B CKPACKIN’ BACKPACKIN’ MAGAZINE.VOLUME 3.FEBRUARY-MARCH 2011
FUN I RELAX I LOW BUDGET
MY JOURNEY
LOKSADO BAMBOO RAFTING THRILL IN LOKSADO
HOW TO GET THERE
GO TO LOKSADO
LOCAL CULTURE
ARUH GANAL TRIBUTE TO NATURE
ACCESORIES : ULTRALIGHTS I COMMUNITY : KASKUS-OANC I TIPS : MAKE THE ENERGY WWW.BACKPACKINMAGAZINE.COM
CONTENTS
BACKPACKIN’ FEBRUARY-MARCH 2011
YOU HERE
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FEBRUIARY-MARCH I 2011
BAMBOO RAFTING THRILL IN LOKSADO River water splashes on my feet that trample on a bamboo raft loksado which is a part of meratus mountain in south kalimantan may not be as famous as puncak in west java, of course also not as established like bali if it’s viewed from the terms of accommodation.
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ARUH GANAL, TRIBUTE TO NATURE Thousands of dayak meratus tribe people who stay at loksado are still loyal in holding their custom and culture that inherited hereditary.
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GALLERY LOKSADO Loksado in a camera shoot!
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HOW TO GET THERE LOKSADO 1. Available flight from Jakarta Batavia, Sriwijaya, Garuda & Lion Air. 2. From Surabaya : Lion, CityLink, Sriwijaya, and Mandala
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KANDANGAN KETUPAT, LOCAL CULINARY Kandangan is a name of a town in between banjarmasin and loksado. It takes 3 hours from banjarmasin to go there.
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ONE SUB-DISTRICT, SEVERAL TENS CHOICES Loksado is one of the sub-district names in Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency. The capital of the regency is Kandangan, the last transit place to Loksado from surrounding cities.
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KASKUS-OANC :
THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE NATURE
The puncak sejati (eternal peak) of raung mountain can’t be reach for free. The problem is you have to get used to stand in a high place and hanging with a not-bigger-than-a-mother finger wisp of lace.
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ACCESORIES THE ULTRALIGHTS TOOLS When you travel, or do a long-time expedition, you must bring many things on your backpack, consists of sleeping bag, mattress, tent, stove, clothes, and so on.
Greetings for Backpackers!, It was already a year that Backpackin’ has been rise. At first, only a small ide a from one of the members of the Indonesian Backpacker, slow but sure we continue to grow. Our online magazine begins with a very simple concept, equipped with a blog www.ezinebackpackerindonesia.wordpress.com as our first house. Now our magazine is getting bigger and more mature, with a commitment to display a lovely spot in the hemisphere Indonesia in every edition. Our house was more steady in www.backpackinmagazine.com As a marker of one year Backpackin‘ online magazine, as well as to start the new year, we dedicate the beauty of Loksado for you. Special presented by one of our friends, Nasrudin Ansori, directly from South Kalimantan. Enjoy!
EDITOR IN CHIEF Ambar Arum EDITOR Muhammad Iqbal EDITORIAL TEAM Sri Anindiaty Nursastri Annisa M.F. Harahap Anindya Leonita Dea Maria Crista Ryana Andari Purba ART AND DESIGN Galih Permadi MARKETING Jeremy Gemarista WEBMASTER Kurniawan Aji Saputra WEBSITE www.backpackinmagazine.com EMAIL redaksiezinebi@yahoo.com BACK PACKIN’
FEBRUARY-MARCH I 2011
EDITOR IN CHIEF
GENERAL MANAGER Khemal Nugroho
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MY JOURNEY
FEBRUIARY-MARCH I 2011
LOKSADO
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RIVER WATER SPLASHES on my feet that trample on a bamboo raft Loksado which is a part of Meratus Mountain in South Kalimantan may not be as famous as Puncak in West Java, of course also not as established like Bali if it’s viewed from the terms of accommodation. But Loksado is still captivating for me. The distance is only about 4 hour’s overland journey from Banjarmasin, the city where I live.
