Hello Borneo!

Hello From Kahayan Bridge

Hello Borneo!

After almost two years joining the travel program I finally made it to Borneo island. Well as much as I expected a tribal and cultural adventure, I am satisfied to travel in several city in Central and South Borneo. Me and  my cameraman went to Palangka Raya, the capital city of Central Borneo, a big city but had a quite atmosphere. On the first day we had a chance to go sightseeing for a little bit around the city. We went to Kahayan river the main attraction in this city.

What makes it unique it's because a lot people were still living in the river side, they are all living in a floating house called "Lanting House". There are more than 200 family leaving there, they're main job is a fisherman. They also used a traditional boat called "Klotok" as their main transportation. The price for crossing the river only Rp.3000,- per person, also we could rent their boat down the river, the scenery was beautiful on the right and the left side we could see many floating houses owned by local residents, as well as enjoying the lush jungles of Borneo typical.

Video Shooting at Kahayan River

Lanting House

Right in the middle of the river there was a Kahayan bridge, that built five years ago by the government.It was also the landmark building Palangka Raya city. The bridge connecting several districts in Central Borneo. Before the bridge was built it took more than a day, but now just need a few hours by car.

After four days working and enjoying Palangka Raya, we decided to go road trip to next destination, Kuala Kapuas city. It took about 2,5 hours to go there. This city located near Banjarmasin city the capital city of South Borneo.

Kuala Kapuas Main Gate

Getah Nyatu Hand Craft

We went there to do a video shooting about a traditional craft called "getah nyatu". Getah nyatu is a handmande crafts made ​​from the sap of rubber trees of nyatu that exist only in two locations in Central Borneo Pangkalan Bun and Tengkiling hill. This handy craft formed in such a way to form a boat-shaped ornaments complete with the indigenous people of Borneo the Dayak tribe.

It took one to five people to do this craft, it was simple yet complicated. There are certain ways of how to make this craft. What makes it more unique is that not all people in this village could make this craft because it is a cultural arts that are passed from generation to generation from parents to children.

Though making this craft is quite difficult and requires a lot of time but the selling price was not so expensive. Small to medium size only valued Rp.50.000,- to Rp.250.000. While the large size can be up to millions of rupiah. 

After another four days in Kapuas it's time for us to took another road trip to Banjarmasin. It's only 1,5 hours journey to get there. It was a big and crowded city, it was more modern than Palangka Raya. Unfortunately I can't stay longer there because we had to catch a flight to Jakarta. So after having lunch and bought some souvenirs we went to the airport. 

It's been a nice trip around Borneo, hope to see you again soon!