Boatmen of East Kalimantan

If one goes to Kalimantan and wants to visit remote areas, one can choose one the transport modes (e.g. fly, by boat or walk). Flying is possible for some limited sites. Walking is the "old way" because Dayak people used to walk to nearest market or village before motorized boat becoming common. Water transport is very common in Kalimantan since long time and it is already a "culture" for them. River means everything to Dayak people. I cannot imagine Kalimantan (especially Dayak people without river).

Talking about water transport in Kalimantan especially, one can find many types of boat. One can find "long boat" that is big and can transport up to 1ooo kg of men and material and one can also find smaller boat that is called "ketingting". Ketingting is small (+- 5 to 8 meters long) with low power motor (5-12 PK). Long boat can use up to 4 motors (each can have 40 PK power). Ketingting motor has propeller attached to its long tail (see picture above) while long boat has more modern engine with propeller attached below the engine block.

There are two important operators of boat. The one operating motor is called "motoris". At least one boat has one motorist. Bigger long boat can have 2 or more motoris. Ketingting only have one motoris. Motoris is responsible to steer the boat and control the motor. The other important person is "juru batu" or "pathfinder" or "rock expert". He is responsible to direct the motoris and shows him the safe path for the boat. Boat must avoid collision with rocks (that scattered under water) and this "juru batu" must know the safest way for the boat. Juru batu usually sits at the front of the boat. When the boat eventually stuck, Juru Batu and motoris must work hand in hand to "release" the boat by pulling or pushing it. Sometimes if the jump or the rapid is too dangerous to pass, the boat is either pulled (when you go upstream) or pushed (when you go downstream).

Going downstream is more dangerous for the boat and the passengers. It is because the boat is harder to control due to greater speed. Juru batu usually works harder when the boat is going downstream. One special thing about Juru Batu is that they usually have hunting rifle ready on their side. It is common in Kalimantan that all of a sudden they see wild animals like wild pig by the river. If the rifle is ready, they can immediately shoot the wild animal and bring it home as a bonus. Not all juru batu has hunting rifle.

So, when you visit Kalimantan do not forget to try the boat transport and feel the adventure. Dayak people (men, women, children) are used to this mode of transport. It might be very interesting if one bring his/her kayak upstream and go downstream by kayaking...hmmm.