Upon entering the region, the divergent cultural heritage from the rest of the island (and Indonesia proper) becomes immediately apparent in the architectural stylings. Torajan people live in houses that have roofs resembling boats, and these houses are everywhere. They are used in the construction of everything from rice barns and traditional family homes to municipal buildings and banks. The building style is extremely varied. The more traditional varieties are made of wood and sod, which creates the effect of a house that looks partially alive, and the modern ones use a variety of materials including concrete and aluminum siding. As a tourist it's easy to disparage the more modern incarnations, but considering that this area is drenched in rain most of the year, aluminum siding is likely the most functional building material, although it's good that the others are still around.