TRAVEL RECORDS IN CENTRAL BORNEO (KALIMANTAN TENGAH ) PART 1.

Finally after 33 years old , I can stand in this earth Borneo . Happy ,  excited , anxious and sad is  mixed up when I realized that this journey will take quite a long time. I’m happy because it will be my first time visiting Borneo ,and I am sad  because this trip would take at least a month and that means  during the time, I would leave my husband alone at home.  But luckily I have a husband who is very understanding and kind , he would allow his wife doing this trip with all sincerity.

09 January 2014

The journey began on January 9, 2014 , 5:45 a.m using the Garuda plane departed from Soekarno Hatta airport . My seat on the plane is 27K , and I sat next to a man who came from Europe with red hair color,  wearing exotic leather jacket and circular skull ring in his finger. The man has a scent that is quite disturbing when I was nearby . and he also quite fussy . At the first sitting , he called and asked the flight attendant about the year of aircraft , and after the flight attendant explained, he commented “this plane was very old and why we use an old aircraft? it is not safe”  . He raved at length . Then when the flight attendants distribute food, he opened the spoon and see there is a little faded colors of the fork , and then he asked the flight attendant to replace it. The flight attendants asked him to wait first because it takes time to pick it up, then he said” why it take so long, you just need to take it, isn’t it? “. huff…..fortunately, the flight attendant had enormous patience.

Finally, after a 1 hour and 45 minutes, we were landed at the airport Tjilik Riwut . Thank God , I can finally breathe fresh air again (considering to the scent of European man that really smells…ckckkc…) .

When we were in the airport, we did not want to lose the moment ” first time in Tjilik Riwut Airport”. Therefore, we asked mas – mas to take our picture at the airport . Check this out :

Adventure in Borneo Earth has begun with innova  grey car (mobil rental maksudnya..hihih…). The first location we were headed  is  “Tehang Estate”, the oil palm plantations. We need 4 hours from Palangkaraya to Tehang Estate . Considering  the conditions of oil palm plantation which is very isolated from everywhere, we decided to buy some of our basic needs and equipment in advance. According to our driver suggestion, we go shopping to MARKET  just because it is definitely cheaper than HYPERMART . After shopping at the market , we also went to the ATM to take cash .

After we confirm that our daily needs are ready and the cash money is enough,  we begin the journey towards plantation. Along the way , our stomach rumbling with hunger , then immediately  we open all snacks we bought in MARKET  and ask the driver to stop when there is a good restaurant.  After a while , Mr. boy the driver stopped the car at a restaurant , which is said very tasty and quite famous .  When we see grilled fish that are being prepared by them, we agree that the food  looks very tempting ….

—foto makanan —-

Friday , January 10, 2014

In the morning , we showered and breakfast catfish with a gourd vegetables . After finishing our breakfast, we go to the office and  attend a meeting that have been arranged by Mr. rony with some managers and workers.  At the meeting, I presented the technical programs and socializing “sensus permukiman”.

After the meeting, we were informed that there will be a demo tomorrow, January 11, 2014 will be a big demo ,  so, we were asked to go to palangkaraya to avoid the demo, besides it is also to take a census questionnaire  in TIKI Palangkaraya ( questionnaires have been sent since last week, but have not yet reached to its intended destination so better take by ourself).

Saturday, January 11, 2014
We left at 6.a.m (at early morning) from tehang estate towards palangkaraya . We arrived at  palangkaraya around 09.30. The first thing we did in Palangkaraya is go to TIKI to take  our questionnaire . Once completed , we continued our journey looking for breakfast . As suggested by the driver , we have a breakfast in meatballs and tripe soup restaurant.

After a full stomach, we continue our journey with this kind activity:

Meet friends in Jalan Batam, Souvenir Centre.

At the time we were in Palangkaraya, coincidentally, our friend who is also from Jakarta was in Palangkaraya, so we made ​​an appointment to meet. Initially we promise them to come to the global hotel where they were staying, but because we have to shop for survey needs first, we were late getting there. They already checked out  from the hotel.

Then,  we contacted them and  ask  “where are you..?” and they tell us that they’re in jalan batam, shopping some goods to take as souvenirs.  Of course, we immediately went in after them into the souvenir market in Jalan batam

Take a picture in Kahayan Bridge

This bridge is the landmark of Palangkaraya City, Central Kalimantan Province. Kahayan Bridge crosses the Kahayan river connecting Palangkaraya with the surrounding districts on the other side of the river. Although it was officially opened on January 13th 2002 by the then President Megawati Soekarnoputri, building started in 1995 and was opened for public use in 2001.

 

The bridge is 640 metre long and 9 meters wide and in the centre, directly above the fairway of Kahayan River, is a 150 metres long and 36 metres high red arch. This bridge is not only used for transportation but it is also a popular place to hang out by locals, overseeing the activities on Kahayan River like fishers, rowing athletes practicing near the bridge, boats passing or just enjoying the view. Many locals also sell their goods on the bridge (www.utiket.com)

Kuliner  in Kampung Lauk, Kahayan River

If you have plan to  visit Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, do not forget to add KAMPUNG LAUK to the list of places to be visited.  This place is very worth to visit. Kampuk Lauk which had stood since 2006, is located at the edge of Kahayan Rivers. Although relatively new, but kampung lauk  has become one of the most favorite tourist  culinary destinations in Palangkaraya. No wonder the place was very crowded. People willing to queue and wait longer in order to eat at this place

Because Kampung Lauk is directly on the edge Kahajan, a dish that is served is always fresh. All dishes taken directly from the river. Early morning fishermen around Kampung Lauk restaurant came and give their handed catch to the Kampung Lauk.

 

Visiting Nyaru Menteng, Orang Utan Rehabilitation

Nyaru Menteng is a reintroduction orangutans that have an important role in the rescue and preservation of orangutans. Nyaru Menteng precisely located near Palangkaraya (approximately 28 miles) and is administratively located in the village tumbles Tahai, Bukit Batu, Palangkaraya, Kaliman.  If you come to Kalimantan Tengah, dont forget to visit Nyaru Menteng…..You’ll be surprise with the air, the flora and fauna.

 

This park was built by Lone Drosher Nielsen in 1999. He is a volunteer who devoted himself in Tanjung Puting National Park (Taman Nasional Tanjung Puting). At first he was the one who served as caregivers and nurses  displaced orangutans in the national park. After several years of putting on the cape, he decided to blaze his own a special place for orang-utan conservation is now known as arboerum Nyaru Menteng.

  

If you want to visit Nyaru Menteng, preferably Saturday and Sunday before three o’clock in the afternoon. Why? Because, only in that day  Nyaru Menteng open for tourists or public.  There is no entry fee to explore the arboretum and see orangutans undergo quarantine. However, they accept donations.

In Nyaru Menteng, we can see the behavior of orangutans very funny and sweet. In addition, we can also watch some special films about orangutans  (film from collection of orangutan reintroduction).

Note:
Visitors who come to Nyaru Menteng orangutan can only see from a certain distance from the glass or educational space. Why? this is for security reasons, only certain people who have gotten the vaccine orangutans are allowed in and interact with the orangutans.