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Bamboo Rafting Thrill in Loksado BY : NASRUDIN ANSORI
There are traditional vehicle owned by Dayak Meratus tribe, Loksalo local residents, who have been making Loksado visited by many tourists. It’s not good if you haven’t been there. Just like going to Yogyakarta but not visiting Malioboro. Well - Known as Bamboo rafting. It is the best way to enjoy the beauty of Loksado that is still maintained. Unlike rafting that commonly uses rubber boat, bamboo rafting uses bamboo lined bound with bam-
boo leather. The track is railing Amanda River, one of exotic rivers in Kalimantan. By using public transportation purposes Kandangan (from Banjarmasin), I travel about 3 hours. I was with two friends who come from Bontang, East Kalimantan. The two other friends were waiting in Loksado. They come from Jakarta and Bali, they both are adventuring around Borneo. The car that I ride in seems unconvincing. The BACK PACKIN’
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LOKSADO
entrance door for passengers is corroded almost entirely. There was no executive bus to Kandangan, a small town which is the capital of Upper South River. This district shades Loksado, as the main stay of tourism. I had to share a seat with dozens of other passengers. The roar of a car engine sounds noisy. The smell of diesel fuel is sometimes pierced my
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nose. Cheap rate may still be a reason why this simple transportation remains smoke muffler. Diamond City, Martapura, I got t after an hour journey. Happy Earth Light jewel shop looks so crowded. This center of souvenir and diamond sales must be visited by tourists in South Kalimantan. The architect of this building adopted Egypt’s typical architecture surrounded by giant calligra-
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phy. The main building roofs reflect the unique culture of Banjar. Not far from there, I found a magnificent mosque, Agung Al Karomah. The motif that covers the dome colored by light green and blue blend night, the main building of the mosque is colored by cream. The marble hall of the mosque looked slick. The car drove on,
splitting Trans Kalimantan that connects the cities of South Kalimantan and East Kalimantan. The hunger strikes when I’ve just gotten Kandangan. I hurried to a Ketupat Kandangan shop. After eating the typical culinary, I returned to the paved road toward Loksado. This time I changed the mode of transport. I join a pick up car that doubles as a mean of transportation. The back of the car is equipped lined chairs facing each other. The Charge is about USD $ 13 thousand to travel about 40 minutes to Loksado. If I only found the lowlands along the way to Kandangan before, then what I see now is a very beautiful green mountain. Meratus Mountain extends up to several districts as well in South Kalimantan. One the right places to see it is Loksado. Until now, Meratus Mountain is still relatively maintained from mining activities and oil palm plantations. I hope that the conditions will stay like this. Hopefully, my kids and grandsons can also enjoy it because mountains are priceless for their precious heritage. The car sputtered a bit when confronted by steep grades. Side of the street, I witnessed a BACK PACKIN’
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LOKSADO
JULI - AGUSTUS I 2010 FEBRUIARY-MARCH I 2011
steep ravine. If the car is crumbling, it is possible to us to tip into the gaping abyss. More smoke billowing. The adrenaline increases. However, I still enjoy it. Muara Hatip Village greeted us a few moments later. From here I watched the towering Mount Kentawan on the right road. Kentawan Mountain is not active, but only the rock hill that has a very large size, so conspicuous among the surrounding hills. In Muara Hatip, the hotels that directly overlooking the Kentawan Mountain and Amandit River are available. The trees more dense, made my eyes fresher. We passed the gate without a guard. Not far from there, I encountered a first bridge in Loksado. Directionsigns thatiswritten is the Resources of Hot Water Tanuhi perched on a Tjunction. Our car swerved to the right road. From here, the journey is still approximately 7 km longer. Can’t wait to touch the clearwaters of Amandit River, while her bamboo rafting. Finally we arrived at a pier bamboo rafting around Wisma Loksado. The thundering noise of Amandit River was creeping into my ear. The thunder continued to be heard during the year. It’s really a very beautiful natural singing heard. I immediately contacted two other friends who had arrived on the previous day. They only know me via the internet and SMS. While waiting, I went to the riverbank. Watching the river flow faster lined blends of natural stone scattered around it. Across the way, I saw one woman washing clothes Dayak Meratus. Not too long, two friends from Jakarta and Bali also arrived. We shook hands, introducing ourselves, sharing experiences until drinking hot coffee together. We also blend with the surrounding Meratus Dayak people. The raft jockey gave the code that the raft was
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ready. Two looks solid raft moored on the river bank. I was with my friends from Jakarta and Bali in a raft, while the other raft is filled by two other friends. Then the raft slid freely. River water splashes immediately jumped to my feet, cool. River water comes from the mountains above it. It’s so clear that I could see a scattering of natural stone under a river. A suspension bridge facing us around the village primary school in Malaris, river widen even around here. Jeram somewhat reduced, rows of green hill is so easily to be seen.
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“It’s so clear that I could see a scattering of natural stone under a river.
