Riung Places of Interest
17 islands of Riung with these prominent islets:
Kampung Riung: or Riung Lama, it is the settlement of people native to Riung ethnic. There are old mosque and Church built during the last years of Dutch occupation. Kubur Keramat is located here in Kampung Riung. Kubur Keramat means the sacreed tomb. It is believed the person who buried here was a man who has supernatural power. He could be dead in one village but met alive in neighbor villages. The traditional weaving of Riung also can be seen here.
Oting / Bekek: traditonal Riung weaving can be found here. There are groups of women in Oting village who weave local sarong daily except during rainy season. It is the only place in Riung where people practice Traditional Boxing anually. The traditional boxing festival normally held during dry season (July to September). The biggest Mbela festival is held on Wednesday and Thursday in the first or second week of July.
Tanjung Limabelas: it is the best place to have a kind of aerial view over the 17 islands off shore of Riung. Actually locals count there are only 15 islands in the Nature Conservation Park of Riung but local government prefer to name it 17 islands just to be similar number of the date of Independence of Indonesia which is on 17 August.
Watu Zape: it is one of the best place for the sunrise and also sunset. From here one can have a hill view offer the islands off shore. The place is located between Riung and Mbarungkeli village.
Rodang Puni: it is the highest waterfall in Riung located next to Munting village. The access to the waterfall is still difficult, needs hard effort to be there.
Marotauk: the main activity of women in the village is weaving traditional Riung sarong. The repeated sound produced by backstrap loom weaving is commonly heared in the village. Sarongs for sale is easily found here.
Memak: it is located on the river between Mbarungkeli and Ria. There are two giant trees of Kenari (produces kenari nut) where hundreds of colony of bees nesting. Local people normally harvest honey here at the early of dry season (April - May). The animist ritual is needed before harvesting the honey or some people might found cut in pieces thrown from the tree branches at the night of harvest.
- Rutong: white sand beach and beautiful coral garden, good for swimming and snorkeling. Local government built some shade huts here. It is normally very crowded during holiday season.
- Pulo Tiga or Nenggel: next to Rutong, the name comes from the three hills which forms the landscape of the island. The island has beautiful white sand beaches and corals. Those who want to enjoy beach and crystal clear water without being bother by crowds, it is better to visit this island.
- Rempas or Ontoloe: it is the biggest island in Riung Nature Conservation Park. The island welknown for its fruit eating bats and mangrove forest. There are places with white sand beaches and beautiful coral garden.
- Wire: the island is just 1 km from the beach of Oting village. The island has white sand beaches, mangrove forest and beautiful corals. The Bajo people used to settle in the island until 1970's before the local government move them to the main land of Flores.
- Taor: it has flat top with white sand beach, rarely visited by locals
- Nunsa Watu: next to Oting village, there is no white sand beach but beautiful coral garden
- Nunsa Sui: no white sand beach but coral garden
- Pulo Pata: just next to Riung Harbor used to be the settlement of people from South Sulawesi until 1970's before the local government move the to the main island of Flores.
Kampung Riung: or Riung Lama, it is the settlement of people native to Riung ethnic. There are old mosque and Church built during the last years of Dutch occupation. Kubur Keramat is located here in Kampung Riung. Kubur Keramat means the sacreed tomb. It is believed the person who buried here was a man who has supernatural power. He could be dead in one village but met alive in neighbor villages. The traditional weaving of Riung also can be seen here.
Oting / Bekek: traditonal Riung weaving can be found here. There are groups of women in Oting village who weave local sarong daily except during rainy season. It is the only place in Riung where people practice Traditional Boxing anually. The traditional boxing festival normally held during dry season (July to September). The biggest Mbela festival is held on Wednesday and Thursday in the first or second week of July.
Tanjung Limabelas: it is the best place to have a kind of aerial view over the 17 islands off shore of Riung. Actually locals count there are only 15 islands in the Nature Conservation Park of Riung but local government prefer to name it 17 islands just to be similar number of the date of Independence of Indonesia which is on 17 August.
Watu Zape: it is one of the best place for the sunrise and also sunset. From here one can have a hill view offer the islands off shore. The place is located between Riung and Mbarungkeli village.
Rodang Puni: it is the highest waterfall in Riung located next to Munting village. The access to the waterfall is still difficult, needs hard effort to be there.
Marotauk: the main activity of women in the village is weaving traditional Riung sarong. The repeated sound produced by backstrap loom weaving is commonly heared in the village. Sarongs for sale is easily found here.
Memak: it is located on the river between Mbarungkeli and Ria. There are two giant trees of Kenari (produces kenari nut) where hundreds of colony of bees nesting. Local people normally harvest honey here at the early of dry season (April - May). The animist ritual is needed before harvesting the honey or some people might found cut in pieces thrown from the tree branches at the night of harvest.