The best food in Indonesia on board the Rahai'i Pangun

Ute Bohnsak, a recent guest on board, who came with a group sponsored by a major German sponsor of WWF-Indonesia, complimented us on our delicious food - a compliment regularly given on our trips...

"... we were all raving about the food on board your boat. It beat anything we had on the trip hands down, including the four-star hotel. Coffee and cake afterwards was a very nice touch too. You know how to keep customers happy :)

In particular, the chicken & potato dish with ginger was a favourite. Does that dish have a name I could google? Would love to re-create it ...

Wishing you continued success with your Eco wisata business."

Here are some photos of the food - and take note that a Jungle River Cruise Recipe Book will be available in the New Year. We are happy to take orders at any time.

By the way, the chicken and ginger dish is Tom Kha Kay if you want to Google it!

Sabangau National Park and local communities on the Katingan River

The Sabangau National Park is 600,000 hectares of tropical peat-swamp forest in southern Central Kalimantan, rich in biodiversity and especially noted for supporting the largest world population of the endangered orangutan.  

WWF-Indonesia works closely among the local community within and bordering the Sebangau ecosystem to promote sustainable, responsible and innovative livelihoods. Their community based eco tourism initiative, focused in the villages of Baun Bango, Jahanjang and Karuing on the Katingan River, is a mechanism for supplementary and sustainable income generation linked to protection of this area of high conservation importance and as a major global store of carbon.

KTD is now offering tours into this remarkable Park, working closely with these local communities to give visitors an authentic eco tour. Contact us for a full program and enjoy the tour in photos above.

Evening light on the rivers and lakes of Central Kalimantan

The extraordinary rich evening light offers a feast of vistas for passengers on board Jungle River Cruises and for photographers looking for the dramatic effects of light and skies on the blackwater and forests.

Adopt a Sea Turtle from a Conservation Program near Pankalan Bun

The BKSDA or Indonesian Nature Conservancy Agency last year established a sea turtle conservation program at Tanjung Keluang. A slender sandy promontory, stretching between the sheltered bay near Kubu prawning village and the mouth of the Kumai River, it is the beach chosen by sea turtles to lay their eggs from about March through to November. In the past, the eggs were disturbed by uncontrolled local tourism and the usual predators, monitor lizards and rats. Now a dedicated team from BKSDA regularly patrol the beach to keep zircon miners away, and to monitor nests. Many eggs are transferred to controlled hatcheries, safe from predators. Hatchlings are released in the sea before they reach the age of 4 months.

An adoption program there enabled Lorna and Gaye to release one of these feisty little survivors after he was comprehensively measured, weighed, named Rahai'i Pangun and placed on the beach heading inland! He rapidly found his direction and after his first sniff of the sea, intrepidly swam off.

There is no accommodation here, though a toilet and shower block has been constructed, and camping is permitted. A SIMAKSI Permit from BKSDA Office is Pankalan Bun is needed to visit.

KTD offers visits to Tanjung Keluang - ask us at wowborneo.com.

Isen Mulang Festival 2011

Here is the program for the Festval Budaya - Dayak Cultural Festival in Palangkaraya

Thursday, 19 May 2011

Time : 12.00am 

Grand Opening of Isen Mulang Festival, Cultural and Tourism Pageant 
Time : 19.00 pm 

Competition : Karungut singing & Fireball
Location : Sanaman Mantikei - Stadium 

Friday, 20 May 2011
Time : 08.00 am & 14.00

Competitions: Balugu, Habayang, Blowpipe, Canoeing and Weaving 
Time : 19.00 pm 
Activities : Traditional Dancing and Fireball Competition 
Location : Sanaman Mantikei and Kahayan River

Saturday, 21 May 2011 

Time : 08.00 am 
Competitions: Cooking, Balugu, Blowpipe, Habayang,Mangenta, Traditional Canoe and Besei KambeCompetition 
Time : 14.00 pm 
Competitions : Balugu, Blowpipe, Habayang (Sanaman Mantikei), Traditional Canoe and Besei Kambe Competition (Kahayan River - Under the Kahayan Bridge) 
Time : 19.00pm 
Competitions : Fireball and Coastal Dance Competition 
Location : Sanaman Mantikei 

Sunday, 22 May 2011

Time : 08.00 am 
Competitions : Balugu, Blowpipe, Habayang, Besei Kambe, Mangaruhi (Location : Golf Field Km 4),Maneweng-Manetek and Manyila Kayu, also Pakasak Lamang 
Time : 18.30 pm 
Competitions : Prince and Princess Of Central Kalimantan Competition 
Time : 19.00pm 
Competition : Fireball 
Location : Sanaman Mantikei 

Monday, 23 May 2011
Time : 08.30 am 
Competition : Prince and Princess of Central Kalimantan (Interview Session) 
Location : Balanga Museum 
Time : 14.00 pm 
Competition : Decorated Canoe 
Location : Under the Kahayan Bridge 
Time : 19.00pm 
Activities : Entertainment 
Location : Bundaran Besar - Big Roundabout 


Tuesday, 24 May 2011 

Time : 18.30 pm 
Competitions : Prince and Princess of Central Kalimantan (Grand Final) 
Time : 19.00 pm 
Closing ceremony of Isen Mulang Festival 
Location : Sanaman Mantikei 

Cookery competitions - decorative vegetable arrangements

New Zealand International School students say its the best camp yet!

New WOW Borneo Website Launched

 

Just launched is our new look website - same address but loads more features - and our wonderful short film is right there on the Home Page for you to savour.

New Year Cruise in Close-up

 

In early January, with the river levels unseasonally low, the Rahai'i Pangun headed south to re-visit the village of Tundai, to renew our friendships there. We sat down with one of the older village women as she wove a rush basket. Starting with merely a few stems, she deftly threaded the slippery lengths into a strong base.
We met the village women and discussed their lives in this tiny village, floating on the coal black lake waters.

That night it rained, and we set off up river, with guests boarding at different locations... all the time enjoying local specialties, giant fresh water prawns, crisply fried corn 'percadel' or cakes, jungle ferns, aubergine grilled and served with a piquant chilli and tomato sauce, and great breakfast pancakes.

By the last day, we were beating our way up stream against the swollen Kahayan River to Bukit Rawi and our excursion to the colourful sandungs at Sigi and Tuwong. After another heavy downpour, we returned to the cozy Rahai'i Pangun, with her rain shelters down and candles lit, for an evening of traditional music and wonderful food and company!