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LOKSADO
In another corner, I met some kids Meratus Dayak tribe was busy hunting the river fish. They simply use a wooden gun. A long needle used as a weapon to kill the fish. As I dive into the river, they carefully look for fish. If there are fish, with a sprightly long needle is directed toward the target. Although not all the shots on the target, but they carried a simple basket filled some river fish. The life of tribal children taught me how important the role of nature for humans, including children Meratus Dayak tribe. Our raft on the river crept gain. The very lush tree greets us. Rock cliffs on the both sides
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of the river shows how natural river, sometimes my head should be bent, if there are dangling trunk. Because sometimes a little raft rate edged cliffs surrounding many hanging tree trunks. Raft kept on going. Cascade back block, flows faster and faster. Clumps of water around boulders were seemed want to challenge us. Raft jockey kept directing us to stay on the desired path. Ferocious rapids we were going through. The sprinkles of water barrage hit us. Luckily the camera was safe, because we wrap it with water proof container, one of our friends by shouting out fast. Then we see a small village belonging Mer-
LOKSADO
ular route every day bamboo rafting tested by the tourists who visit Loksado. But in fact, bamboo rafting route not only route that I went through it alone. There are others, more distant point, namely the route destination dock Muara Hatip village. The sensation of climbing bamboo raft while enjoying the natural beauty of Loksado is an unforgettable experience. The truly unique way to enjoy the charm of Loksado.
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atus Dayak tribe. There were only a few simple homes. Average citizens who inhabit the job are farmer. Not only that, sometimes they grow cinnamon around the village. They are very dependent on the abundance of natural products. Even the bamboo raft was a natural result that they get from the thousands of bamboo trees in Loksado. Towards the finish, the flow of the river was calm. There’s nothing like the fierce rapids of the previous path. Mount Kentawan more clearly visible. Shaped like a pyramid, looks solid in between rows of other hills. Our raft was soon pulled up at the Village Tanuhi. This is where the pop-
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HOW TO GET THERE
LOKSADO TOWARDS KANDANGAN From Banjarmasin, we can use a type of white Colt (Rp 35,000 for 3 hours). This Colt is on the terminal Pal 6 (largest terminal in Banjarmasin). If you’re lazy to look for transportation in Pal 6, the transportation can be intercepted Colt Kandangan goal on the edge of the highway near the airport Syamsudin Noor, precisely in the vicinity of the existing round about monument plane.
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TOWARDS BANJARMASIN 1. Available flight from Jakarta Batavia, Sriwijaya, Garuda & Lion Air 2. From Surabaya : Lion, CityLink, Sriwijaya, and Mandala 3. From Balikpapan : Batavia, Mandala, Sriwijaya 4. From Yogyakarta and Semarang : Mandala and Lion Air. 5. Buses can also be accessed from Palangkaraya: Great Temple Bus, Bus Yessoe. From Balikpapan, there is a bus purposes Banjarmasin but can also serve the purpose Kandangan, because Kandangan is one of the cities that passed by the bus. Belle Island Bus and Seroja Bus, rates approximately Rp100.000
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1. Car pick-up is transformed into a public transport (Rp13.000, one 40 minutes). But this car is only there until 1 pm. 2. Ojeg (Rp50.0000, about 40 minutes) Both will stop at the parking area around the pier Loksado bamboo rafting. 3. Rent a car from Banjarmasin. Rates: Rp250.000/24 hour for Avanza, and for Kijang Innova is Rp 350.000/24 hours. BanjarmasinLoksado fuel from approximately Rp150.000 for Avanza, while Kijang Innova is Rp200.000. For chauffeur services, the tariff is Rp100.000/24 hours.
LOKSADO
THE CHOICES OF ACTIVITIES
BEST TIME October to June. While not entering the long dry season, Debit Amanda River is ideal to try out bamboo rafting. BACK PACKIN’
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1. Bamboo rafting. 2. Tracking to many places 3. Body rafting / tubing using a donut around the river boat around Amandit River which is near from Wisma Loksado because river flows are not too dangerous. 4. Make bracelets simpay in Malaris with Dayak tribal Meratus
PHOTO : HARATAI WATERFALL
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LOKSADO TIPS 1. If not do jungle trekking, no need to use the services of a guide. 2. Bring the bag to store dry goods during rafting. 3. Do not speak carelessly pitched particularly squalid and insulting, especially when in a Dayak Meratus Village 4. Do not leave rubbish on the Amandit River 5. Avoid too much of their food during the rafting. 6. Messages bamboo rafts the previous day, because the bamboo raft do not always stand by at the dock. 7. If you do not have much time, trip to Loksado can be quite a day without needing to stay overnight, enough for bamboo rafting and to the waterfall Haratai. Departing early from Banjarmasin, come home late from Loksado.
