most of people who come to makassar would taste this traditional food. Honestly, this is not a healthy food after all, but anyway for the sake of taste! I’m really recommend you to try this food, cause you might not have any chance to get this kind of taste in other places but makassar.

Sop Konro (Ribs Soup)

This traditional cuisine made of ribs (ox or bull), and it’s boiled (sometimes it’s roasted) together with the recipes which are consist of white onion, red onion, coconut fibre, vegetables oil. It’s presented with rice and Traditional sauces made of chili. It’s also tasteful cuisine you might not forget (if you ever try offcourse!)

Pisang Epe (Roasted Banana)

Traditional cuisine that made of young banana which is roasted and pressed. After that it’s poured with melted brown sugar (sometimes mixed with durian aor jackfruit). When It’s still “fresh from the oven”, it’s quite aromatic that’s why I’m also recommend you this food.

Besides all of that, there are still plenty variety of food you should try if you have a chance to visit Makassar...but i'm afraid i'm going to make my self starve here just write them all, any way I love traditional food (altough it's not 100% healthy) but it's deserve to try.....

Makassar Volkswagen Club (MVWC)

Makassar Volkswagen Club is a local automotive community which founded In Makassar on 29th April 1996 by Mr. Sultan Wahid A former police officer who has a hobby on collecting Volkswagen classic cars and he was dreaming to restore all the Volkswagen Classic cars within Makassar, and that is one of the reason what this club made for, besides to build strong relationship within the member so called “brotherhood”. This club has already became official member of Volkswagen Indonesia Association, The National Association of Volkswagen Enthusiast from Indonesia.

Today Mr. Sultan Wahid has became a member of Makassar Volkswagen Club Board of Councellor since 2005 and the Chief went to Mr. Mubyl Handaling, based on the Decree which made on biannual summit on 2005, followed by 2007 until 2009. Until now the members MVWC has already been 40 active members consist of type I, Type II, Type III, Thing 181 and some of Special Type. This Club has joined many event held by The Volkswagen Indonesia Association, Most of those event are National Jamboree, this Club always awarded the farest participant. But the most important thing is, MVWC has proved to the public especially to the Volkswagen Enthusiast in the whole Indonesia, that Makassar also has local asset of Volkswagen classic, and most of all it can be performed in national level event.

as a participant in National jamboree, Bandung 16 -17 November 2006

If you want to join or see this club, just walk around to The Fort Rotterdam Parking Area each Sunday afternoon (about 5 – 8 PM). You can see members gathering, the atmosphere is so cool, which indicated by the hospitality among these members and no one feel exiled in this gathering. This fort was built by the Netherland’s Colonial in order to defend Makassar their colony from it’s aggressor at that time. MVWC choosed this place because it’s history. The classic Volkswagen means history also that fort means history…. The history which can never die…OLD VOLKSWAGEN NEVER DIE…

Preview of Makassar

Makassar city is the capital of South Sulawesi Province – INDONESIA, and most of indonesian called as “The Gate of Eastern Indonesia”. Makassar is Located between 119º24'17'38” East Longitude and 5º8'6'19” South Latitude. This Regency bounded by Maros Regency at the North Side, Maros Regency at the East Side, Gowa Regency at the south Side, and Makassar Strait at the West Side. The area of Makassar is 175,77 square km which include 14 district. Total population of Makassar in the 2006 year is 1.223.540 people; 611.049 males and 612.491 females. In the meantime total population of Makassar in the 2005 year is 1.193.434 people.
As a “gate of eastern Indonesia” Makassar is occupied by many tribes from anywhere in Indonesia, particularly the tribes from eastern part of Indonesia. But it dominated by 4 tribes which originated from South Sulawesi consist of : Makassarnese, Buginese, Torajanese, Mandarnese. It followed by Javanese and Chinese.