BORNEO ALAM ECOTOURISM

LET’S GET THE WONDERFUL TOUR TO THE BEAUTY OF BORNEO ISLAND BY JOINING US IN THIRTEEN DAYS TRIP OF BORNEO ALAM ECOTOURISM.

FIRST DAY:        Arriving in Banjarmasin and travel to Loksado.

We will start the tour from Banjarmasin, the City of ‘1000 rivers’. It is the capital city of South Kalimantan Province of Indonesia. This city is located on a delta island near the junction of Barito and Martapura rivers. One characteristic of this City is that many houses in this city are built on rafts or stilts over the water. Many of such waterways are also used for travel, using relatively small rowboats or traditional boats. We will wait for your arrival at Samsudin Nor Airport. And then, let’s start the wonderful tour. The first place that will be visited is Loksado, a small town about five hours ride from Banjarmasin, that is located at Meratus Mountaints. You will find the unique culture and tradition of Dayak Meratus and Banjar Tribe as the major population there.

SECOND DAY: Traveling to Rumah Banjar, trekking to Meratus Mountains Waterfall, bamboo rafting, and enjoying traditional dance and performance at Rumah Banjar (Traditional House).

We will continue this tour in the morning of the second day. We will walk about one hour to Rumah Adat Banjar or Rumah Banjar, which is a traditional house of Banjar Tribe. You will see the unique architecture of its high roof that in Banjar Language is called Bubungan Tinggi. From Rumah Banjar, we will do a trekking to Meratus Mountains Waterfall. You will enjoy the exotic waterfall and its tropical rain forest sensation. After getting lunch, we will continue to bamboo rafting on the beautiful river and the view of nature around Meratus Mountains. From bamboo rafting, we will travel to Pemandian Air Panas (Hot Water springs) at Loksado Mountain Valley. Besides for bathing, it is also used for health therapy. We will travel back to Banjar Traditional House in the evening and stay for a night to watch traditional dance and art performance in Rumah Banjar.

THIRD DAY:       Traveling back to Banjarmasin and walking around the City.

On the third day, we will travel back to Banjarmasin, take a rest in the hotel, and walk around to enjoy the city at night.

FOURTH DAY:   Traveling to the Floating Market and having breakfast on the traditional boat, traveling to Palangka Raya, and enjoying night in Palangka Raya.

We should go to the Floating Market early morning at 4.30 a.m. It is a unique market on the river. The transaction is held on Klotok or Rumbung (the traditional boat). We will go to the market by a klotok and buy some meals and have breakfast on the traditional boat. After that, we will leave Banjarmasinand travel to Palangka Raya, the capital city of Central Kalimantan Province of Indonesia. It will take about six hours ride from Banjarmasin to Palangka Raya. Then, after taking rest in Luwansa Hotel, we will walk around Palangka Raya in the evening, and have a dinner at City Park in the center of the city. You may choose the local dish of Patin Bakar (grilled river fish), Nasi Kuning (yellow rice), Nasi Goreng (fried rice), Bakso (meat ball), Sate, and Sop Rotan (rattan soup).

FIFTH DAY:        Visiting Balanga Museum and traveling to Hampapak Forest.

You will know more about history, art, and culture of Central Kalimantan Province and its native, Dayak Tribe. Dayak tribe is known as one of the most unique tribe and culture in Indonesia. You will find some of the history, art, and culture such as their customs of birth, childhood, and marriage to death of Dayak people. There are Sandung or bone houses, gongs and musical instruments that always accompany traditional rituals, masks, Mandau or traditional swords, and the other unique local culture collections. After visiting the museum, we will travel to Hampapak forest. It will take about two hours by a speed boat from Palangka Raya. We will trekking around the habitat of gibbon, orangutan, proboscis monkey, leaf monkey, macaques, slow Loris, pangolin, clouded leopard, tarsier, wild cat, python, king cobra, muntjac, etc. It is a peat-swamp forest and one of tourism forests of central Borneo. It was a nice forest, but it was reduced by fire and some illegal activities such as illegal logging and illegal mining. Now, it has been a wildlife sanctuary and conservation.

