Practical Information

Things good to remember when you are traveling in Sumatra and Mentawai island !

A. Terms and Condition !

• 1). You have to accept living in the same conditions as the local community in the remote village, sleeping in a very rudimentary comfort style on the floor with a mat (floor mat) with mosquito net this applies nights in the Mentawai jungle.
• 2). Given the conditions of poverty and isolated areas, families that accept us to live and spend time with them, conditions of comfort and cleanliness are more than basic but far from being guaranteed for "western standards". In this case, it's very important and necessary to be able to tolerate this short inconvenience, to be able to enjoy your full stay and overall experience.
• 3). Because Mentawai traditional communities live in remote areas in the jungle forest, access to these communities isn't simple and easy, so the conditions of a trek include quite a lot of muddy terrain, can be slippery and uneven ground (sometimes you have to walk on the log on the muddy ground that Mentawai make and use it as a bridge to access further route).
• 4). Please bare in mind there is no electricity in Mentawai jungle, charge your camera and phone and bring an extra battery.
• 5). The conditions in this trip, during which these stays are carried out sometimes felt like “pain” and to be required for each participant to have:
  • Good mental preparation
  • Great adaptability
  • To be well informed before departure about the culture and ways of life in Mentawai and the jungle. ( the guide will give a little briefing and explain about this before we will start our trip
  • Because the Sumatra area is covered with rainforest and located right on the equator, it has a tropical climate, the weather is hot and humid all year round. The driest season normally starts from May to early September, although there are sporadic rains that may occur during this period. Rains are abundant between November and January. The average temperature is 27 - 33 °C degree in Siberut Island. Be ready for hot, humid, and hasty conditions.

Good things to know during our immersion stay

• 1). Be mentally prepared to rough it out, as many tribes do not have the basic comforts of what Western standards used to.
• 2). Give yourself and themselves time to connect with each other during our stay.
• 3). Be your true self while visiting, show your interest in them, and learn from them.
• 4). Be present throughout the experience, they expect you to enjoy your time with them.
• 5). Please avoid wearing expensive stuff or accessories like watches, necklaces, bracelets, or earrings, so as not to attract the attention of the tribe, they may be tempting and ask you to give to them, so this could be counterproductive and may even harm your relationships with the community.
• 6). Ask for their permission before taking pictures.

Consider spending a few days living with them for an authentic experience.
Don’ts

• 1). DO NOT assume the tribes understand your lifestyle
• 2). DO NOT inflict your lifestyle and comforts on them
• 3). DO NOT Try to make them fit into the outside society (avoid influencing them to any perspective, ideology and other daily comforts that are essential to us)
• 4). DO NOT be judgemental, every tribe has its own customs, so be a good observer

Things to carry

• 1). Small backpack (we can leave some stuff at the previous place we stayed in (hotel/hostel)
• 2). Trekking pants, T-shirt, shorts
• 3). Trekking shoes ( we would recommend rubber trekking boots )
• 4). Dry bag ( to protect your electronic devices, phone, camera, or document )
• 5). Rain clothes/poncho
• 6). Personal Utilities
• 7). Mosquito Spray
• 8). Toilet Paper
• 9). Torch, Suncream & Hat, Socks, Sandals, water shoes
• 10). Water Bottle
• 11). First Aid and all medications that you usually take
• 12). Earplug ( the rooster will wake you up every day at 5 a.m )
• 13). Do not overpack! Keep it simple