Peppered around the Flores Archipelago in Indonesia are a number of villages where Ikat Textile weaving is part of everyday village life, and most easily seen by crewed yacht charter.  These are villages at the base of volcanoes on various islands where every day life is as it has been for centuries.  Without regular ferry systems, these villages are best visited by crewed yacht charter. 

Visit Watublapi Village on crewed yacht charter in the Flores Archipelago in Indonesia to see firsthand a fabulous demonstration of Ikat Textile weaving by the villagers of Watublapi, wearing their village Ikat designs captured here in this pictorial review. This is an extraordinary chance to see an age old weaving tradition, done by hand on hand made looms, in villages rarely visited except by crewed charter yachts. 

Boarding the 164’ sailing Phinisi charter yacht Silolona is a warm welcoming experience for a start to every on board yacht charter cruise.  Step on board and be greeted with a cooling lemon grass scented wash cloth to wash away the travel heat and be refreshed with a tall cool glass of fresh fruit juice, while you settle in on deck for a welcome from your crew.  On your arrival for your yacht charter cruise all of the crew gather on deck to be introduced to you to start your yacht charter cruise with traditional Indonesian music and songs, for a great kick off for a terrific yacht charter experience on board the sailing Phinisi charter yacht Silolona.

Crewed charter sailing Phinisi Silolona under sail

Centuries ago, the precursor to the Indonesian Phinisi sailing ship, of which the crewed charter yacht Silolona chartering now in the waters of Indonesia, is a distant relative, plied the waters of the Malay Archipelago or “Spice Islands” including the Banda Islands and Timor Island, laden with spices.  Along the spice trading routes the people from this area sailed as far and wide as China and the Middle East trading exotic spices such as cloves and nutmegs for exotic goods such as gold, silver, china, feathers and beads.  Sailing along this ancient trading route from the Spice Islands to China and the Middle East brought vessels right past the southern end of Sulawesi Island, where boat building grew up as an industry that is still in practice today.  The crewed sailing charter yacht Silolona available for charter in Indonesia, Myanmar and Andaman, including through the fabled Spice Islands was built on the southern coast of Sulawesi by the Konjo Boat Builders who have been building boats in this area on the beaches for centuries.   

Konjo Boat Builder Nasir on board Silolona

The Mandar and Makassarese people in Sulawesi around Makassar along with the Konjo and Bugis people in Bulukumba, an area of southern Sulawesi, are the fabled groups of boat builders that through the centuries and today have built the Phinisi vessel and are the main builders of the various Phinisis being built in the “yards” on the beaches in the southern part of this island. The modern Phinisi design evolved through centuries of boat building through various influences.  Dutch traders that came to the area in the 16^th century introduced the fore and aft sail for a schooner or ketch rig that was quickly adapted to establish the Phinisi rigging design that is still in use today.  Many of the Phinisis are still being built by hand within exacting requirements passed down from father to son, and also within exacting rituals and ceremonies for vessel spiritual health. 

Squared stern of Silolona, a Lamba Phinisi

The word Phinisi refers to the gaff type of rigging found on this typical Indonesian style vessel as adapted from the European Traders.  A Palaci Phinisi is a vessel that has been built with a rounded canoe stern and is an older design.  A Lamba Phinisi is a vessel that has been built with a squared stern at a strong raked angle to the keel and is the most familiar design found today. 

The crewed sailing charter yacht Silolona is a Lamba Phinisi, built by the Konjo Boat Builders from the villages of the Bulukumba area including Bira, Ara, and Tanah Biru. While not classed, Silolona was designed by Kasten Marine and was built to Germanischer Lloyds Rules for Wooden Vessel Structure, and all hardwoods were fastened with galvanized fasteners.  This puts the crewed charter yacht Silolona, in the opinion of Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters, a step above the traditional Phinisi and we would view Silolona as a yacht built with Phinisi styling.

Silolona is built with an ironwood keel, with various mahogany and teak woods and finishes used throughout the hull and interior.  Where the cargo might be carried on a traditional Phinisi, Silolona is outfitted with 5 luxury guest staterooms, each with at least a double bed and single side bed that can double as a settee and an ensuite bathroom.  The crewed charter sailing yacht Silolona, built within the traditional Indonesian Phinisi styling is a great choice for a luxury yacht charter through the beautiful waters of Indonesia, Myanmar and the Andaman Islands.      