SIXTH DAY:        Traveling to Tumbang Melahoi, taking rest while enjoying Dayak Art Performance for a night in Rumah Betang.

We will go to Tumbang Melahoi, a small village on the bank of Rungan River. It will take about five hours ride from Palangka Raya. We can drive from Palangka Raya, but it is off road. We may ride speed boat or Klotok (traditional boat) if the water of Rungan River is high. We will visit this village to find a longhouse or Betang, the Traditional house of Dayak. It is about 30 meters length, and 3 meters height. It stands on magnificent iron wood. Its walls are made of the trees bark. It is located at Tumbang Melahoi village. In front of the Longhouse you will find statues and Sandung (bone house), containing the bones of the family members in the past. We will stay for a night at the traditional longhouse and enjoy Dayak art performance which will conduct a beautiful night and a memorable experience for us. We will also live in the real condition of its residents and their traditional life.

SEVENTH DAY: Introducing traditional rubber tapping/plantation process and traveling to Rungan River Cascade.

They will also show you rubber tapping or rubber plantation process. It is one of the most livelihoods of Dayak people. They plant the rubber trees, and then tap the trees in order to get the rubber. After that, we will travel by Klotok to Rungan River Cascade. You will be relaxed by the beauty of the Rungan River, the sound of water splashing, and the tropical rain forest.

EIGHTH DAY:     Traveling to Pangkalanbun

Before continuing our tour to Tanjung Putting National Park, we need to find a hotel and stay for a night in Pangkalanbun. It is a nice little town. It will take about eight hours ride from Palangka Raya. It is the capital of the Kotawaringin Barat or West Kotawaringin regency, in the western part of Central Kalimantan Province. It is a nice little town.

NINTH DAY:       One day off.

We have had a tour for a full weak. We need to take one day off before traveling to Tanjung Putting National Park. You may use it for taking rest, walking around Pangkalanbun town, or refreshing.

TENTH – ELEVENTH DAY: Traveling to Tanjung Putting National Park and enjoying the beauty of the forest for two days.

It is the climax of our Thirteen Days Trip of Borneo Alam Ecotourism. We will go to Tanjung Putting National Park. It is one of the natural wonders of the world. The best known animals in Tanjung Puting are orangutans. You will meet orangutans in their real habitat, interact with them, and watch orangutans feeding time. You will feel the purity of the air, live on Klotok (traditional motor boat), and see the sunsets. Besides that, it is also the habitat for more floras and fauna, such as gibbon, crocodile, proboscis monkey, leaf monkey, macaques, slow Loris, pangolin, clouded leopard, tarsier, wild cat, python, king cobra, muntjac, variety of birds, iron wood (Eusideroxylon zwageri), Meranti (Shorea sp.), kantung semar (Nephentes sp), mangrove, alluvial, etc. This National Park has several ecosystem types, such as lowland tropical forest, heath forest, peat swamp forests, mangroves, coastal forests and secondary forests. We will be there to stay and enjoy the beauty of flora and fauna of the National Park for two days. It must be awesome.

TWELFTH DAY: Traveling back to Kumai Port Town.

It will be a hard day. We should leave the cozy life in Tanjung Putting Nasional Park and also the comeliness of Borneo Island.

THIRTEENTH DAY: Traveling back to Pangkalanbun and leave to Jakarta.

Wish you have a wonderful tour and a valuable experience with us. :)

risky.mahdi@yahoo.com

risky.mahdi@yahoo.com  

Three Forms Of Democracy

Democracy is not a system that applied in all of democracy countries. There are many systems of democracy that applied in democracy countries. Democracy system that applied in Indonesia, Switzerland, USA, and Germany are different each other. All of them are democracy countries, but Democracy system in Indonesia is different with the democracy system in Switzerland. Democracy system in Switzerland is different with democracy system in USA, and democracy system in USA is different with democracy system in Germany. There are some general features as well as some groups of democratic systems that may be distinguished from each other. There are three basic forms of democracy that are applied in democracy countries.

