Jakarta Post's Weekender magazine highlights the Jungle River Eco Cruise

Australian Parliamentary Delegation visit Kanarakan in November

During their short and busy schedule of official meetings and visits to conservation and educational projects funded by the Australian Government in Central Kalimantan, the Parliamentary Delegation found time to cruise on the Rahai'i Pangun from Tangkiling to the small village of Kanarakan.

After answering the traditional questions from the village elders to establish the friendly intention of the visitors, Harry Jenkins, as leader of the delegation, was asked to crush an egg and proceed to open a barrier, formed by a fresh cut tree trunk, covered by a batik cloth. Once this was set aside, the party moved to the palm frond gateway, where two pencak silat or shadow boxers faced each other through flimsy ropes. One representing the villagers, and the other the visitors, an energetic and humorous contest took place during which finally, the last barriers were broken, allowing the visitors to stream in.

After the formalities, the traditional monotonal, improvised singing, or karangut, began a music and dance display, which also included enthusiasic invitations for the guests to join.

Later visiting the school, and the village health clinic, the delegation walked through the village to view infrastructure improvements being made by local goverment, including clean water provision to all houses, and small household solar units. Also visited was a family rubber orchard, where latex collection was shown.

A comfortable 2 hour cruise back to Tangkiling on board the Rahai'i Pangun had the final treat of glimpsing the iconic orangutans on Pulau Kaja release island.

The following is a Press Release issued by the Australian Embassy in Jakarta

5 November 2008

AUSTRALIA AND INDONESIA STRENGTHEN PARLIAMENTARY LINKS

Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr Bill Farmer, welcomed the visit by an Australian Parliamentary delegation to Indonesia this week as part of regular official exchanges between our two parliaments.

“The visit is part of the deepening interaction between our two democracies,” said Mr Farmer.

“The last Indonesian parliamentary delegation to Australia in August 2007 experienced the lead-up to our national elections later that year. So too this Australian delegation is seeing Indonesian democracy with all its vibrancy and openness leading up to the 2009 elections,” said Mr Farmer.

The delegation, led by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Harry Jenkins, held a range of meetings in Jakarta including with the Speakers of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), House of Representatives (DPR) and Regional Representatives Council (DPD) and other Indonesian parliamentarians.

The delegation was also received yesterday by the President, HE Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and, in a separate meeting, by Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

Mr Farmer also said during the visit the parliamentary delegation was seeing first hand the environment and education work Australia and Indonesia are doing together.

“To help protect the environment our two countries have established a Forest Carbon Partnership to reduce emissions from forest degradation.”

“Australia is also building two thousand schools throughout Indonesia to improve education,” Mr Farmer said.

A musical treat

When several western classically trained musicians visited the village of Gaung Baru, a spontaneous concert and exchange with the traditional Dayak fiddlers happened.

Arriving from the Rahai'i Pangun, having already cruised past orangutan islands and clambered up Mt Tangkiling, we walked through this tiny village, accessible only by river. As we went, our guests attracted a huge turnout of villagers. Bringing out their instruments to accompany the age old welcome dances, the musicians then lent them to be played by the visitors.

Later we were invited to the home of the kecapi or traditional stringed instrument maker. So impressed by how he had searched the jungle for the right tree to create the instrument, our guest decided to buy one.

Later, in a chance meeting during a forest walk, we came across a villager fashioning a canoe from a Meranti tree he had felled the day before. Using only a simple adze, he had hollowed out the trunk in preparation for putting it over flames to strengthen it, and later adding planks to the side.

Japan office of Garuda Indonesia market Rahai'i Pangun eco cruises

At an eco tourism travel product exhibition in Tokyo this week from 11-13 December, Garuda's Regional Office for Japan, Korea and China will be marketing Rahai'i Pangun cruises.
At the same time, when coming to Palangkaraya, there is an opportunity to visit Garuda's 'One tree and one passenger at a time' reforestation project in the Sebangau National Park. Garuda are working with WWF-Indonesia to realise its promise to plant a tree for every passenger carried.

Hornbill voyage

With the forest in flower and fruiting, the magnificent hornbill is out and about gliding slowly from tree to tree seeking out its favourite fruit. On our recent voyage from Palangkaraya, glimpsing this great black bird, with the white bar across its tail feathers and heavy, horned bill, caused great excitement.
The female raises her young in a hole of a tree, closing the hole with mud and twigs so that only a tiny space remains for the male to feed her. Giving her and her precious offspring protection from predators, she depends solely on her mate for food.
Visiting villages and gliding through the lakes by canoe, we finished our journey at Bukit Rawi, where the powerful hornbill, the Burung Tinggang, becomes a symbol of the afterlife in the burial rituals, appearing atop tall poles, and waiting to carry the souls on the their onward journeys.