 Guest Stateroom on board Silolona

The crewed sailing charter yacht Silolona is a Lamba Phinisi, built by the Konjo Boat Builders mainly out of the village of the villages of the southern peninsula of Bira, Ara, and Tanah Biru and is built of ironwood, and various mahogany and teak woods and finishes. While not classed, Silolona was designed by Kasten Marine and was built to Germanischer Lloyds Rules for Wooden Vessel Structure, and all hardwoods were fastened with galvanized fasteners. This gives Silolona a bit of a step above the traditional Phinisi to be more like a yacht with a Phinisi styling.

Ikat Textile Weaving, dye colors and the sources

Visiting the textile villages of Eastern Flores Indonesia is really best done by crewed yacht charter, as there is only a small local ferry system in this area visiting just a few ports.  The crewed sailing yacht Silolona is available for crewed yacht charter in Eastern Indonesia and in our opinion, here at Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters, sailing on the crewed charter yacht Silolona is the best and possibly only way to visit the various local Ikat Textile weaving villages in the Eastern Flores Archipelago, where the women are still very much involved in traditional Ikat Textile weaving by hand as a part of their daily lives.  When cruising through the area on the crewed sailing charter yacht Silolona, a number of villages can be visited that are clustered on the various islands where dyeing, spinning, and weaving cotton fibers is still done with dyes made from natural ingredients, with cotton spun by hand, to create textiles woven by hand on hand made looms.  The dyeing however is an exceptional traditional village industry with dye recipes handed down from mother to daughter to create the many colors of the fabric of life in this area of Indonesia.  We were thrilled when visiting several villages in Eastern Indonesia in the Eastern Flores Archipelago while cruising on board the 164’ crewed charter sailing yacht Silolona to see, first hand, the making of natural dyes and the dyeing process used to color these hand spun cotton strands. 

Ikat Textile Weaving, dyeing red, yellow, and green cotton strands with natural dyes

We learned that all of the dyes are generally now and always have been made from ingredients found in the surrounding landscape, as the only resource available to these village people for the last number of centuries and still today.  Many of the women in the villages in Indonesia in the Eastern Flores and Alor Island areas are still making various dyes to dye strands of cotton as they have been for centuries. 

Cotton is grown and harvested in Indonesia and the women in the villages work the cotton bolls, so that the cotton bolls are seeded, carded and spun by hand into cotton strands for weaving.  Either the strands are dyed various colors first or are tied with dye resistant natural fibers such as raffia to create Ikat patterns in the cotton strands, to then be dyed.

Ikat Textile Weaving making natural blue indigo dye

The predominant color used for the natural dyes is blue with various shades of blue created from the locally grown indigo plant.  Natural indigo dye for the various shades of blue is created by a fermentation process over low heat, usually in a pot over a small wood fire.  The indigo plant is mixed with natural madder from the roots of a low growing ground vine, grains, and soda ash, made from the ash of leaves.  By slowly cooking all together in a pot on low heat while gently stirring, a sludge of oxidized indigo is created on the bottom of the pot, which is strained and used or dried and stored as dye cakes to be used at a later time.  When dyeing, the indigo blue color is adhered to the cotton strands by drying the strands each time after repeated dipping to allow the color to oxidize in the air for permanent color affixation. 

The color red is created by crushing the bark of the Marinda tree in water to extract a red pigment called morindan.  Unlike indigo blue, which is a fermentation process, dying red requires a mordant to be combined with the morindan to affix the color to the strands of cotton.  A mordant requires oil, tannin and aluminum salts and in Indonesia is often created with an oily solution made out of the candle nut, a tannin made from local plants, and aluminum salts made from the powdered leaves and bark of certain trees that grow in Indonesia at a very high level.  For use in the lowland villages, the powdered leaves and bark of these highland growing trees must be acquired in trade. 

Ikat Textile Weaving, creating natural yellow dye from tumeric

Yellow dye can be created by pounding the turmeric root with water in a mortar with the end of a small tree trunk or pestle. Green dye can be created by pounding leaves with water in a mortar for a fresh green color created from the chlorophyll.  Neither of these dyes produces a color that is steadfast and both the yellow and green cotton strands dyed from dyes made in this manner will fade in a short matter of time. 

Ikat Textile Weaving, green natural dye from leaves

To create a more permanent yellow dye, the bark from the mango tree, jack fruit tree and heartwood tree are pounded to create a more durable yellow color.  This dye can then be mixed with an indigo blue for a more permanent green color. 

Ikat Textile Weaving, warp weaving multi colored textile with Ikat designs

Whatever the method the women in a particular village choose to use, this fascinating and still traditional industry of cotton dyeing can be seen firsthand in various villages on a yacht charter on the crewed sailing yacht Silolona on a charter in the Eastern Flores Archipelago in Indonesia while visiting the Ikat Textile weaving villages. 