Direct democracy is one of the popular democracy system. It is applied in Switzerland. In this system, Head of State is a  member of government in turn. Government members have equal rights. They are elected by the parliament, representing all major parties. Parliament members are elected for a fixed legislative period without dissolution. In this system, people have the strongest position.

Besides that, Presidential democracy is a system of democracy that applied in Indonesia, USA and France. In this system, president is head of state and leader of the government. The president is elected by the people in an election. Parliament members are elected for a fixed legislative period. In presidential system, the president has a stronger position.

Parliamentary democracy also a popular democracy system. It is applied in Germany and Italy. In this system, Head of State has a different function with a prime minister. The head of state is a monarch (queen/king). Government is elected by the parliament based on a majority, and it may be dismissed by the parliament. Parliament members are elected for a legislative period. Dissolution and early new parliament elections are possible if a clear majority cannot be established. Political parties have a strong position in this system.

Though there are differences between the systems of direct, presidential and parliamentary democracy, the systems are applied according to the circumstances and conditions of each countries. Each countries has a consideration to apply a system. The most important is how a system can make a prosperity of the country and its people.

References

Lapham, H. L. (2011, April). Democracy 101. Harpers, 31-37.

Mueller, C. D. (1996). Constitutional democracy. New York: Oxford University Press.

Systems of democracy. (2004) In Democracy building. Retrieved March 27, 2011, from http://www.democracy-building.info/systems-democracy.html

INDONESIAN AND AMERICAN FOOD

Indonesian and American Food

Food is very important for human life. Each country in the world has a specific food which is different from other countries. Indonesia has different food from the USA. When an Indonesian comes to the USA or an American comes to Indonesia, he will be in food shock. Indonesian and American food have a lot of differences; the staple food, the taste of the food, and the eating manners are important to know in order to adjust to the differences.

First of all, the Indonesian staple food is rice. Rice is very important for Indonesian people. Indonesian people eat rice every day. Rice is served at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Rice is served with meat, fish, and vegetables. Dewit & Borghese (1973) state that “Whether there is meat or fish or vegetable to eat is of second importance. The main concern is that there is rice (p. 36)”. However, American staple foods are wheat and corn. American people eat a variety of food every day. They eat rice rarely.

In addition, the taste of the Indonesian food is spicy. Indonesian people like spicy food. They always use many chilies and soy sauce. On the other hand, the taste of the American food is sweet or a little bit salty. According to McIntosh (1995), “Along with calorie containing sweeteners, consumption of artificial sweeteners has increased (p. 135)”. They often use ketchup or mayonnaise.

Moreover, Indonesian eating manner is to use a spoon and a fork. A spoon is more common. Sometimes Indonesian people just use their fingers and use a bowl of lemon water to wash their fingers after eating. In contrast, American people eat their food using a fork. They just use a spoon to eat soup.

However, Indonesian people and American people also have a similarity. Indonesian people take just a short time to prepare their breakfast. They take a longer time to prepare lunch and dinner than breakfast. In the same way, American people also take just a short time to prepare their breakfast.

Knowing the differences of the staple food, the taste of the food, and the eating manners between Indonesian and American food is important for us in order to adjust to each other. It will help you understand both Indonesian and American culture. It will prepare you if you come to Indonesia or go to the USA.

References

Dewit & Borghese. (1973). The complete book of Indonesian cooking. New York: Bobbs-Merrill Company.

McIntosh, E. N. (1995). American food habits in historical perspective. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers.

3.2.1 Parsons & Shils + Kluckhohn & Strodtbeck — Moniviestin

3.2.1 Parsons & Shils + Kluckhohn & Strodtbeck — Moniviestin

My Birthday Party

Hmm, baru saja pesta ulang tahun saya dilaksanakan. Tahun lalu, siapa sangka kali ini saya merayakan ulang tahun saya yang ke 21 di sebuah rumah di puncak bukit yang indah, di Kota Blakcsburg, Virginia. Perayaan kali ini sangat berbeda dan juga istimewa. Selain yang sudah saya sampaikan dalam "Ulang tahun di negeri orang", selain memimpikan kehadiran orang-orang yang paling saya cintai, ada beberapa hal lain yang saya alami pada hari ulang tahun kali ini. Baiklah, saya akan bagikan apa yang saya alami hari ini pada kalian semua.