CONTACT NUMBER Mr. Santoso (Rent Car in Banjarmasin) 085251492186 / 08125198334 Mr. Amat (Guide, Wisma Loksado & bamboo rafting) 081348766573 Mr. Sadri (Wisma Alya & bamboo rafting) 081348943728 Mr. Iwan (Tailor ojeg Loksado Haratai-Waterfall) 081348943728
LOCAL CULTURE
ARUH GANAL
ARUH GANAL Tribute to Nature
BY : NASRUDIN ANSORI
ARUH GANAL THOUSANDS OF DAYAK MERATUS tribe people who stay at Loksado are still loyal in holding their custom and culture that inherited hereditary. They call it Aruh Ganal. Aruh means acara (event), and Ganal means besar (big). Aruh Ganal is a big event that held as a tribute from Dayak Meratus people to God, because He gives them grain and other products from nature. On the event, they also pray and hope that in the next crop, the result will higher than on that day. The Aruh Ganal event is also held on Malaris vilage, one of the village located in Loksado. On Malaris village, there is an ethnic public hall of Dayak Meratus tribe. It is used for the center of Aruh Ganal celebration in Malaris. Every village in Loksado has their own hall with the same function like in Malaris. The village are Uruy village, Tanuhi, Loa Panggang,
and others small villages, like in the side of Meratus mountain range. The simple stalls around the Amandit river looks quite in the time of Aruh Ganal celebration, because most people are going there to see the event. The local people are excited on the Aruh Ganal celebration. Aruh Ganal is not only as the worship to God, but also as the relationship keeper among the people, inside or outside the village. People are gathering in Malaris’ public hall. The building stands steady on the ground which have size like football field. Thousands of motorcycle are parking in the field, and the main entrance are fulled by visitors. This celebration is dominated by visitors that majority comes from Dayak Meratus. Their face are typical, with slant eyes and white skin face. There are also tourists between the visitors, two of them
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BULOKBADUY ARUH GANAL
When the event starts, some of the magnates in Loksado gather in the middle of the hall. Their clothes are simple, using pieces of textile on the head with many kind of motifs, and looks so unpretentious. When the drum starts to play, the sound of the audience is covered by the sound of the traditional drum from Dayak Meratus. The unique thing in this performance is doing by some mid age women who called Balian. They wear simple clothes, but not the traditional outfit. The man is also in action, moving around the ancak. Ancak is a building made from young coconut leaves and various kind of flowers. Around the ancak, there are foods placed in a plate that called sesajen, consist of lamang, chicken’s blood, boiled eggs, etc. Warning: the visitors can’t eat the Dayak Meratus’ sesajen. BACK
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“The unique thing in this performance is doing by some mid age women who called Balian.
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BULOKBADUY ARUH GANAL The man (pangulu) is still moving around and read the spell. The language is pretty strange to Kalimantan local people, probably because the spell contains worship, wish, and hope for the Dayak Meratus people. They also hope for the good result of the crop, because the main aim of Aruh Ganal celebration is the expression of gratitude to God, and also the hope for the crops by Dayak Meratus tribe. The event will end in the next morning. The drum-beat and spell are reverberating to the whole area of Malaris’ public hall. Loksado people give simple dish, which is seasoning chicken like in Banjarnese dish, habang chicken, accompanying with hot tea. The visitors don’t have to follow the event until the end, they can take a rest by staying at local people’s house, not far from Malaris’ public hall. Some of the visitors are using the wooden floor inside the hall as a bed, also with blanket. The others spend the night in the hall while the balian and pangulu are continuing the Aruh Ganal on the next day. (PHOTO : NASRUDIN ANSORI)
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CULINARY
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KANDANGAN KETUPAT
KANDANGAN KETUPAT Local Culinary BY : NASRUDIN ANSORI
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KANDANGAN KETUPAT is stand together with other ketupat stalls. Kandangan Ketupat has uniqueness on the presentation, flavor and the way to eat it. Kandangan Ketupat doesn’t have vegetables. “Just eat it with coconut milk and Haruan fish,” said one of the stall servants. The structure of the ketupat is a bit rough and easy to break, different from other kinds of ketupat which is tend to crammed and soft. If it is stirred with fingers or spoon, the complete piece of it will brake to pieces, just like normal white rice. In eating ketupat, Banjar people use their hands (not spoon) to dissolve it. For some people that kind of way maybe seem to be a little disgusting, but actually that’s the unique of eating Kandangan Ketupat. It’s more unique with the Haruan fish. Haruan fish for Kandangan Ketupat are dry chilies, turmeric, soft salt and then smear it to the fish. The fish, then, is burnt with coconut shell. After it is burned, Haruan fish is mixed with coconut milk sauce which is cooked before with many kind of spices. For ketupat sauce, the ingredients are mixture of dry chilies, kemiri, turmeric, kencur, serai leaf, paste of shrimp, shallot and soft red sugar. Then it’s boiled with the spices coconut milk sauce until bubbled up. Finally, the burned Haruan fish will mix with the coconut sauce. Only with RP 12.000,00, we can enjoy it. *Ketupat which is eaten with coconut milk sauce and Haruan fish
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KANDANGAN IS A NAME of a town in between Banjarmasin and Loksado. It takes 3 hours from Banjarmasin to go there. Since there is a special cuisine from Kandangan which the material is ketupat, then it is called Kandangan Ketupat. There’s a recommended ketupat stall in a small town which is the last town before Loksado, named Kaganangan. It’s located on the road side which connected Kandangan and Barabai. The stall
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GALLERY
Loksado in a Camera PHOTO : NASRUDIN ANSORI
AMANDIT RIVER for bamboo rafting in Loksado
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a Shot
ARUH GANAL Tribute to nature
HARATAI WATERFALL foreigners destination
ON THE SPOT
LOKSADO
One Sub-District, Several Tens Choices BY : NASRUDIN ANSORI
FEBRUIARY-MARCH I 2011
LOKSADO IS ONE OF the subdistrict names in Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency. The capital of the regency is Kandangan, the last transit place to Loksado from surrounding cities.