Charter Yacht Silolona

The 164’ Phinisi crewed charter sailing yacht Silolona is wrapped in legend and shrouded in mystique, which adds to the magic of a charter experience on board. For, just as the in the legend of Silolona, for whom the yacht is named, when starting a charter on this yacht, a call is made to Silolona to add her strength to a successful on board charter experience.

Goris, Dive Instructor on board the crewed charter sailing yacht Silolona makes the call to the spirit of the legendary Silolona

Legend in Indonesia says that when the earth was new, the planet was too close to the sun and everything on the surface of the earth from man to animal to plant suffered under the harsh rays. During these times, Atuf, a strong and handsome warrior fell in love and married Silolona, the loveliest woman in all of Tanimbar, whose beautiful exterior was melded with the strength of a beautiful interior. However under the harsh rays of a too close sun, Silolona died while still a young woman. In deep mourning for his wife, Atuf vowed to make his home safe from the burning rays of the sun for all.

Silolona anchored in front of remote beach

Inspired by the spirit of his beautiful wife, Atuf built a boat, named Silolona in remembrance, to sail to the sun. On launching Silolona, Atuf called forth the spirit of his wife to provide him the strength needed for this dangerous journey. When reaching the sun, Atuf once again called forth the spirit of Silolona to provide him the strength to successfully complete his mission. With her strength within him, Atuf hurled his spear at the sun and shattered the giant orb into a smaller orb surrounded by tiny additional glowing pieces scattered across the sky forming the stars in the constellations. The fierce burning power of the sun was reduced from harmful to helpful and the earth was saved by Atuf and the spirit of the lovely Silolona.

Setting Sail on Silolona

At the beginning of a charter cruise on board the crewed charter sailing yacht Silolona, the spirit of this beautiful woman is still called forth to protect all on board with her strength for a successful charter. On boarding, at the start of every charter, Goris, the Dive Instructor, and an indispensible crew member onboard, calls forth the spirit of Silolona while wearing a traditional sarong and head dress and tosses Indonesian offerings into the sea to this fair spirit for a successful charter. At Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters, we feel that the spirit of Silolona must be part of each and every charter as each and every charter is an outstanding charter experience, and a charter experience not to be missed.

Silolona Under Sail

Anchored near active volcano Ile Ape in the evening.

 Located at the junction of the four tectonic plates for Australia, the Philippines, Eurasia and the Pacific, Indonesia is home to over 155 areas of active volcanism.  When enjoying a crewed yacht charter on the charter yacht Silolona, volcanoes can be found in the cruising areas of Komodo, Flores, and the islands of the Eastern Flores Archipelago, other parts of the Lesser Sunda Islands, Halmahera and surrounding islands, island groups in the Banda Sea and the island of Sulawesi. 

From the beach in the Adonara Lembata island area, smoldering volcano

Anchor under a puffing volcano or dine on deck at night enjoying a natural show of lava rock fireworks.  Hike up to the top of dormant volcanoes to peer down into the craters below, perhaps stopping to visit a local village perched on the volcano hillsides, where life has adjusted to the natural vagaries required for living in a volcanic location.   In the Eastern Flores Archipelago, cruise through narrow straights where volcanoes are lined up on either side of the straights, with the volcanic hillsides tumbling down to the sea.  And in certain locations a sea plane can be chartered to fly close over the tops of volcanoes that are now dormant and close to the steaming funnels erupting from those volcanoes that are now active.

Hiking up to the top of a volcano should be done early in the morning, when the weather is cooler.  Inland on Flores Island, after a drive and a hike is the Kalimutu volcano topped by two crater lakes that are filled with acid-saline waters, where depending on the time of year, the lake waters fluctuate independently in color between dark green and blood red and are a true sight to see.  Sitting on deck under a puffing volcano or next to a lava spewing volcano can be done at any time of day, perhaps while reclining with a cool drink in one hand and your camera in the other.

Ile Ape, active volcano on the island of Lembata in action

And while volcanoes can be the center of a yacht charter on the charter yacht Silolona during a charter in eastern Indonesia, there are also other terrific aspects of this yacht charter cruising area to enjoy including snorkeling, diving, fishing, walking miles of deserted beaches, shelling, visiting remote villages, learning new cultures, and experiencing all that there is to be experienced in eastern Indonesia on a crewed yacht charter on the charter sailing yacht Silolona.

