I was told
that we will be going to a 15th century Somba Opu Fortress of which
I missed checking this out; no reading nor research was done. But the word ‘fort’
excites me, plus the fact that am going on a ride and sightseeing with Makassar’s
travel bloggers add the cherry on top (with cream and all). Somba Opu; the name
sounded very Polynesian, ethnic-ish, and very exotic. I started to imagine all
sort if things. Everything. Getting there, we have to cross a river and later
turn into a waterpark, hemm…. Waterpark next to a fort? Well… well… Guess what,
that’s where we parked our car. I soon realized
(as we walk towards the entrance), this might be a living museum – too my
delight.
Back during
its golden days, the Gowa Sultanate decided to erect this beautiful complex as
a country defense fortress from the Dutch and Portuguese colonialism attack,
social meeting points and a trading centre. The success and wealth of Somba Opu
drives power hungry westerners to own this Nusantara territory. Marking their
win, control and most importantly supremacy. Somba Opu admit defeat to the Dutch
VOC in 16th century and was left unkept, unattended and left to
ruin.
I have a
very high expectation on Somba Opu, however, some part was still under
restoration and the rest looked stressed by the weather. There were a couple of
houses that looks like it is open for public but we gave it a skipped, I saw a
group of students pitching tents (must be school activities of some sort) and
an archaeological museum where artifacts and relics found during excavations of
the fort areas. It is said that Somba Opu is the strongest fortress ever built
the archipelago, with its solid thick red brick walls and bastions guarding
every angle with cannon known to be the most powerful during the time proves
that the fort is impenetrable.
With its fame
days narrated to me while I was there, the sense of pride seen on the locals’
face, I felt that Somba Opu Fortress should be better kept and managed,
information and proper signages placed accordingly, its history video-ed and
aired for the public to see and understand and perhaps seek the locals to act and
relive its beautiful glory day. I truly believe it is worth the effort, dollars
and time for the love of Makassar history, culture and heritage.
Somba Opu
Fortress
Jl.
Cendrawasih, Kab. Gowa
(access road
to Jl. Daeng Tata)
Sulawesi, Makassar
Indonesia
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