Kalimantan

WEST BORNEO SOUL          


Explore a 10-day journey where you meet the places in the west part of Borneo. An extraordinary land falling exactly on the equator. Admire the peaceful energy and the culture that is coloured by the ancestors of the Malay, the Dayak and the Chinese. Feel the power of the nature, with the great river of Kapuas and the rainforest that need to be discovered. A journey of to discover the soul of West Borneo.

The city of Pontianak was founded in 1770 by the Arab merchant Syarif Abdul Rahman al Gadri. It is located almost precisely on the equator, hence it is widely known as Kota Khatulistiwa (Equator City). The city centre is actually less than 3 kilometres (2 mi) south, so it is indeed among the closest of any substantial city in the world. When standing on the equator your shadow disappears, a rare experience. Pontianak is renowned for its food and regional produce. The main industries are shipbuilding and the production of rubber, palm oil, sugar, pepper, rice and tobacco. It was formerly Borneo's main centre for gold extraction.

The equator is an imaginary line on the earth's surface in the form of a great circle midway between the poles. The equator divides the earth into a Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere. The celestial equator divides the sky into a northern and southern sky. At the equator the sun stands twice a year exactly right above the ground. This applies to the entire area between the two tropics. Therefore it is on the equator usually very hot and there are no seasons like in temperate regions such as the Netherlands and England are known. However, there is often a wet and a dry season. The UV index is at the equator the highest. Another peculiarity is that the day and night around the equator are almost equal length. The stars in the sky all describe a semicircle, like the sun. The North Star, that in northern areas almost stands still, is in and on the south of the equator not visible.

Singkawang is known for its Chinese culture. Many temples can be found here, where the gods and goddesses of the Chinese Mythology are worshipped. Therefore, the city is also called the city of a thousand temples. The culture is seen as the closest to the original tradition of Chinese people (mostly refers to Fujian), making Singkawang known as the Indonesian Chinatown. Also many Chinese restaurants and stalls can be found. A well-known dish is Rujak Ju Hie, which is rojak with dried squid. Kembang Tahu also known as tofu or bean curd is also very popular. Local people enjoy the night with their friends discussing the local hottest issues, singing, or playing cards. They still practice their culture in any ceremony or official events, from weddings to funeral ceremonies.

The Dayak
The indigenous people inhabiting the dense tropical rainforests of Borneo are collectively called the Dayak, but in fact they comprise many tribes that are diverse in culture as well as in language. The word “Dayak” actually means “inland” or “upriver”, especially where the Indonesian part of Borneo, - called Kalimantan, - is cut by many long and wide rivers as well as many tributaries, which are used as transportation highways.

In Central Kalimantan live the Ngaju Dayaks, the Lawangan, the Ma’anyan and the Ot Danum, known as the Barito Dayaks, named after the Barito River. The Ngaju are involved in agricultural commerce, planting rice, cloves, coffee, palm oil, pepper and cocoa, whilst, the other tribes still mostly practice subsistence farming through the slash and burn lifestyle. Although many Dayaks have modernized and converted to Christianity and Islam, however, the majority still adhere to the original Kaharingan belief, also known as the Hindu-Bali Kaharingan, which is a state recognized faith. Kaharingan belief focuses on the supernatural world of spirits, including ancestral spirits. The Ot Danum tribe is known for their skill in plaiting rattan, palm leaves and bamboo. Until today they still continue to follow the ways of their ancestors. The Ot Danum live in long houses built on 2-5 meter pillars above the ground. One house has around 50 rooms. These longhouses are locally known as betang. Dayak tribes make a living by clearing forests and hunting for wild animals.

- International or Domestic flights
- Lunches and/or dinner
- Daily guide, speaking the language of your choice
- Insurances
- Entrance fees at the sites
- Any other wish to complete your journey