the mosses on br the tongkonan roof br thick as its years br br Pallava tongkonan br the children dance and swirl br with imitation red ikat br br the children trail away with br the names of world's countries br as we start going home br br china, switzerland, japan... br toraja children guessing the countries br we come from br br The tongkonan house is the traditional house of the upper class of the toraja people in Tana Toraja, the highlands of South Sulawesi. Its roof curve up at both ends making it look like a comfy saddle ready for a ride. The house faces the North as that is the direction of their Gods. The back faces the South as they beleve that where paradise is. br Torajas are also famous for their extensive expensive burial rites that would last for at least a week. They are usually carried out between July and September, after the harvest season. Many domestic animals especially buffalos are butchered. br The dead bodies are sometimes kept in the house for decades while the family raise the money for the rite. Toraja dead are buried in liang (cave tomb) carved out of the cliffs of hills or mountains. Each liang would be used to bury an entire family as the Torajas believe that a family lives together until after their death. br Pallava which has numerous old tongkonans is a popular tourist area. Adults as well as children run around selling their ikat, most of which are machine made fabrics styled after the handwoven ikat, toraja traditional fabrics.