Pertama, pada awal IELSP for Academic Purpose Class, Prof.Gude meminta saya untuk mengambil sebuah majalah di luar kelas. Dengan polos saya keluar kelas dan mengambil sebuah majalah yang dimaksud untuk diserahkan kepada sang professor. (Untuk apa ya, majalah ini..?). Saat saya memasuki pintu kelas, semua orang yang ada di dalam kelas menyanyikan lagu "Happy Birthday". Prof.Gude pun ikut bernyayi, sembari mengucapkan "happy birthday". (hmm, ternyata karena itu aku disuruh mengambil majalah yang sebenarnya tidak untuk dipergunakan dalam proses belajar mengajar. hmm... :).

Kedua (Nah, ini acara puncaknya... Special Dinner..), Mrs.Cherry (My mom in my home stay), mengadakan acara dinner spesial. Makanan yang dihidangkanpun sangat istimewa. Asian rice dan Chiken barbecue berukuran jumbo, itu makanan intinya, ditambah dengan beberapa hidangan pembuka, hidangan penutup, guyonan yang membuat tertawa, dan sebagainya, dihidangkan di atas meja makan yang lebih besar dari meja makan yang biasa kami pakai setiap hari. Saya, Mrs.Cherry, Rahman, 'Han, Singh, Selly dan Nilam, bersama-sama menyelesaikan semua itu secara adat (table manner). Hmm, setelah semua hidangan selesai, Mrs.Cherry mengeluarkan sesuatu dari dalam refrigerator. wau, ternyata kue ulang tahun, dengan lilin megic spesial yang sudah dipakai turun temurun sejak pesta ulang tahunnya yang ke 15 (waw, cool...). Konon lilin ini bisa menyanyikan lagu "Happy Birthday" dengan sendirinya, (namun pada malam ini lilin tersebut tidak mau bersuara, mungkin dia ingin Mrs.Cherry, Rahman, 'Han, Singh, Nilam dan Shelly untuk menyanyikan lagu "Happy Birthday" secara langsung untuk saya. Lilin pun sudah dinyalakan, lampu ruang makan pun sekejab menjadi gelap dan digantikan cahaya lilin di atas kue ulang tahun (so sweet..). Lagu HB pun dinyanyikan, kemudian wishing, diikuti dengan tiup lilin, dan potong kue. Hmm, saya pun memberikan potongan kue pertama kepada Mrs.Cherry ;),,,
Oh ya, tradisi disini, siapa yang ulang tahun, akan dipukul pantatnya setara dengan jumlah usianya. (wah, 21 X 6, wkwkwk..). Oups, itu cuma cerita Mrs.Cherry. Mereka tidak akan melakukkan hal itu kepada saya. :)
Yah, tradisi disini tidak dilaksanakan, ternyata digantikan dengan tradisi di Indonesia yang terjadi. Rahman memulai mencoretkan coklat ke muka saya dan yang lainnya. Hmm, serentak terjadilah kehebohan, menutup acara spesial malam ini. Eh, ternyata tidak cuma itu. Saat saya turun ke bawah, Rahman, 'Han dan Singh sudah menunggu saya di ujung tangga. merek langsung menyeret saya keluar dan menyiramkan air ke tubuh saya (basah kuyup, dah..). Padahal malam ini sangat dingin dan hujan salju pun sempat ikut mengambil bagian, walaupun sangat sedikit. Namun hangatnya suasana malam ini, sedikit mengurangi dinginnya udara yang bisa membuatku merasa membeku. Karna saya sudah kedinginan, maka saya cukupkan sampai disini cerita hari ini. See you, kawan... Thank you so much, Cherry..