Eight Countries Participate in International Kite Festival in Southeast Sulawesi

Monday, 19 July 2010

ANTARA News

Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi - At least eight countries are taking part in an international kite festival to be held at La Ode Pandu, Raha, Muda District, Southeast Sulawesi.

Foreign participants who were already in Muna for the festival were those from Singapore, Japan, France, South Korea, Australia, Germany, Brazil and the Netherlands, La Kusa, a spokesman of the Muna district administration, said here Monday.

Some 30 people are participating in the festival to be officially opened by the cultural and tourism ministry`s market development director general.

Among domestic participants are those coming from West Java, North Sumatra, Bali and Jakarta.

It is the third international kite festival ever organized in Muna District, Indonesia`s largest producer of teakwood.

Muna has been known for its unique traditional kite type called "Kaghati Kolope." Local inhabitants usually play kite flying for consecutive seven days in harvesting season.

The international kite festival is aimed at promoting tourist objects in the district, such as a traditional horse fight, Lake Napabale and Liang kabori cave with prehistoric paintings.

Southeast Sulawesi`s city of Kendari has beautiful Kendari Bay which has many spectacular multicolored fishing boats.

The province is also known for its Nambo Beach which is beautiful and just around 12 km distance from the city of Kendari.