Isen Mulang Festival 2010 bursts onto the stage 20-25 May!

Have a browse through this brimming schedule of unusual, not to say extraordinary, events over a jam packed 5 days.

If its not the uproarious night-time fireball or the intense and haunting karungut singing, the speed and accuracy of the blowpipe darts or the sheer brute strength and idiosyncrasy of the besei kambe, the canoe paddling in opposite directions! - there is something for everyone.

Admire the unique presentation of Dayak cuisine or choose your favourite Prince or Princess. Or check out the fabulous dances ... the list goes on, and the fascination remains.

Write to us for help in making the most of this Palangkaraya Festival at kalimantantours@gmail.com

Here is the schedule of events :

Wed, 19 May 2010

Time : 08.00 am
Activities : Registration of competitors
Time : 17.00 pm
Competition events scheduled : Traditional Canoeing, Besei Kambe (canoe paddling), Large Decorated Canoes, Maneweng, Manetek (wood chopping) and Manyila Kayu (chopping fire wood), Blowpipe, Balugu (coconut bowls), Mangaruhi (catching fish from pond), Sepak Sawut (Fire Football), Habayang (traditional game), Karungut (traditional Dayak solo monotonal singing), Dancing, Prince and Princess of Central Kalimantan, Exhibition, Pakasak Lamang (cooking sticky rice using bamboo), Rattan weaving, Cultural pageant and traditional foods
Location : Longhouse Mandala Wisata

Thurs, 20 May 2010
Time : 14.00 pm
Grand Opening of Isen Mulang Festival, Cultural and Tourism Pageant
Time : 19.00 pm
Competition : Karungut singing
Location : Sanaman Mantikei - Stadium

Fri, 21 May 2010
Time : 08.00 am
Competitions: Balugu, Habayang, Blowpipe, Canoeing and Weaving
Time : 19.00 pm
Activities : Traditional Dancing and Fireball Competition
Location : Sanaman Mantikei and Kahayan River

Sat, 22 May 2010
Time : 08.00 am
Competitions: Cooking, Balugu, Blowpipe, Habayang, Mangenta, Traditional Canoe and Besei Kambe Competition
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, 23 May 2010
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, 24 May 2010
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, 25 May 2010
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

Dutch Reality Show on the Rahai'i Pangun

Over 3 days, production company Die Beeldbrigade from Amsterdam, were in Palangkaraya to film an episode of their popular TV reality travel show, "Waar is de Mol?" Host Johnny de Mol had invited adventurous TV personality Nicolette Kluijver, as the special guest.

The crew were lucky to be here during Isen Mulang, the local sports and cultural festival, where Johnny and Nicolette are seen enjoying heats of the blowpipe competitions. Forest camping overnight was followed by cruising on the Rahai'i Pangun Jungle Boat. The successful visit also included a warm and spontaneous village ceremony.

Isen Mulang Festival Highlights - Decorated Boat Competions - Lomba Jukung Hias

We were watching from a small canoe in the midst of these wildly decorated boats as they enthusiastically competed for the honors. Full feathered and tattooed warriors, thumping gongs, and dancers found a place amidst the profusion of banners, of painted motifs and huts, and even a make believe waterfall. These boats, with their hornbill motif, representing the spiritual life, are believed to ferry the souls of the departed ancestors to heaven. Competitors came from regencies in Central Kalimantan.

Isen Mulang Festival 19-24 May 2007

Blowpipe, fireball, enchanted boats, canoe paddling, dances, chopping, cooking, singing and other popular local games and sports are open for fierce competition between the regencies (regions) of Central Kalimantan. Heats are already on in the regencies for the best groups to compete.

This year is also the 50^th Anniversary of Central Kalimantan, so there’s more happening. Kalteng Expo 2007 showcases what’s going on across the board in the province. The Museum, as well as its collection of Dayak cultural objects, will also have a special exhibition of Indonesian decorative features. Restaurants (warungs) mushroom at night along the streets and the city lights up. Literally too, when fireworks will flash into the Anniversary night sky.

Kalimantan Tourism is doing special Isen Mulang Tours which you can buy through recognized Indonesian Travel Agents, including Indonesia Ecoventure www.indonesiaecoventure.com and Bayu Buana www.bayubuanatravel.com

Here is an abbreviated program :

CENTRAL KALIMANTAN TASTER TOURS
18-20 May 2007 Long Weekend Isen Mulang Tours
3 days/2nights

Day 1 Arrival in Plk, traditional lunch on riverbank, speedboat ride to see orangutans and check in hotels. Enjoy a dip. Evening meal and traditional dance watching sunset over Tangkiling hills.

Day 2 EITHER (included in tour package)

Isen Mulang City Tour – Start your tour at Bukit Batu, or boulder hill, a place renowned for spiritual power, where the Founder and first Governor of Central Kalimantan meditated. Return for early lunch to hotels. Afternoon visit the Museum and special exhibitions and then enjoy some shopping in the traditional handicraft market. Join in the opening ceremony of Isen Mulang and later stroll along the boardwalks of the old town at sunset. Dinner and later watch the night fireball competitions and Dayak songs. Return to hotels.

OR

Wild Orangutan Walk (conservation surcharge applicable) - CIMTROP open their 25,000 hectares of conservation peat forest to a special type of eco-tourist interested in experiencing first hand the rainforest habitat and the orangutans that live there. Experience the awe of having a unique encounter with a wild (not the usual rehabilitated) orang-utan as you watch them in the canopy above you. Trek through parts of the, conserved by the care of the CIMTROP Team. Feel the thrill as you first spot orangutans in the canopy or on the ground of their natural habitat. Follow them on foot and keep up as they swing through the tree tops.
Learn about the importance of the peatland forest at CIMTROP’s natural laboratory and the work they have been doing to protect this endangered environment.

Day 3 Early check out to watch traditional canoe races and blow pipe competitions. Depart Palangka Raya 1100 for the airport

Are you coming?