If you are visiting Wakatobi, Southeast Sulawesi, you must visit a freshwater cave that is located in Wanci Village, Wangi-Wangi Subdistrict. The cave that is reputedly believed to find the soulmate is named "Kontamale Cave". This lake cave is quite wide and deep. There is a pool with clear water. In the cave ceiling, there is a stalactite. The water in the Kontalame Cave comes from a river that is in the ground then flowing into the open sea. No wonder if the water is still clean and clear, although it is often used to wash and take a bath.

The cave's name of Kontamale has its own meaning for the local people. "Kontamale" consists of two words. there are "Konta" and "Male". "Konta" means grasp and "Male" means withered. Local people believe there was used to be a couple of lovers who were difficult to marry. Although both were dating, but one did not want to get married. Then two of them went to the cave to bathe. Soon after, they both agreed to marry and they were sanctioned by their respective families.




This natural cave is a mainstay of Kontamale villagers to bathe, wash, and recreate. However, the water in the cave remains clear and it is never dirty. Until now, there are still many couples believing that who are difficult to marry, they bathe in this cave to get married easily. Maybe the water of this cave can melt the hard-hearted people.

Distance to Kontamale Cave from Merdeka Square Town of Wangi-Wangi is about 10-15 minutes driving by motor. As one of the tourist destinations, Wakatobi apparently has an interesting local wisdom to visit. Besides on diving tours, Wakatobi itself has been designated into 10 tourism priority destinations that have as the largest barrier reef in Indonesia, the second in the world after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.





Article Source: http://travel.kompas.com/