1550 hrs August 26th 2005

I've always been intrigued

by the Minangkabau people.

They are the largest matrilineal culture

in the modern world.

I always wanted to see,

how does

a female dominated society works.

All property,

are passed down

the females,

even family names.

No possession

a man ever has

is truly his own.

They're passed

to his wife,

or even his sister

or her children.

The Grandmother

is the ultimate power figure

in the family.

No man ever proposes marriage

to a woman.

He waits

for a woman

to propose

to him.

Afterwhich,

he moves into

her parent's house.

A man will seek

his fortunes

which will never

be his.

All business

and companies

are owned by women.

So what have I witnessed?

I saw a part of Indonesia

that is well organised,

and relatively prosperous.

I saw the only Indonesian natives

that could match

Indonesian chinese

in economic dominance.

I saw well maintained roads,

running water,

reliable electrical supply,

internet access

and mobile phone networks.

I saw how happy

people can be,

when women don't marry

for money.