Enter the miniature world of millions of years ago right in the middle of reality

The life of the Mentawai tribe in Indonesia reflects on a miniature world of millions of years ago.

The Mentawai are indigenous inhabitants in Indonesia, they are famous for decorative tattoos throughout their bodies. Mentawai live in semi-nomadic islands on the same name islands in western Sumatra.

The tribe's inhabitants live completely isolated from the outside modern world. They are one of the very few minority tribes in Indonesia who still hold bizarre customs.

Like prehistoric people, they put long hair, loincloths, flowers and decorations on their heads. Tribal residents are good at hunting and carving, they also have their own language and customs. They still believe in the spiritual world, worship the shaman and the magicians.

The Mentawai people conceived, the more beautiful the women with teeth, the more beautiful they are.

Here, grinding teeth and tattooing is not only for beauty but also a belief in harmony with the spirits of the forest. The Mentawai people conceived, the more beautiful the women with the teeth, the more beautiful the man with the wife's teeth and the higher the status of the man in the tribe.

Meanwhile, the tribe's tattooing routine caused them to experience a lot of pain. Accordingly, the village elders will take the sharpened Karai bark, the stick of lemon tree or forest orange soaked in ink and directly scratch the person hard, they start tattooing at the age of 7 until 50 years old.

Mentawai residents reside in houses called Umas. The house was built of bamboo, wood and grass, inside the skulls filled with the animals they had hunted.

Mentawai people live in groups in long houses. The tribes in the tribe often gather 30-80 members in one house. Because of their overcrowding, their 'spouses' is not allowed to perform in the house. Instead, couples must lead each other to the forest to do 'that', the farther away from home the better.

Mentawai men are all considered tribal heroes and have a very happy life. The tribe is also very hospitable, they always welcome visitors from the outside world to visit.