Look at that rock formation; do you see the rock looks like something? If you still can’t notice, please keep your eyes closely on its eye ball I made up there. It is obvious now, right? That is called Fenu Afa, the original name in Makasa’e dialect or in Tetum we call it Fatuk Lenuk. This sea turtle-shaped rock is located in Kaisa’a, Seiçal. A few kilometers from Baucau town, on the way to Lautém and Lospalos.
Even though the photo shows obvious sea turtle-shaped, we cannot notice the shape in both opposite angles. It is only noticeable from the east side of the rock, and at this close as photo taken. The further you move away, the more the shape disappears. The rock lies right on the road side, so it is easily accessible, but for people who do not have pre knowledge they will not notice it at all. I travelled regularly going and back to my home village Com, but I never noticed it until my friend told me some years back.
This Ipit Matar, we call in Fataluku
language, has been there for a long time. I can’t explain the geological
process of it. But I think the locals there believe it is some kind of sacred
rock. The rock was nearly removed by the recent road construction contractor
from China. I was wondering whether the design engineer was aware of local
values along the existing road alignment at the time. The contractor was
insisting to remove the rock according to the design given by the government. The
locals there fought back against the contractor to keep the rock intact. And they finally won, and many people supported the locals after learning that it is not a
plain rock, but a treasure.
I think, yes, it is a treasure because it
becomes tourism attraction. It is a photo spot for travelers or tourists who
bound to Jaco Island and Com in Lautém Municipality. The rock area used to be
very narrow, and unsafe to stop by for sightseeing and taking photos. But since
the road construction has cleared up the road side bushes and drainage, the
area becomes wider, and very safe to stop and rest a bit. In my humble opinion,
if somebody could tap this spot by adding a rest area with some amenities, it
would bring some money. Why? There are three things to enjoy: This rock itself, photo spot with view of Mountain of Matebian, and View of Seiçal rice fields.
*I hope this gives you an inspiration.
