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Local, foreign tourists cruise Kapuas River in traditional boat
Sixty-four tourists from Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam cruised the Kapuas River for four days since Friday starting from Lubok Antu, a border area of Indonesia and Malaysia in Kapuas Hulu regency, to the city of Pontianak in West Kalimantan.
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A 'kapal bandong' is pictured on a waterway. The traditional boats were a popular mode of river transportation in the 1970s for both people and goods. (JP/Severianus Endi)
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ixty-four tourists from Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam cruised the Kapuas River for four days since Friday starting from Lubok Antu, a border area of Indonesia and Malaysia in Kapuas Hulu regency, to the city of Pontianak in West Kalimantan.
The activity was part of the Lake Sentarum-Kapuas River Cruise and Adventure initiated by Kapuas Hulu Nature and Culture Lovers Community.
The expedition along the longest river in Indonesia, which stretches for 1,143 kilometers, set off from Lake Sentarum National Park, passing through six regencies and ended at Pontianak a total distance of around 700 kilometers.
Most of the participants, 60 in total, came from Malaysia. One of them was Maj. Gen. Datuk Stephen Mundaw, the first commanding general officer of the Malaysian Infantry Sarawak. "I see more common characteristics than differences, both in culture and traditions; we indeed have shared ancestry," he told The Jakarta Post in Pontianak on Monday.
(Read also: West Kalimantan expedition set to explore Indonesia's longest river)
A tourist from Jakarta, Yuwono Kolopaking, a former director of state-owned toll road operator Jasa Marga, said that the cruise served as a napak tilas (commemoration) for him since he first saw a kapal bandong when he worked on Kapuas I Bridge in Pontianak in 1982 and had wanted to experience traveling on one.
"This dream of mine has finally come true after 35 years passed. I read in The Jakarta Post about this cruise and decided to join. I love adventure; I almost forget I'm already 82 years old," said Yuwono, who is now chairman of the Indonesian Senior Golf Association, adding that he was particularly excited when the boat stopped by Suka Lanting in Kubu Raya regency, where the group were entertained with rebana music and Dayak dancers in a temple, in which the songs were Javanese and the choreographer was of Chinese descent.
A kapal bandong is a traditional wooden boat that was a popular mode of transportation from the city to remote Kalimantan in the 1970s. The 200-ton boat, which was specially prepared by the community for the cruise, is 8 meters wide and 27 meters long with a 12-cylinder engine. Tickets for the expedition were priced at RM 1,400 (US$316).
The community coordinator Sutomo Manna said that following the first expedition, it planned to hold similar cruises annually. Of six regencies, four regents directly welcomed the participants.
Apai Keling, a lecturer in Miri, Sarawak, said the group was warmly welcomed when it arrived at the palace in Sekadau regency at 3:30 a.m., and they were invited to join the king savoring durian and a variety of local dishes. (kes)