Silolona Spa Experience

With miles of deserted remote and isolated beaches everywhere, experiencing a natural beach spa exfoliating treatment to reveal beautiful soft skin is available at the drop of a hat while on board the 164’ Phinisi charter yacht Silolona on a crewed yacht charter in eastern Indonesia, Myanmar and the Andaman Islands.  Sooth skin and exfoliate on an isolated beach, sitting in the sand with warm water lapping at your ankles, using your choice of natural body scrubs to scrub your skin to a healthy glow.  After absorbing the myriad of benefits from the various scrubs, just slip into the warm crystal clear blue green waters right at your feet, and let the salt water naturally rinse the scrub residuals away to reveal your new soft beautiful skin.  It is hard to beat this natural spa experience on the beach and beautiful waters offered while on board a crewed yacht charter on the charter yacht Silolona. 

Silolona, Body Scrub Spa Experience Waiting

The crew on Silolona source natural body scrubs from a co-op of local woman in Bali, Indonesia who produce finely ground all natural powders including coffee and green tea powders to combat skin water retention, lemongrass powder for facial skin soothing, and  sandalwood and ginger powders for fine skin polishing.  From the galley on board Silolona, to exfoliate while moisturizing, are natural scrubs of ground fresh coconut meat and almond meal.  Presented on the beach on a teak table, with each rub in a coconut half shell, the various rubs are ready to be mixed with fresh water or just slathered on in any combination.  Slip into the water after a good scrub to wash it all away for a true natural spa treatment.  After your swim, cool your brow with a cold lemon grass scented wash cloth while you sip on detoxifying hot ginger tea under an umbrella on the beach watching Silolona sitting gently in the water anchored nearby in front of a gorgeous landscape for a true eye candy treat.

Silolona natural body scrubs, cooling wash cloths, and hot ginger tea

And spa treatments during your charter on board Silolona do not have to stop at natural beachside exfoliating body scrubs. Enjoy massage or reflexology on the beach or even back on board.  At this writing, Musri, a crew member on board Silolona, provides excellent deep tissue massages (or soft tissue massages if that is your preference), aimed at solving all of your muscular problems, and Bentar, a crew member on board, provides excellent reflexology for your feet, hands, head and back aimed at solving all of your body problems. 

Enjoy a crewed yacht charter on board the charter sailing yacht Silolona, and in between the great multitude of activities offered, relax with a natural beach body scrub, body massage and reflexology. 

Welcoming Silolona Crew to a Silolona Beach Barbecue

Charter the 164’ Phinisi sailing yacht Silolona for a crewed yacht charter in Indonesia, Myanmar or the Andaman Islands and you might find yourselves on an isolated beautiful beach, in the middle of nowhere, at a full scale barbecue beach bash, complete with dinner, drinks, music, fire dancing, and wishing balloons all under the light from the moon, and fire candles. With a natural setting for a purely natural eco-friendly extravaganza, a Silolona barbecue beach bash, while on charter, is not only a truly memorable experience, but also a remarkable feat, hard to be replicated, accomplished by the hard working terrific crew on the charter yacht Silolona.

Beach Barbecue beach mats and fire candles

Beach Barbecue Band

Imagine, by day, a remote deserted beautiful beach that, by night, comes alive as the setting for a beach barbecue complete with lighting, grills, bar, seating areas and decorations, all in the middle of nowhere, albeit in the middle of paradise. While you are enjoying perhaps a swim or a snorkel, the crew on Silolona may be hard at work making palm frond birds, arches, and other decorations, and may have gone ashore to a nearby isolated beach with tables, chairs, mats, pillows, lanterns, all to be set up and transformed into a fantastic beach barbecue event. Holes will be dug in the sand for bottle candles, driftwood will be gathered for the grilling fire, and shells and driftwood will be gathered for party decorations. After dark, when you arrive by ships tender, the remote deserted beach will be a hopping beach barbecue with cocktails, dinner, entertainment, singing and dancing.

Beach Barbeque Decorations

Step from the ship’s tender to enjoy the transformation of a deserted beach to a welcoming beach barbeque. Firelight, fire candles, and lanterns abound, along with beach mats, teak chairs and little tables. Drinks appear from the “bar” as attended by your charter steward, perhaps with a mining hat on, with a small lantern to help with cocktail mixing and serving. Meanwhile, the crew are singing and creating lively music with guitars and drums which beckon for dancing in the sand. The beach grill fires are lit and soon huge shrimps, lamb kebobs, fresh fish, teriyaki chicken, and a variety of grilled vegetables and char cooked potatoes appear. And unbelievably a Crème Brule appears for desert.

