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!

Highly Commended Responsible Cruise Operator 2010

At the World Travel Market in London last week, Rahai'i Pangun Jungle River Cruises was Highly Commended in the Virgin Holidays Best Responsible Cruise Operator category.

To have a look at all the award winners, follow this link http://www.responsibletourismawards.com/pastwinners.htm

Womens Own Adventure journeys into Kalimantan

Canoeing from the Rahai'i Pangun

An orangutan in the branches on the river bank

Longhouse at Tumbang Malahoi

Meeting villagers & sharing a locally grown, roasted and spiced coffee

Australian travel company Womens Own Adventure have sent their first clients on the Jungle River Cruise and Longhouse trip. Transferring direct from the airport to the Rahai'i Pangun, the two adventurous women made themselves at home in the comfortable cabins for the 5 day journey up the Rungan River. After sighting orangutans, canoeing the lakes and rivers spotting proboscis monkeys, stretching out on the deck sofas, visiting villages and learning the 'welcome dance', Nicki and Kate set off for their 4WD trek, along roads just being built, to the traditional longhouse at Malahoi.

'Hard to beat' was their last appraisal of the trip after their final refreshing night at the Rungan Sari Resort!

Venturing to the Upper Kahayan longhouses

Lebaran holiday in Indonesia, what perfect time for us working here to escape the tiny city of Palangkaraya and head for the 'real' Borneo jungle and the old Tumbang Korik longhouse.

Distant and isolated as ever, it takes a combination of bumpy car rides, noisy local 'klotok' canoes and sacks full of patience, flat tyres, breakdowns and racing rapids to get there.

Setting off up the Kahayan River from Tumbang Mirih, we turned off on the Hampatung tributary. Stopping en route at a Dayak tiwah ceremony in full swing in a tiny village, we were thrown straight into another world. At Tumbang Korik, we slept in the very longhouse where tribal reps had gathered after walking from all over Borneo to meet 130 years ago to iron out a deal with Dutch missionaries to stop head hunting. We lay on those ancient boards, watching daylight twinkle through the uneven walls, living from dawn to dusk by the river.

Following our parang machete wielding guide, we were swallowed by a tall forest. Stumbling up and down hills, over creeks and marshes, listening to the whir of the great black burung endang or hornbill overhead and the shrill calls of smaller birds, we passed through in the half light.

Our last day was a long klotok ride to another longhouse over on the Kahayan River, a re-construction of the original place of the signing ceremony at Tumbang Anoi - it was considered too dangerous to bring the Dutch visitors up our rock strewn river which was named after the many wrecks littering its course. We still saw lots!

And the finale, we rode the Kahayan River through the narrow gorge near the Dayak holy rock of Batu Suli . Feeling alive but badly sun burnt, we climbed up the steps to our losmen in Tewah. No comparison with the longhouse!