Unique Way to do Exercise in Tau Lumbis

The people are jumping on a wooden floor. The floor is supported by many big bamboo. The bamboo gives the flexibility so that the floor can move upward and downward. The floor acts like a trampoline. This happened only in Tau Lumbis, East Kalimantan. No other Dayak community has this tradition. In the old days, the warrior can jump up to the ceiling of the hall where the head of the enemy hanged. The height of the ceiling can reach 3 meters or more.

This jumping thing was happening in the last night we were in Tau Lumbis. After having a feast and some traditional dance by children. They start the jump and while jumping they are singing. The floor can accomodate more than 20 people.

It is very unique. After doing this, one will feel that the legs are exhausted. Doing this jump often will strengthen the leg. It is important for Dayak people in Tau Lumbis to have strong leg because they have to go to the mountains that are very steep. It is really a good exercise.

Interested to go to Tau Lumbis? One can take long boat from Mansalong (1 hour drive from Malinau, Malinau can be reached from Tarakan by boat or by small plane). Tau Lumbis also have an airstrip. Christian mission have scheduled flight to Tau Lumbis (afaik once per month).

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.

My Second Trip to Eastern Kalimantan (a.k.a. Borneo)

This trip is my second trip to Kalimantan. I have been once there back in 1996 or 1995 (already forgot). My first was to Sangatta where Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC) operates. Sangatta is slightly different from other “normal” small East Kalimantan town because of KPC. By the way Kalimantan is how Indonesian calls Borneo.

WWF organized this second trip. WWF in East Kalimantan has two projects: Coastal Zoning project in Berau and Kayan Mentarang National Park (KMNP). The KMNP project is supported by GTZ. My project was invited to KMNP to find potential sites for micro hydro especially for settlements in the park area and in the buffer area. It is believed that providing people with adequate energy source can improve their well-being and reduce the pressure to the park.

We started from Tarakan. By boat we reached Malinau where WWF office situated. From Malinau we have to go to Mansalong to take the boat to Lumbis. It took one full day to reach Tau Lumbis village. The village is close to Malaysian border. In fact, their relatives are living in Malaysian side of Kalimantan. Tau Lumbis is situated in the buffer zone of the park. Tau Lumbis is the first to visit.

Second leg of the visit was in the direction of Long Berang. This time the villages are closer to National Park. Our main objective is to reach Long Pala. We took the boat to Mentarang river and this time it took 2.5 days to reach Long Pala (actually we can do 2 days to reach Long Pala). We have to stop in Long Berang and looked at their damaged micro hydro. Second stop was in Long Mekatip whose micro hydro potential is just a bit far from the small village (although it is very nice).

The similar thing of Tau Lumbis and Long Pala is that they have the airstrip. Christian Mission constructed a simple airstrip in those 2 villages. Flight to Tau Lumbis is in average once per month while to Long Pala is twice per month. Long Pala is harder to reach due to smaller stream. Long Boat (+- 10 meter boat) can reach Tau Lumbis at normal water, while to Long Pala one needs to use Ketingting (smaller boat +- 5 meter long) in normal water depth. More about Kalimantan Trip will come.