BIRA White sand beach Tanjung Bira lies at the south-eastern tip of South Sulawesi (click here for chart). By car it takes about for hours to go there. Tanjung (Cape) Bira and surroundings are famous for their white sand beaches with powder-like sand and shipbuilding. Tourism is slowly developing in this area, resulting in some reasonable quality places to stay and better access to the villages. The area of Bira is suitable for relaxing on the beach, snorkelling, diving and walks in the area. Bira is as well the place where most time of the year the ferry to Selayar leaves. Only if the sea is too rough boats leave from Bulukumba. In future the new harbour in Bira should give enough all year long protection to avoid this problem. The most visited part of the peninsula lies at the very end of the tar road. Unfortunately this place has been cleared of trees in the past before the building of restaurants and small hotels started. Because of the dry limestone soil, trees slowly come back again. It takes just a short walk from here to visit greener beaches in the area. Places to stay: Bira Beach Hotel (cottages ) Jl. Kapongkolang No. 2 Bira Phone: (0413) 81515 - 81579 Fax: (0413) 81515 At the other side of the road: Bira View Inn (cottages) Phone: (0413) 82043 - 81763 Representative in Makassar: Phone: (0411) 867336   TANAH BERU Boat Building On the road between Bulukumba and Tanjung Bira you will pass Tanah Beru, a village full with boat builders. In the past boat builders from around Bira moved here, causing an interesting concentration of boats under construction. If you pass the village, just go off the main road at the point it makes a sharp curve, and spend some time to visit the building sites. Most boats are of the type "Finisi". Many of these boats still are built without the use of technical drawings. Most connections are made with wooden pins. See also section Your Contributions | Back to Travelling | Map |