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LOKSADO The nature, which is still original and filled with mountains, makes Loksado as one of the specialties of tourism spots in South Kalimantan, because there are not only Lok Baintan Floating Market, Martapura ore panning and diamond industry, walk along the Barito River edge and some beaches also islands in Kotabaru, but also Loksado is very worthy of exploring. Many things can be done and seen in Loksado, such as below.
AMANDIT RIVER
A clear beautiful river which spread about
hundreds of kilometers, divides the mountains of Meratus, South Kalimantan. One of the places that the river passes is Loksado. On the right and the left side of the river, there are green hills, rock banks, Dayak Meratus village, society’s gardens, scattered nature rocks and wild langsat trees.
BAMBOO RAFTING
Bamboo Rafting is the best way to enjoy the beauty of Amandit River. The bamboo raft will take tourists to follow the river stream and at the same time to clash the rapid in certain spots in the river. One raft can be rented by Rp 200.000,00, it could carry 3 passengers at the same time. If the debit of the river is high, then 4 passengers could be carried in one raft. The popular route of bamboo rafting is the wharf to Tanuhi Village, with 3 hours ride. Tubing is another way to enjoy the fresh of the Amandit River water. With only RP 5000.00, a car inner tube or doughnut boat can be use to try medium rapids around Wisma Loksado.
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HARATAI WATERFALL
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Haratai Waterfall is a waterfall in Haratai Village. The height of the waterfall is about 35 meters with fast stream of water. The waterfall has a well the size of volley field which is used to just for playing in the water. But the well is quite dangerous, because the stream is very tight. There are two ways to get to the spot; take ojek for RP 50.000,00 back and forth or tracking for 3 hours.
MALARIS VILLAGE
One of the villages of Dayak Meratus tribe in Loksado. From Wisma Loksado, this village can be reached by walking around 30 minutes. Malaris collects some interesting spots, which are Balai Adat Malaris that is usually used as the centre of tribe’s
ORDINATBADUY
RIAM HANAI WATERFALL
A mini waterfall which located not very far from Malaris Village. With walking, it only needs 20 minutes to go there. The last lane of the track is a slippery steep mix with soil. Under the waterfall there is a pretty wide well. The well is very calm so that visitors can swim comfortably.
LOKSADO events, Riam Hanai mini waterfall, central of Dayak special Simpay bracelet making, and also fruits seller like durian, kapul, rambutan, langsat (according to the current fruit season).
ANGGANG WATERFALL BATH
A very virgin nature’s object, never been “touched” by surround tourism government. The only access is walking for 5 hours. No wonder that this waterfall has only been visited by nature lovers youngsters and some foreign tourists. Using a guide there is a must because the route is confusing. Anggang Waterfall Bath is bigger and taller than Haratai, even has steep level on its above.
JUNGLE TRACKING
The are so many routes Loksado offered as a way to feel a journey by taking a long track. The Kalimantan tropical forests are plentiful around Loksado. The hills, several tens of small rivers, Dayak Meratus village, several tens of hanging bridge and other things are the packages Loksado offer while tracking. Some can be enjoyed for about 6 hours, some for days, depend on the routes. Then again, a guide is a must on jungle tracking.
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MOUNT KENTAWAN
Not an active mountain like we find in Java Island, but a giant hill which located on the edge of Amandit river, Loksado. The shape is like a pyramid. Mount Kentawan looks strike the eyes if we compare to hundreds of green hills around Loksado. No wonder if beauty pictures of Kentawan are often seen in brochures until national magazines who specifying in tourism.
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LOKSADO
TANUHI HOT WATER SPRING
For backpackers this place could be less interesting, because it has concrete buildings in the form of cottages, swimming pools in different sizes, tennis court, aula, bunker and (of course) hot water pool that has been transformed to city hotel swimming pool. The entrance fee is RP 3.500,00. Not very far from there, there is Kilat Api waterfall. The water spill of the waterfall is little but the rock bank is quite high and graded.
