Monday, April 11, 2011

Tanjung Jone, a Village Bugis in Heart Borneo

Unlike other villages on the shores of Lake Jempang a population of native tribes such as the Dayak of Kalimantan, Kutai and Banjar, Capers Jones almost the entire population are Bugis (Original Tribe of South Sulawesi). There are around 1,000 lives with 200an Head of the Family and nearly all work as fishermen who catch fish in the lake. No one knows for sure, when and how their ancestors first inhabited this village because there was no evidence of written and oral stories only spoken to the next generation. Once, Capers Jones was originally inhabited by several families of the Dayak Benuaq. Jones said in Bahasa Benuaq means "sand", probably referring to this Cape region is indeed like a sandy beach area. Bugis ancestors who first inhabited this village about 5 families. Because it's become a tradition of the Dayak for farming to move, over time Capers Jones abandoned by them to continue to go into the woods and left the Cape Jones for Bugis people. In 2006 the elder-Jones Bugis elders aged over 70 years, had not know exactly since when the Bugis inhabit Jones. This can be ascertained that before the early 20th century they already exist in Jones. Tracing kinship with the Jones Bugis people in Samarinda Seberang very closely, it is not impossible that Jones Bugis ancestors originated from the Bugis in Samarinda Seberang (the same Bugis Wajo). Bugis community in Samarinda Seberang exodus begins experiencing Wajo Bugis Bugis battle with Jones in the 15th century. Today, Jones Bugis people still maintain their traditions like the Bugis are still living in Sulawesi (wedding tradition, the procession of people died, traditional clothing, khataman Qur'an etc.). In terms of craft, the Bugis Jones also adept at weaving Samarinda Sarong as generated by the Bugis in Samarinda Seberang.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Biodiversity in The Region Jempang

Jempang Lake is the largest lake in East Kalimantan, the extent of not less than 10,000 ha with an average depth of 7 m during the rainy season, when the dry lake area is narrowed even occasionally until completely dry. Jempang Lake is in the middle of the Mahakam River Basin near Lake  Semayang and Melintang.
 
Number of species of fish in this lake showed a high diversity of fish and mean water is quite stable and rich in biological resources which can be exploited by people who inhabit the villages on the shores of the lake. These fish are usually preserved by a fisherman in a way marinated then sent to Samarinda and other cities. Type of salted fish at most, among others Kendia (Thynnichtys vaillanti), Patin (Pangasius sp), Cork (Channa striata), Baung (Mystus nemurus), Toman (Channa micropltes), Jelawat (Leptobarbus hoevenii), Mujair (Oreochromis mosammbicus) and Lais (Kryptopterus micronema).

Proboscis Monkey
 
Tropical forests surrounding the lake is the habitat of flora such as the Proboscis Monkey, Red monkey, Ape Long Tail, Beaver Beaver, Warthog, Python, Komodo Kalimantan and several species of birds like Eagle Bondol, Bird Heron, Kangkareng Stomach White and many others .
 
This area is one of the foreign tourist destination in East Kalimantan because in addition to having the Dayak Cultural Village is also rich in biological diversity of several species is Borneo Endemic Fauna.

Tanjung Isuy, Ethnic Culture Village Dayak Benuaq

Scenery at Lake Jempang indeed very beautiful, the villages on the outskirts of the lake are fishing villages and met many residents who reside in the "raft" (the house floating on the water). The fishermen are in addition to catch fish, they also cultivate fish in cages like Patin (Pangasius sp), Nila, and also Cork (Channa striata).

Tanjung Isuy is one of the villages located on the edge Jempang with a population of about 2,000 people, 85% Benuaq Dayak tribe, the other is Bugis, Banjar plus a small part of Java, Kutai, and several other newcomers tribe. Benuaq usually earns a meager living as a farmer, Banjar as traders and small fishermen, Bugis almost entirely of fishermen. Tanjung Isuy as a cultural village is quite famous as a tourist destination in the province of East Kalimantan Dayak culture Benuaqnya in addition to a beautiful panorama with the background scenery of the lake.

Benuaq Traditional Dance

Benuaq Girls
The women Benuaq both young and old in the village were a lot of skilled traditional dance such as Dance Jepen and so forth. They are also adept at weaving cloth Ulap Doyo as they traditional fabric, craft sculpture statue here as well as the legacy of their ancestors that they are still well maintained. Some Lamin (House Length typical Dayak) still can we meet and the tourists (usually foreign visitors) can enjoy a stay in one of Lamin which functioned as an inn.

Tanjung Jone Village
Tanjung Isuy is also a gateway for tourists who want to cross the Jempang and visit other villages around Jempang such as  Mancong, Tanjung Jone, Muara Ohong, Perigiq and Muara Pahu. With motorized boat hire, we can visit these villages. Along the river leading to the village Mancong Perigiq and we can see Long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) and also Bekantan (Nasalis larvatus), at Tanjung Jones Bugis village as there is a beautiful fishing village, and in Muara Pahu can be witnessed Pesut Mahakam.
To go to Isuy from Samarinda can be reached by using the bus about 6 hours through the terminal Sungai Kunjang. In just a day there are 2 buses that go directly to Isuy and both set off at around 08.00 am and costs only Rp. 50.000, - pretty cheap right? To get to the heart of East Kalimantan and enjoy the exotic interior of Borneo.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

TOURISM OF MAHAKAM RIVER


Mahakam River is the longest and largest river in East Kalimantan, running down some districts such as West Kutai, Kutai Kartanegara and Samarinda. This river is a transportation routes and trade is very important since old times. Recorded in history, that the kingdom of Kutai (Indonesia's First Kingdom) is located on the banks of this river. At the present time any river is still the transportation routes and trade is very important. Through this route crops and mines from upstream areas are distributed to Samarinda and ready to be sent to various other areas even to foreign countries.

The Banks of Mahakam River
Seeing the activity on the Mahakam River is a very typical scene from the city of Samarinda. Almost every time we can see passing collier, passengers, and also items of daily needs. At night, we can enjoy the relaxed atmosphere on the banks of the river and feel romantism Samarinda. Family entertainment park near the bridge Mahakam is the recommended place to visit. Roasted corn, durian fruit, and seafood is the menu that we can enjoy while relaxing on the banks of the river that divides this city of Samarinda.