Later that day, we toured the Mangrove trees in Desa Pasir, I learned about how fast mangroves can grow and nicknamed them the “magic trees”. One mangrove tree can produce oxygen for two humans. So everyday the program works hard to preserve the trees while simultaneously planting new ones, trying to create more land. It was beautiful the way they did not mind the media and attention aspect of the movement, but just to heal the earth. “Humans need nature but nature does not need humans,” a quote by Bang Delly, our tour guide, is what stuck with me the most. We also got to plant one, not only learn about how beneficial these trees are. Even if it is just a tiny thing we did, it can make a huge impact on the environment.
That night we had the honor of attending the Toana Ceremony at the Amantubillah Palace. The walls were covered in portraits and vibrant colors, just like the clothing of the people in the room.
The Toana ceremony was a celebration where new titles were handed out to pass on the duties and their royal relatives. At the beginning before the ceremony started, The introductions were made in each tribe’s local language. It was amazing to see all these different tribes in one room, each with different clothes and customs all working together.