HARATAI VILLAGE
One of the villages that Loksado has. Inside of it, there are many Dayak Meratus communities. Not only waterfall, it also has Haratai custom house which is quite the same as Malaris’. Many of the Haratai females work as butah home industry, a traditional Dayak bag made from bamboo skin and oth-
er plants. Butah can be bought as gifts for visitors, it costs around RP 35.000,00 until RP 50.000,00. The shape of it is a rucksack complete with rope in the back of the bag.
AGROTOURISM
Between December and January, Loksado would be packed with fruits; durian, kapul, langsat and rambutan to name a few. Many of Dayak Meratus villagers’ gardens’ spread around Loksado. Among them is Loa Panggang village. Loksado’s durian is small but the taste is very nice. For durian lovers, Loksado is definitely the right place to hunt those. Another local fruit that is also nice is kapul. The shape and size of it is much alike onion. The fruit meat looks like soy sauce and it tastes sweet and sour.
BALAI URUY
This location is one of the places in Loksado that has custom house and at the same time a house by some families, a house which is erected on poles that has several tens of rooms. Each room is used by different families, together with their own family members. In the middle of the house there is a bamboo stand which is usually used as one of the properties on Aruh Ganal custom celebration.
Some of the villagers of Malaris have the skill in plaiting simpay bracelet, Loksado’s special bracelet. This based-on-natural-material bracelet from lang’am tree is only for RP 10.000,00. It lasts till many years. Simpay bracelet is not available in ready stock, but has to be plaited first in the hand or foot of the orderer. BACK PACKIN’
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MAKING SIMPAY BRACELET
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FIGURE
AMAT
AMAT
The Ambassador of Loksado
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BY : NASRUDIN ANSORI
ONLY WITH FLUENT ENGLISH and knowledge about Meratus mountain range, especially Loksado, a man that was born in 1972 has been very popular among thousands of world adventurers that has visited Loksado. Almost every adventurer who needs guide uses his service. His name is mentioned in Lonely Planet book. Here is the result of Nasrudin Ansori’s interview with Mr. Amat at his house in Loksado plateau.
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Since when did you become a tour guide? In 1992, when I had a will to develop ecotourism world around Loksado and Meratus mountain range. What are the good things of becoming a guide in Loksado? I can learn to know more about people from different countries. Therefore, I can appreciate nature and everything in it, especially in Meratus mountain range. And of course, be-
AMAT ing a tour guide is also a way to get a fortune for life. How about the bad things? Every job must have bad things. Being a tour guide in forest and wild mountain range in the area of Meratus mountain range absolutely has many challanges. Starts from a threat of less logistics until a threat of wild animals while jungle tracking and camping with the guest. What challange do you remember the most? When I saw stripped leech stick in tourist’s body while we climbed Halau-Halau Mountain. The disgusting leech sucked human’s blood. There were thirty of them! How do you solve it? Don’t put the sucking leech right away from the body with hand or even wood. Because if we put it away harshly, the poison will stay inside the body. We just have to spray it with an anti-mosquitos spray so that the leech will release slowly and the poison will not stay in the body. The poison can cause itch for several days around its bite.
How come your name can be mentioned in Lonely Planet? I have an experience of guiding a tourist who
How many days do you think better to enjoy the nature and culture in Loksado? Most foreigners stay for approximately a week in Loksado because there are a lot of activities that we can try there, such as jungle tracking until Halau-Halau Mountain, bamboo rafting, visiting small villages behind Meratus Mountain range, seeing Loksado’s orchids grow wild in the forest, and so on. If you don’t have much time, a day is enough to enjoy Loksado, for example, departing from Banjarmasin in the morning, arriving in Loksado in the afternoon and enjoying bamboo rafting as soon as you arrive. If possible, you can visit Haratai waterfall after bamboo rafting by ojek, a service of taking you from one place to another place with motorcycle. The scenery along the way to Haratai is really natural. There are many trees and pure water that we can see along the way. In the evening, you can get back to Banjarmasin, because you can still meet the public transportation from Kandangan to Banjarmasin until 8 pm.
“Most foreigners stay
for approximately a week in Loksado. BACK PACKIN’
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What are the most unique and interesting thing for the adventurers in Loksado and around? Bamboo rafting in Amandit River, jungle tracking to Meratus hill, visiting small villages of Dayak Meratus, and of course watching magical and unique Aruh Ganal. You haven’t gone to Loksado if you haven’t tried one of the things that I’ve mentioned above, especially bamboo rafting along Amandit River which is super natural.
turned out to be a delegation from Lonely Planet who was covering Indonesia, especially Meratus Mountain range, including bamboo rafting. No wonder if my name and my number were mentioned in Lonely Planet.
