Interestings place in Indonesia

Sumatra

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Sumatra The fifth largest island in the world and the third largest in the archipelago, spans more than 1,000 km from the northwest to the southeast, and accounts for a quarter of Indonesia’s total landmass. It is Indonesia’s most important territory in just about everyway, strategically, economically and politically, it formed a pivotal backbone of the nation. It has a population of 30 million people and has the most export activity in Indonesia. Its export includes oil, natural gas, rubber, palm oil, tobacco, tea, coffee, and timber. There are about 90 volcanoes and 15 of them are active. Sumatra straddles the equator and the monsoon period in the north differs from that in the south. In the north, the raining season starts in October and continue until March, while the dry season runs from May to September. In the south, the raining season starts in October, but in December to February, the rains are truly torrential. Sumatra today is divided into 8 provinces namely North Sumatra, Aceh, West Sumatra, South Sumatra, Bengkulu, Jambi, Lambung and Riau. 

 

Java

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Over 100 million people live here on an island the size of California. Its over-population is a real problem in Java where family planning campaigns and the transmigration policy have had little effect on the inexorable upward trend. Beyong sheer weights of number, however, the Javanese also possess a rich historical record and a unique cultural heritage. Java’s dance and dramatic traditions, wayang puppets, gamelan music and batik textiles are famous all over the worlds as are its ancient temples and elegant places. The islands phyiscal beauty is less widely renowed, but no less captivating. Tropical rain forest, alphine meadows, pristine beaches, Java has a place for almost everyone. Java is distinguished by its many volcanoes and indeed, volcanoes are such a dominent feature of the landscape that one of the island’s cone is almost always within view.

 

Kalimantan                                                     ....................................................................................................................................... Kalimantan is Indonesia’s name for its two-third of Borneo, the world third largest island. The other third of Borneo is divided into the East Malaysian provinces of Sarawak and Sabah, plus the tiny oil-rich sultanate of Brunei. Kalimantan, with an area of 540,000 sq km, represent nearly 30 percent of the nation’s land area, but less than five percent of the population. Many foreign visitors are attracted by its wildlife and the white water rapids and the untracked depths of the jungle. But many othres the greatest lure is the Dayaks.                 Orangutans, found in Sumatra and Borneo, head the list of unusual animals along with the endemic probosics monkey  The orangutan, " man of the jungle" is an endangered species. There are only about 5,000 left in the wild and their habitant is increasingly  threatened by humans. The aptly-named probosics monkley have a huge red nose, which in adult male can grow to 15 cm. This disproportionate probosics strengthen the animal vocal powers and also adds tonal qualities to the voice. There are about 600 species of birds. The reclusive, magnificient Argus pheasant takes the top prize in plumage. Hornbills are considered sacred by several Dayak groups, perhaps by it ususual appearance, the sound made during flight and the strange habit of dealing up the female in a tree truck while eggs incubate. East of Kalimantan or Kaltim is the most popular destination of Indonesia Borneo. The provice is huge, embracing the Mahakam River and its various tributaries as well as several river basins to the north.  With over 200,000 square km, much of the land is unihabitated jungle and the population of 1.5 million mostly concentrate in the coastal areas.   Balikpapan is the usual port of entry for Kaltim.  This busy oil town which a population of nearly half a million,  holds little interest to traveller unless on business. On   the hilltop one can take in the view of Pertamina’s sprawling oil installations. Samarinda, is the capital of Kaltim province There are not many attraction here, but it worthwhile to hire a boat and observe activity along the waterfront; freighters loading or discharging, coal barges shoved around, rafts of logs towed to nearby lumber mills. Southeast Kalimantan or Kalsel, is a small province on the southeast coast of Borneo. Banjarmasin, the capital city is famous for its colourful floating market and bustling canals. There are a couple of places, under the Yani bridge and at Kuin Pertamina where travellers can rent motorized canoes for a tour of Banjarmasin and the Barito River.  Visitors are advise to go early to the floating market, Kuin Market.                             Here, produce is brought to the market in small boats,                             from which it is sold directly to women in tiny hand-paddled canoes.                             The women than glide on the canals to sell fruits and vegetables                            directly to housewives,                             whose front door are on the water.                             There are also little boats serving coffee,                             tea and snacks to canoes for a quick breakfast. From Banjarmasin,                            fly to Kumai, a riverside village just outside   the Tanjung Puting Nature Reserve. Tanjung Putting’s hightlight is the orangutan rehabilitation center, at Camp Leakey. Tame orangutans that have been confiscated are turned  over to the centre, where they are taught  to live once again in their natural environment. Central Kalimantan or Kalteng, is the Dayak province par excellence.                      Long dominated by the Islamic Banjarmasin. Palangkaraya,                       the capital of Kalteng has a population of less than 100,000.                      Most of the commercial and business activities are concentrated                      in the Pahandut district,  where a village once existed on the Kanyan River before  selected as the provicial capital. Dayak country is up the Kanyan River. There are daily passengers boats heading up river as far as Tewah, then hire a motorised canoe to Tumbang Mire and beyong  to the traditional Ot Danum Dayak land with longhouses and funeral structures. Western Kalimantan or Kalbar, covers a huge area,                     essentially the basins of the Kapuas River.                     Pontianak, the provincial capital lies near the sea                      at the juncture of a branch of the Kapuas and the Landaks rivers.                     The city’s name refers to evil spirit who inhabited the area before                      AbdulRahman scattered them wth a sustained and persuasive cannon barrage.                     Nearby is the 250 years old Abdur Rachman Mosque.
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