Silolona Beach Barbecue Dinner is Served

Grilled vegetables at Silolona Beach Barbecue

Down on the waterfront, huge rice paper “wishing balloons” are set up, filling with hot air from the little fire pots, soon to be released into the star filled night to carry wishes afar. Kadek, your steward is a great fire dancer, and the evening is not complete without his intrepid display of the swirling fire baton. Settle in with after dinner drinks, coffees, teas end enjoy the waning evening hours with song and dance for an unforgettable and unique beach barbeque experience in the wild on a charter on board the crewed charter yacht Silolona.

Firing up the Silolona Wishing Balloons

Fresh Ingredients for Yudha's Sambal

On a recent cruise on board the 164’ charter yacht Silolona, here at Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters, we were treated to a constant array of outstanding meals, one right after the other.  The on board cuisine is international with a great Asian flair and varies from sticky black rice with coconut milk to homemade fresh flaky croissants to crispy pan fried duck breast and scallops.  Beautiful fresh fish, fruits and vegetables are readily available, with sushi being an on board favorite, and fresh fruit drinks, and homemade jams in constant supply.  A charter cruise on Silolona is an outstanding experience, which is further highlighted with excellent on board cuisine.

Chef Yudha of Charter Sailing Yacht, Silolona

Yudha Wibawa, the culinary trained Chef on board Silolona hails from Bali, Indonesia, and brings on board a wide repertoire of culinary training including being training as a pastry chef.  Every morning, beautiful homemade hot flaky croissants and “Pain au chocolat” are presented piping hot right from the oven along with a variety of fresh fruits, and then breakfast begins with a range of offerings from Indonesian fried noodles and vegetables topped with a fried egg, which was our favorite, to a full American or English breakfast, your choice.  

Indonesian Fried Noodles Breakfast

Every time we stepped foot off of the yacht for tender explorations, swimming, snorkeling, diving, fishing, or visiting local villages, on our return we were met with tall glasses of fresh chilled homemade fruit juices, such as watermelon or strawberry alongside cold refreshing lemon grass scented wash cloths.

Silolona, fresh village market fish

Lunch and dinner on board are organized in accordance with your preferences as requested before the charter and range from western food to outstanding Indonesian food, spiced as you like.  If the crew does not catch a fresh fish, such as yellow finned tuna, extremely fresh fish is available from the closest fisherman or village market as Indonesia is a country of fishermen.  A variety of chili peppers and other fruits vegetables, herbs and spices are also available at the local market. 

Fresh Indonesian village market chili peppers

Charter Silolona in Indonesia, Myanmar or Andaman and enjoy not only an outstanding charter experience in these unique cruising areas, but also the excellent on board cuisine which is constantly emerging from Yudha’s galley and beautifully served by Stewards Riks and Kadek. 

Dinner of crispy duck breast

Silolona - Antique Bronze Drum

Not only is Silolona, a 164’ sailing yacht available for crewed yacht charter in Indonesia, built new along the traditional lines of the age old Indonesian Phinisi, the yacht is beautifully decorated throughout with antiques, artifacts, textiles, beadwork, wood carvings, painted panels, statues, and basketry, all gathered from traditional village life, along with extraordinary shells, all gathered from the beaches of this outstanding charter location. With a Masters Degree in Indonesian Textiles, the Owner of Silolona has immersed herself for decades in the culture and artistry of Indonesia traveling through the various villages, all of which is reflected on board. The shells have been picked up through years of visiting the many beaches throughout this charter location. While you may only be able to visit one area on your crewed yacht charter when on board the charter yacht Silolona enjoying a charter cruise in the waters of this vast and exceptional country, spending time on board Silolona will give you a taste of everything that is the fabric of Indonesian life.

Silolona - Dining Table Decor

Silolona-Local Sea Shells

Silolona itself is a reflection of Indonesia in the very build as the keel is laid of Iron Wood, an extraordinarily hard wood found and harvested right in Indonesia. Many of the ribs, and structural members of the hull frame were hand cut and shaped by the traditional adze, and these structural members have been left bare and open to the eye to enjoy the warm beauty of traditional craftsmanship while living on board during your crewed yacht charter.

Silolona- Master Stateroom

Silolona -Stateroom Decor

Each of the staterooms and living areas are decorated with artifacts and art from different locations and subcultures within Indonesia providing a snapshot of these areas. The deck areas are also decorated with artifacts from various locations along with local sea shells. The crew re-arranges the décor on deck each day and on the tables for each meal for a constantly changing eye feast. Enjoying bits from various locations in Indonesia on board is just a hint of what can be seen and experienced on future charters. Following are photos captured from our time on board, of the traditional and natural ever changing on board décor of Silolona which is enjoyed on a crewed yacht charter on this modern yet traditional Indonesian Phinisi.

Silolona - Antique Betel Nut Box

Silolona- Main Salon