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How is the visitor’s behavior in Loksado? Especially about the trash? From several kinds of tourists, I can see different behavior about throwing the trash. Foreigners do not throw their trash randomly, so do local backpackers who love adventure. However, local tourists, family group, government, and private institution are very easy to throw trash everywhere.
FEBRUIARY-MARCH I 2011
SEARCH GOOGLE BOOKS : pak amat loksado lonely planet
Do you worried that Loksado will be damaged if there are too many visitors? There is a good thing of being promoted through the media. The existence is getting popular and it increases the number of tourists. Therefore, those things will threat the nature of Loksado. I hope that there will be no more hotel building. Let Loksado become the way it is.
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COMMUNITY
KASKUS-OANC
Kaskus-OANC
The Fellowship of The Nature
BY : SRI ANINDIATY NURSASTRI
KASKUS-OANC
FEBRUIARY-MARCH I 2011
THE PUNCAK SEJATI (eternal peak) of Raung Mountain can’t be reach for free. The problem is you have to get used to stand in a high place and hanging with a not-bigger-than-a-mother finger wisp of lace. Before that, this seven people has been practiced for three months, hanging like a monkey behind a wall climbing area in Pasar Festival, Jakarta, making friends with leech and bur, hoping to reach the Puncak Sejati. Actually there is normal track that used by the visitor, the name of the peak is Sumberwringin, but the highest peak (Puncak Sejati) of Mount Raung is located in Banyuwangi, East Java. This mountain peak is always make the climber and hiker curious and worried at the same time. Kaskus Outdoor Adventure and Nature Clubs (Kaskus OANC) is the community who hypnotized to reach that peak. Appear in 2004, this community is the pioneer of backpacking and travelling group in Kaskus. Start from Camping Ceria event in 2004, this community is dominated with the activity of climbing.
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Beside climbing, this community has other activities, like gathering, camping ceria, breakfasting together, and social service. Nowadays, the total member of Kaskus OANC is 788 members, and it is still tentative. The member of Kaskus OANC don’t have to have mountaineering or wall climbing hobbies, but everyone who like outdoor activities can join this community. This community is lead by a moderator, a familiar name for the kaskusers. There is also person in charge in several cities, like Yogyakarta and Surabaya. The job is as the host if there is a member comes to that city or area. Next year, Kaskus OANC is planning to make a workshop in a fun camp format, of course in outdoor sector. This plan is also as a proof that Kaskus OANC is not limited as a place where the climbers and hikers gather, but this community is exist to make friends, also family who have the same hobby, not only in cyber world, but also in the real world.
“This community is exist to make friends, also family who have the same hobby
REVIEW
MCFE
MCFE
A Must Have Book for Mountain Climbers BY : AMBAR ARUM
MCFE NATURE OFFERS A LOT OF BEAUTIES, starts from underneath the ocean, beach, waterfall and the tip of the mountain. However, unlike the others, enjoying mountain needs more energy and preparation. As Indonesian senior mountain climber, Norman Edwin, said that at least there are two challanges that have to be faced by mountain climbers. The first challange is objective, which is a challange that comes from outside, such as difficult field and unfriendly weather. The second challange comes from ourselves, called as subjective challange, such as less physical and mental preparation and less
Book Title : MOUNTAIN CLIMBING FOR EVERYBODY : PANDUAN MENDAKI GUNUNG Author : HARLEY BAYU SASTHA Publisher : HIKMAH (PT MIZAN PUBLIKA) Book Price : Rp49.500 Page : 302 PAGE BACK PACKIN’
FEBRUARY-MARCH I 2011
knowledge about the mountain that we climb. To face those challanges, Harley Bayu Sastha presents ‘Mountain Climbing for Everybody : Panduan Mendaki Gunung’ to us. It’s a book that has complete information about nine mountains in West Java, which are Gede-Pangrango Mountain, Ciremai Mountain, Salak Mountain, Cikurai Mountain, Papandayan Mountain, Guntur Mountain, Burangrang Mountain, and Halimun Mountain range. It starts with mountain climbing general tips. Page by page gives clear pictures about every important things of every mountain to the readers. In Indonesia, this kind of book is pretty rare while there are more and more youth who like to climb mountain each year. Because of that, we can say that this book is a must have book for everybody who wants to climb mountains in West Java. Even Herman Lantang, one of MAPALA UI’s founders, wrote the foreword of this book. “Although this book looks like a personal trip story, however it is really informative so that it can be a very useful guide.” Climbing mountain does need more energy and preparation, however believe me, what we get in the tip of the mountain is way more beautiful that anything else.
