Travel Guide Petulu

1,500 meters northeast of the town center, take the road heading north (Jalan Andong) from the statue traffic circle. A small road with a sign (White Heron Village or Sanctuary) on the left leads to a village where several species of herons and egrets of various sizes made their home several decades ago. While they take to the skies at dawn in search of food throughout the day, every late afternoon they return to their nests, landing by the thousands on the village trees where they will spend the night. The villagers seem to have become accustomed to their presence, and the herons to their new habitat so close to town. Some villagers with small plots of land have set up benches where tourists can sit and watch the birds, while enjoying a refreshing drink. The villagers don't actually do much to preserve the birds, but it's true that the parade of cars through their narrow lanes every twilight must constitute a certain nuisance that they seek to compensate for. In this sense, a small donation is justified... but not compulsory. Come 30 minutes to 1 hour before sunset. Local belief has it that the birds are the reincarnation of the victims of the 1960s civil war, for a memorial stands not far from Petulu.