My name is Diana, and I am from Toraja.
I was born and grew up in Toraja, and I have been working as a tour guide since 1985. So, if you do the calculation, that is already more than 40 years!
I studied English Literature at Hasanuddin University in Makassar. After finishing my studies, I started working as a tour guide with Limbunan Travel, which at that time was one of the biggest travel companies in South Sulawesi.
That was a very different time from today. There was no WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, TripAdvisor or Booking.com.
If we wanted to communicate with someone far away, we wrote a letter and sent it through the post office. I remember keeping a diary to write down things from my travels and my daily life. In those days, a diary was a little bit like our social media today.
My work brought me into contact with travellers from many different countries. I guided guests from Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and many other parts of Europe and the world.
Toraja is my home, and I’d love to share it with you
I sometimes think that one of the advantages of being a local guide is that I don’t have to “discover” Toraja before showing it to people because I grew up here.
The mountains, villages, traditional houses, food, coffee and people are all things I have known since I was young.
But after so many years of guiding, I have also learned to see Toraja from the eyes of visitors.
Sometimes a traveller will stop and say, “Diana, look at that!”
And I will look and think, Oh yes… I suppose that is quite interesting!
I don’t spend much time online
I am not someone who is very active on the internet.
For most of my working life, people found me through travel companies, word of mouth, previous guests, or friends who had travelled with me.
And honestly, I am still not very familiar with many of the things that are now normal in tourism — websites, TripAdvisor, Booking.com, social media and all the different online platforms.
So you may not find much about me online, as I grew up in a very different era—long before having an online presence was simply part of everyday life.
I’m very grateful that my sister recently helped me create this website, where I could tell people a little about myself and about the kind of experiences I like to share in Toraja.
For me, this website is a new way of doing something I have been doing for many years: connecting with travellers.
Now, I can reach people who are sitting somewhere in Europe, Australia, America, Asia, or anywhere else in the world and thinking:
“I would really like to visit Toraja.”
And perhaps they can find me here.
What can I do for you in Toraja?
If you are interested in Toraja culture, I am happy to share what I know.
If you love photography, we can think about places and timing that suit you.
If you are interested in food and coffee, I can introduce you to some local experiences.
If you want to meet people and see everyday life, we can spend more time in villages and communities.
If you are travelling with your family, perhaps you want a slower and more comfortable journey.
Why do I still do this?
People sometimes ask me why, after so many years, I am still guiding.
I think the answer is simple: I still enjoy meeting people, and after all these years, I still love sharing my home with visitors.
Not because Toraja is perfect. It isn’t. Like anywhere else, we have our challenges and changes.
But Toraja has a culture and heritage that I believe are worth understanding and taking care of.
My hope for Toraja
I have seen Toraja become known by more travellers, and I hope tourism will continue to develop here.
But I also hope we can do this carefully.
I would like to see Toraja grow as a sustainable cultural and heritage destination, where tourism can support local people while we continue to respect and preserve our traditions, our communities and our environment.
I am only one guide, but I would be very happy if my work can be a small part of this.
A Warm Welcome from Toraja
If you have found this website, then perhaps this is our first introduction.
Are you thinking about coming to Toraja? Please feel free to get in touch. I hope we will have the chance to meet here.
After more than 40 years of guiding travellers, I am still happy to say: welcome to Toraja. I would be very happy to show you around.
Warmly,
Diana