Dry season cruise

  

July and August, in some years stretching through September, can be dry in tropical Central Kalimantan. River levels can drop significantly and upper river destinations become accessible only by smaller canoes. River communities are always happy to welcome visitors, whatever the season and children are quick to make friends. The holiday brings many people to local beauty spots. Bukit Batu, near Kasongan, is a favourite place in which to relax and pray for good fortune by festooning the rocks with yellow ribbons of cloth, and watch the sun go down after a hot day.

Building a new boat in Palangkaraya

   On the banks of the Kahayan river under the Palangkaraya bridge, our new concept boat has begun construction. Built by local master craftsmen on the river banks using age-old methods of burnishing the planks in fire to make them bend, wooden chocks to hold the planks to the framework, waterproof fungus, which is a by-product of palm sugar production, and the ability to build 'by eye', our new boat is based on the design used as fuel boats on the Kahayan and Rungan Rivers. These boats have flat hulls and are stable and able to travel into the upper river regions where river levels can be low.

Plans are to convert this boat to a comfortable private charter vessel for 2-4 passengers, which can travel far enough up-river to reach longhouses and other unique cultural sites.

Completion is projected for December 2012, if all goes to plan!