Kalimantan canoes

Rivers are highways in Kalimantan, and to negotiate them, there are different canoes.

Jukungs are tiny dug out canoes that are used normally by one person. Low in the water, it takes both confidence and a sure sense of balance to ride over the wakes of larger passing canoes. Often used by women to check their fishing lines or nets, the jukungs are paddled. The trick is in the expert turning of the wrists. Paddles, though simply made from a plank, can expertly maneuver the small, heavy craft.

Alkons are larger dug out canoes, powered by 2-stroke engines, and have many uses for people living on the river banks. Used for transport, fishing and just getting about, kids from a very early age are adept at using and operating engines, and will obligingly help stranded guests.

Klotoks are the largest canoe. The keel is fashioned from one tree, felled, carved and burnished. Later planks are added along the length. Engines used are often car engines, without the mufflers, moving fast along the rivers. These are formidable canoes, that can carry a dozen passengers and travel long distances.

On our last trip we used alkons in the mirror perfect waters of the lakes.