Museum Balanga

The rainy season is still with us, and while it is my favourite season as it makes the rivers high and the temperature pleasantly fresh, constant rain can make sightseeing a bit of a drag. But, on the other hand, it is a good day for the Museum!

The Palangka Raya Museum Balanga is laid out in such a way that the visitor moves one by one from the artifacts and customs of birth, childhood, and marriage to death. There are carved birthing stools and inclined benches, slings and hammocks for babies and the delicatedly sequined backdrops and clothing for weddings. An intriguing miniature collection of sandung or bonehouses flanked by their attendant carved guardians is next to the rows of gongs and musical instruments that always accompany traditional rituals. A stunning series of tall, weathered carvings stand together in a group around a Kaharingan altar, an integral part of the faith of the indigenous Dayaks. Collections of masks, mandau or swords and highly prized traded procelain pots and vessels make this small collection a fascinating insight to the unique local culture.

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?

Orchid and jungle trekking eco tourism was on the agenda last night when Upik came to talk about his activities in a small community of the Barito Timur region of Central Kalimantan, adjacent to the Barito River. He is working for the regional government in a community which maintains an 'adat' forest, one that is traditionally managed and utilised. In effect, this gives the forest protection from development or logging or other activities that would destroy it.

The forest is some 60 square klms in size, and contains potential for forest walks, peaceful canoe rides through proboscis monkey habitat, and seeing the famous black orchid of Borneo in situ. The latter flowers in June and July, and this would be a perfect time to visit, between the rainy and dry, hot seasons.

We talked about planning a trip which included some time within the community to learn about what exactly the 'adat' forest is, and how they maintain and control its use. Staying first in a home stay, and then having 2 nights in a jungle camp, would give a real experience of this surviving traditional forest usage. The problems we have are simply getting there. The roads are very poor from Palangka Raya to this region, so we are looking at usage of float planes - an adventure in itself!

Our eco cruise boat, planned to operate on rivers and lakes along the boundary of the Sebangau National Park, is well under construction. Now is the exciting time when the framework goes up, and the cabins and decks begin to appear. The interior of this traditionally built freighter will house 5 cabins and 3 bathrooms. On the quarter deck to the stern of the boat will be food preparation and covered dining areas. Above, on the deck over the cabins, will be a roomy, covered viewing deck. From there, our guests can lay back and enjoy the passing scenery. Glimpsing monkeys, including the larger proboscis monkey, several species of hornbills, the electric blues of kingfishers, swooping swallows, the velvety royal blue of a delicate species of bird of paradise, and the tawney gold of the local pheasant, is all the work they will be asked to do!

Our committment to true eco tourism, where we are working with local craftsmen and upgrading their skills by bringing in experienced internationally trained and recognised designers and builders, is happening at every level. We are already working in villages where the boat will call, and are collaborating with other NGO's already there. This eco tourism venture aims to have direct benefits to the preservation and conservation of the Sebangau Park, native forest habitat of the Bornean orangutan. Joining us on the boat makes a direct contribution to that effort.

Palangka Raya is currently booming, and celebrated the opening of its first mall last week. The well planned city with its wide boulevards was intended by Sukarno to become the capital of Indonesia. It is now the bustling centre of government with an expanded role after decentralisation of power from Jakarta. It is also the centre for natural resources development in plantations, mining, fishing and ecotourism.