Tracing Unique Leang-leang Archaeological Parks With Disabilities

Roads are made friendly for people with disabilities. (IST)

JAKARTA - The sun was just above the head when delegation guests from ASEAN countries arrived at the Leang-leang Archaeological Park in Maros Regency, South Sulawesi. The temperature was so hot. However, the heat of the atmosphere and the heat of the air did not dampen their intention to enjoy unique and rare views in the form of prehistoric rocks.

The Leang-leang Archaeological Park is an archaeological area in the form of rocks with two prehistoric caves in it, namely Leang Pettae and Leang Pettta Kere. Located about 30 kilometers from Sultan Hasanuddin Airport or 41 kilometers from Makassar City, Leang-leang can be reached about 1 hour from Makassar City using the toll road.

Guaranteed to be stunned to see the uniqueness of the Leang-leang Archaeological Park. Once entering this 4.6 hectare park, visitors will immediately see unusual black stones scattered irregularly.

Each stone has a different shape and texture so it looks very unique. There are those that tower three meters high, there are also those that are only one meter high with a hole in the middle. The expanse of black stone is in stark contrast to the expanse of green grass and the shady trees around it.

Still in the same area, there are two caves located at an altitude of about 20 meters. To go to the cave with a diameter of about 3 meters and a depth of 10 meters, there is a safe and comfortable iron ladder. The other cave is more open with an area of about 4 meters. This cave is thought to be inhabited by ancient humans around 8,000-3,000 BC.

Traces of ancient human relics, among others, can be seen from the various images found on the cave walls. There are pictures of two pigs with teeth and horns on their head. There are also 28 pictures of palms.

"All the pictures were made using red soil materials mixed with various tree ingredients, so that they were strong for thousands of years," said the guide in the cave in a written statement received by VOI.

Except for cavities with heavy terrain, all access and facilities in Leang-leang are created to be friendly for people with disabilities. For people with imporable disabilities, there is a special lane for wheelchairs. Meanwhile, for people with visual disabilities, there are recordings of voices that are heard through loudspeakers about the uniqueness of the Leang-leang Archaeological Park.

It is very accessible, Im very impressed. So, I think, it's good that the facilities have been made possible for which are users to come (This is very accessible, I am very impressed. In my opinion, these facilities allow users (disabilities) to come)," said ASEAN Disability Forum Chair Lim Puay Tiak, while visiting the Leang-leang Archaeological Park with other ASEAN country delegates on October 12.

The same thing was revealed by the founder of the Institute for Advocacy for Inclusion and Disabilities (AUDISI) Yustisia Arief. He is a person with a disability of polio. He stated that he really appreciated the Leang-leang tourist destinations that are friendly and comfortable for people with disabilities.

"So, we as people with disabilities can get our right to travel and enjoy the scenery here like other visitors. This is very fun," he said.

Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini stated that he deliberately chose Makassar as the venue for the ASEAN High Level Forum on Inclusive Development of Disabilities and Partnerships after 2025 or The ASEAN High Level Forum (AHLF) on Enabling Disability-Inclusive Development and Partnership beyond 2025 because around Makassar, there are unique tourist destinations.

Unlike other areas, Makassar has a civilization destination, namely the Leang-leang Archaeological Park in Maros Regency, which was once inhabited by ancient humans, and Fort Fort Rotterdam which is about 500 years old from the Kingdom of Gowa-Tallo.

"Our common challenge is that every tourist destination is friendly for people with disabilities. The two tourist destinations have been built and equipped with facilities ahead of the arrival of the ASEAN delegation so that they are friendly for people with disabilities," said the Minister of Social Affairs on the sidelines of the AHLF which will take place from October 10-12 2023.

AHLF is an ASEAN High-Level Forum consisting of ministers and senior ASEAN officials who are responsible for social welfare. Also present were leaders of sectoral bodies related to social welfare, ASEAN-affiliated entities, and academics.

AHLF 2023 is one of the series of ASEAN Summits under the chairmanship of Indonesia. Apart from being attended by ASEAN member countries, delegates from the United States, Britain and Australia were also present.