Ti'i langga

These hats are more like sculptures and reach the height of 50-60 cm; they are still part of the national costume of the inhabitants of the southernmost of the inhabited islands of Indonesia, the island of Rote, located not far away from Timor. Men make those hats by weaving young leaves of the lontar palm (Borassus flabellifer). It is believed that the curious design of the ti'i langga, was inspired by plumed hats of the Portuguese seamen, the first Europeans to visit Rote in the early 16th century. They were mainly interested in spices, although Rote, unlike neighboring Timor, was not all that abundant in those; the island came under the strong Portuguese influence that can be felt to this day. Indonesia, Rote.