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ACCESORIES
ULTRALIGHT TOOLS
The Ultralight Tools BY : AMBAR ARUM WHEN YOU TRAVEL, or do a long-time expedition, you must bring many things on your backpack, con-
name for the user. Trekker brings ultralight tools to save their energy and prevent injuries, so they can
sists of sleeping bag, mattress, tent, stove, clothes, and so on. Foods and the dishes are alson on the list. Those things are absolutely heavy, and probably makes you exhausted and potentially injured your shoulder. To prevent that sort of things, you can use the ultralight tools. The ultralight hiker or trekker are the
more enjoy the panorama during the travel. Although those tools are light, it doesn’t lose its function. Next are the examples of ultralight tools.
FEBRUIARY-MARCH I 2011
DRINKING WATER TUBE
You can bring the water tube that made by plastic or leather, because it is lighter than if you bring an used mineral water bottle. It is really practical, because it can be folded and inserted inside your bag. One of the type is Platypus drinking tube.
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ULTRALIGHT TOOLS
COOKING TOOLS
You can use the small spiritus alcohol stove, complete with its misting and the cover. It’s better than using gas stove, because the spiritus alcohol stove is more practical and light.
Beside those tools, the other things like : 1. Tent, 2. Mattress, and 3. Jacket are available in ultralight form. Even the cost of those ultralight tools is more expensive and not easy to find, those tools are made to make your travelling easier. Happy tracking guys!
SLEEPING BAG
FEBRUARY-MARCH I 2011
The big heavy sleeping bag is so old school, now it’s the time for the new kind of sleeping bag which has only half of the regular size. On the other hand, the sentence cost decides the quality is right, because the cheap ultralight sleeping bag can’t warm your body when you sleep, so it would be better if you buy the good-quality ultralight sleeping bag. The cost is around 400,000-500,000 rupiahs and above. BACK PACKIN’
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TIPS
MAKE THE ENERGY
TIPS
To Make the Energy Longlast until the Peak BY : SRI ANINDIATY NURSASTRI
MAKE THE ENERGY OF COURSE YOU DO NOT want to climb down again after passing half of the journey. How can you do if you can not continue the journey? Climbing mountain needs much stamina and energy, therefore you have to use saving principal: saving and economising. Here are the steps:
not equal with where your body holds. It will help you stable the blood in your body.
1. Before climbing, make sure that you have eaten enough nutrition. However, don’t be too full because it can
8. You should eat sweet snack. such as chocolate, candy, or brown sugar to increase your energy.
7. Arrange your breath when you climb. Your should blow your breath constantly and not too fast.
cause stomachache while you walk. 2. Drink if necessary. If you thirsty, you just need to sip one or two sips because you will need water for other things.
It’s not hard, right? Everything will be very easy if you always pratice your stamina and breath. Happy climbing!
3. You need to heat your body before you start climbing. Some stretching moves can prepare your muscles to climb. 4. Do not walk too quick. Use stable and consistent step when you climb. If you walk too quick, you will get tired easily.
FEBRUARY-MARCH JULI - AGUSTUS I 2011 2010
5. Do not rest for a long time when you are in the middle of journey. Five of ten minutes are enough, more than that, your body will get cold and you will need another time to heat it up again. 6. Make sure that you put your legs straight when you rest. If possible, put them on something that is
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INFO BI
KEEP ON TRIP-ING! PULAU BIAWAK
TELAGA BODAS
KEEP ON TRIP-ING! When The Nature Isn’t Friendly Anymore
KEEP ON TRIP-ING! MERAPI HAS ERRUPTED, Krakatoa started to get active again, 18 mountains are on alert status, the climb on many mountains has been closed, sea water raises, unfriendly weather. Those things are very common to hear in the last two months. As a result, there are so many cross-island climbing and travelling plans cancelled. But our friends from different communities still make trips. Alternative places are suddenly appeared; not-as-popular-as Merapi, Semeru or Rinjani mountains has become backpackers’ new destination to spend on weekends. In fact, they are still interesting. As long as we are in Indonesia, we will always find beautiful natures. For examples : 1. Gunung Padang dan Gunung Pangrango By ODONG-ODONG TRAVELLER, 2. Gunung Ungaran By TIM SERGAP, and 3. Gunung Galunggung By Share Traveller Indonesia is not only Merapi and other 18 active mountains. Whatever the condition is, the spirit to keep exploring Indonesia will always be in our heart, the backpackers! What about you? Tell us your trips, alone or with your friends or communities. Send it to : redaksiezinebi@yahoo.com There are always impressions on every trip, let share those!
BIAWAK ISLAND GATE
CIANJUR WATERFALL
JULI - AGUSTUS I 2010
PHOTOS BY: 1. TIM SERGAP 2. SHARE TRAVELLER 3. ODONG-ODONG TRAVELLER
A LIZARD
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Safe Travels! Try Not To Break Anything