Homecoming to Madura Island

2 month ago i just cameback from "mudik" or homecoming to my father hometown / village precisely. I went together with my family to celebrate Idul Fitri day there. Anyway, in late fasting month there is a tradition called "mudik" which most of immigrant family come back to their hometown.

Visit South Borneo 2013

Tourism industry in Indonesia is just rising to the another level, not only Bali and Yogyakarta as culture tourism, Lombok and Raja Ampat as natural tourism industry, but there are many potential regions in Indonesia. I won't say that South Borneo is the only potential one.

What does South Borneo have in tourism industry? The culture and nature. On the culture, South Borneo has Banjar culture and Dayak culture which regardes as native cultures in Borneo land. But are same same root, but they are different in  many aspects on social living. Banjar people (Banjarese) mostly live in the city while most of Dayak people live in the  forest of South borneo.

On the nature, this region has different interesting nature places that many people dont know. Here, i made a list about the places in South Borneo.

• Banjarmasin

Martapura River Waterfront
Sabilal Muhtadin Mosque
Sultan Suriansyah Mosque and Tomb    
Pasar Terapung Kuin
Pasar Terapung Lok Baintan

• Batola

Barito Bridge
Rumpiang Bridge
Kembang Island
Kaget Island

• Banjarbaru

Diamond Traditional Mining Cempaka
Pine Forest
Lambung Mangkurat Museum

• Martapura

Al-Fatihah Park
Kahung Hill
Riam Kanan Reservoirs
Cahaya Bumi Selamat Diamond Market
Al-Mukarramah Mosque
Traditional House Teluk Selong
Bajuin Waterfall

• Tanah Laut

Batakan Beach
Pagatan Beach
Datu Island
Takisung Beach
Kayangan Hill

• Rantau

Batu Hapu Cave
Beramban Cave
Laras Temple

• Kandangan

Loksado Forest Trekking
Bamboo Rafting
Haratai Waterfall
Kentawan Mountain         
Tanuhi Hotspring

• Kota Baru

Sebuku Island
Haur Island
Gosong Island
Gedambaan Beach
Angsana Beach
Tamiyang Beach
Sebelimbingan Waterfall
Meranti Mountain

Most of those places even aren't unpopular by Banjarese themselves, its because tourism industry is not the one of biggest industry here. The government tends to be more welcome to the investors who want to exploit coal mining and palm oil plantation. 

Angsana Beach; A Hidden Beautiful Beach in South Borneo

Today, we went to one of quiet and not touristy beach in South Borneo. Its called Angsana Beach which located in Tanah Bumbu region in the Angsana Village (175 kilo meter from Banjarmasin city). The beach was not too crowded due it was not so popular and the distance might take a long time to reach, its about 4-5 hours for one-way.

Travelling Summary Photos around Sulawesi, Bali and Java 2012

I've been travelled for 45 days to wandering around Sulawesi, Bali and Java in my fasting month vacation. Its my first time to travel around the places that far away from my home. There are many experiences i've got in visiting new place. New people, new culture, and new friends especially. And there also many stories for each places i have been visited. One week in Toraja, Get Lost in Bali, Walking around Yogyakarkat, Doing Off-road to Tangkuban Perahu spontaneously, and then had celebrated Ied Fitri on Jakarta as my final destination. Here are some photos for summary of my travelling. I can say i have been wandered from Bali to Jakarta :) 

One Week in Toraja Land with Laurie and Bruce

In the mid of July, last month. I've been travelled into Toraja Land, in the South Sulawesi. Due I had college vacation time and invitation from Laurie and Bruce*a couple traveller from America. I have decided to postpone my long travelling into Java Island and i made my mind to try Toraja Land first.

Into Meratus Mountain for Bamboo Rafting with Emily.

Last month, I checked my e-mail and I saw one post from Central Borneo regional in Couchsurfing website. There was a post about someone who want to travel around Central Borneo. When I read it, that was from one American people. She said she want to go trekking and rafting in Central Borneo because she was in vacation. There was something I realized. There weren’t replies on the forum and aside maybe there was not particular to do trekking places and bamboo rafting in Central Borneo. Then I replied her post, I suggested her to visit South Borneo because I thought Meratus Mountain was the right place to do trekking and rafting,-especially traditional bamboo rafting.

Trekking into Meratus Mountain with Bibiana and Jana

Me, Jana and Biba in Floating Market

 I had a chance to go together with another backpackers when two backpackers from Slovakia asked for host in Banjarmasin through Couch Surfing. They want to see Banjarasin city especially Floating Market, and we went there succesfully. The only thing that i felt awesome from this trip was Mountain Meratus hiking explore without guide, so this is the story.