4WD adventure trail into Dayak Kalimantan

From the first blessing by the Kaharingan elder to the brilliantly coloured carved totem poles at the burial sites and the humor and drama of the 'Potong Pantan' or welcome ceremonials and dances, this 4WD expedition, with 20 cross country bikes and half a dozen vehicles, ventured deep into Dayak country, in the Gunung Mas Regency.
Over 3 days our journey took us from Palangkaraya to Tumbang Malahoi longhouse, then on from there to Tewah to visit the village of Tanjung Ujung for a traditional welcome. Later we boarded a boat for a ride to the turbulent canyon where the revered stone, the Batu Suli, soars overhead.
According to legend, the stone was kicked there from a great distance by an angry spirit, incensed that Satan had returned to Earth and was eating people. However the stone was blocking the river, so the fish appealed to the spirit to put the stone aside. The only way it could be raised was by levering it up with the flimsy ginger-like Suli plant.
Over roads that were mostly hard clay and boggy in the valleys, we encountered a broken bridge, hastily repaired by enthusiastic locals. The heat was intense, but did make the roads easier to pass. After leaving Batu Suli for Kulala Kurun we had a full tropical storm, with lightening flashing through the darkness and the road turning into a slippery soup.
On the final day, we walked by jungle trail to a pristine waterfall, said sometimes to be the haunt of the angels. Though none about that day, we did actually see evidence of sun bears!
The trip organiser, pictured in the jungle orchid garden, plans another trip next year to more distant longhouses.
If you want to join us on that or a similar adventure, look us up at www.wowborneo.com

Longhouse by 4WD adventure

Go back in time with us to see a traditional Dayak longhouse. Driving the rain muddied roads in comfortable, new 4 WD vehicles, it can take about 6 hours, depending on the weather.

Along the route we stopped at a riverside village where we saw several canoes being built in the traditional way. First, the craftsman finds the right tree and hollows it out, then forms and burnishes the keel, later adding planks to the side. Finally, it is brightly painted.

After our long trip on muddy roads, the longhouse village put on a welcome ceremony, and later sang and danced. Climbing up the notched tree trunk, which serves as the staircase, we found our simple rooms and strung up mosquito nets. The longhouse is made of huge ulin or ironwood posts, and the walls of bark. Power is limited to a few hours at night.

While our cook prepared supper, we enjoyed animated conversations with the local people, keen to get to know more about their guests.

Early morning our local guide arranged a trek through a rubber jungle, including wading through peat coloured streams, and watching as the latex oozed out of the bark into bamboo sections.

Exploring the village's outstanding carvings and sandungs, or bone houses, and then visiting the kaharingan, or traditional religion temple, was a unique experience. Invited by locals to attend a ceremony to send some children off to the capital for higher education, we had truly engaged in their lives.

Natural treasures of Borneo from the Rahai'i Pangun

“This trip exceeded out expectations - wonderful food, great staff. Fantastic boat with a good blend of cultural and natural experience. We appreciate the way you are working with the local communities. This was a great trip to assist with learning the natural history of Kalimantan. The birds were great, especially the hornbills and colourful kingfishers. Seeing the orangutans, proboscis monkeys, and other primates was very special. It is a trip we would love to experience again" Paul, Ohio, USA

“The beauty of the river, the night sky, the morning mist, and quaint little villages, were all very special. Also the caring attitude of the staff helps to make this a special experience. It is important that the beauty and biodiversity of Kalimantan be preserved for future generations. What better way to do this than to introduce people to these world class natural wonders “Cathy, Ohio, USA

A dance welcome

There are so many different activities to enjoy from the Rahai'i Pangun.
Climb to the top of Bukit Tangkiling for a panorama of the flat lowlands stretching all the way to the horizon in all directions.
Visit the old village of Bukit Rawi and see traditional dancing by enthusiastic children, happy to introduce you to the energetic and dramatic Dayak dance performance. Admire the brightly coloured murals and carvings on the village sandung or bone house.
Relax on deck as evening draws near and the stunning sunsets unfold over the mirror calm river waters. Enjoy freshly prepared local cuisine on deck and admire the brilliant stars before turning into your comfortable cabin.

"Thank you for a fabulous trip! It was the perfect combination of luxury and adventure. I'll be back again" Jo Perrens, Australia

Cultural voyage

Its in the villages where visitors can really get to know the people, their lives and livelihoods, and their culture.
This is how Mardiah, our American guest, saw it :

“It was so moving to visit the two villages. Kanarakhan and Gaung Baru were memorable in their exchange of culture with us” Mardiah Gleeson

Rungan River maiden voyage

The Rahai'i Pangun's maiden cruise in February 2008 left Palangkaraya bound upriver for canoeing adventures, to see orangutans and for a relaxing journey along the jungle bound river.
Let the guests tell you about the experience :
"Thank you for a fabulous trip! It was the perfect combination of luxury and adventure. I'll be back again" Jo Perrens
" To all on the Rahai'i Pangun, thank you for introducing me to the wonders of Central Kalimantan over a fantastic few days. Loved the boat, loved the concept, loved the food - and the company was pretty great too! " Robin