Lea

In the beautiful Southeast Sulawesi island of Pulau Makassar, we met Ibu Lea, who hunts sea urchins. With eager anticipation, we trailed alongside her as she embarked on her hunt along the shores that stretched before her humble abode. Guided by the rhythm of the tides, locally known as “meti,” we set out at the break of day aboard a small boat. Ibu Lea skillfully used specialized tools to collect the elusive sea urchins with the help of her husband, each movement a dance with nature. Once the bounty was ample, she gracefully guided her vessel to the shoreline, where she meticulously cleaned the sea urchins of any impurities with a practiced hand. These prized treasures, purified by the sea’s embrace, would soon find their way to the bustling markets of Bau-Bau, where they would fetch a fair price of IDR 10,000 (US$ 0.62) apiece.