Makassar, Commercial port in South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Makassar sits on the southwestern peninsula of Sulawesi and is a port city with wide coastal roads, markets, and residential areas that stretch inland. The city extends for several kilometers along the sea and is surrounded by tropical vegetation with palms and rice fields.
European traders reached the port in the early 16th century and found a hub for spices and goods from across Southeast Asia. Later, the Dutch built a fort to control trade, and the city became a central base in the region.
The name comes from the Makassarese people who have lived here for centuries and shaped the region. Along the coast and in the neighborhoods, you hear the Bugis dialect daily and see traditional pinisi boats still used for trade and fishing.
The area around the old port and the waterfront promenade is easy to explore on foot, while the outer districts are best reached by motorcycle taxi or car. In the morning, the markets are busiest, and the heat eases only in the late afternoon.
In the side streets of the center, there are small workshops where craftsmen repair Bugis boats using old methods and still work partly without modern machines. If you come to the port early in the morning, you see the fishermen unloading their night catches and can buy fresh fish directly from the boats.
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