Long House is dayaks community house for villagers in Kalimantan

Borneo is the world`s third largest island. Even when you discount the north coastal strip that is part of Malaysia, and the tiny, oil-rich Sultanate of Brunei, what is left is still about as big as France, with fewer people in it than Paris. Some are Dayak, descendants of the first inhabitants of the island, making a living in the forests of the interior or the coastal swamps. But most people live in small towns along the river banks, or cities at the great river mouths. The rivers - Kapuas, Mahakam, Barito, and many others - are still important means of transport between coast and interior. Kalimantan is the southern view of Borneo island. It makes up about one third of Indonesia`s total land, with an area about 549.000 square kilometers. Geographically, Borneo island relatively flat around the coastal areas, whilst the interior is dominated by mountain ranges. Unlike other Indonesian island, Borneo has no volcano. Approximately, 75% of Borneo island is still covered by rainforest. Other part includes large areas of mangrove, swamp and heath forest, or kerangas, a type of eco-system that is mainly found on Borneo, the humid tropical climate and high rainfall maintain a large number of rivers, which flow from the mountain to the coastal plains. Borneo`s dense rainforest supports a huge number of plant and animal species. Two hundred and twenty one different types of mammals and 450 species of bird are found in Kalimantan, with nearly 50 of those species found only on Borneo. Animal species include the long-nosed monkey, orangutan, leopard, crocodile and monitoring lizard. The Mahakam river is home to a unique fresh-water porpoise. Although around 10 million people live on Borneo, most of the region remains sparsely populated, with nearly half of the population found in West Borneo. Borneo was the focus for an intense Government transmigration program.  

Orangutan Adventure Exploration

Ten thousand years ago orangutans were found through out Southern China. Since then their range has shrunk dramatically, and the species now only found in relic population of the islands of Borneo and Sumatera. orangutans of Borneo are endangered and Sumateran orangutans are critically endangered. Continued habitat loss could drive this species close to extinction within a few decades. Orangutan means person of forest in Malay, is Asia’s only great ape. They are the largest arboreal (tree dwelling) animal in the world and live a semi-solitary existence unlike the two African great apes. They are largely frugivorous eating over 400 kinds of food including leaves, bark and flowers. They will also occasionally eat insects such as termites. Orangutans are vital cogs in the working of the rainforest ecosystem, playing a crucial role as seed dispersers helping to shape and preserve tropical rainforests. On average females do not become sexually mature until the age of 15 and usually only reproducing once every seven years. This is the longest birth interval of any mammal. In addition, a female orangutan will usually have no more three offspring during her lifetime. The combination of these factors makes the orangutans particularly vulnerable to extinction. The disappearance of orangutans signals the loss of thousand of other animals and plant species, many still unclassified in their fragile tropical rainforest habitat.
Orangutans and other great apes including human are the most intelligent beings to have evolved on land. As individuals, orangutans display unique and rich personalities. They also provide models for human evolution, in term of physiology and cognition. As great apes, orangutans are sentient being who deserve respect and life.

Borneo Dayak Tribe Traveling Info

The name of Dayak is derived from the word meaning inland or upriver people. Many anthropologists have stumbled in their attempts to classify the variety of Dayak into neat categories. The variation in languages, art styles, customs and history are too great. Even the broad inland tribes of Borneo has important exception. Much of the confusion stems from a long history of large and small scale migration within Borneo, a result of population pressures, warfare and communications. Groups sometimes adopted language, rituals and other custom their neighbors, then brought this mixture of tongues and traditions with them when they moved on. Although warfare no longer exists, villages still shift location frequently in search of easier access to outside goods, markets, and jobs. With the above in mind, Borneo’s Dayak can be said to fall into several broad geographical or cultural complexes; the nomadic Punan on the forest interior o northeastern Borneo, Then Lun Dayeh and Lun Bawang on the north of East Borneo, The Kayan and Kenyah of East Borneo highland and the Mahakam basin, the Barito river groups on Central Borneo, the Iban on West Borneo and Sarawak of Malaysia, the Bukit on Meratus mountain of South Borneo, and the Malay or Islamized Dayak. Although there are notable differences in the various Dayak groups religious beliefs, the common environment of jungles and rivers, along with rice-based agricultural, seems to have led to similar Dayak faiths. Spirits crowd the Dayak supernatural world. These powerful beings some beneficial or harmful are manipulated through rituals, presents and various artistic expression. The Dayak held a vague, generalized concept of a Supreme Being, the Creator, but no special importance was attached to this particular spirit, he had done his job, and that was that. There is no known representation of this deity. Emphasis on the Dayak Creator came only with the evangelized of Christianity or Islam, which in the process of conversion, sought out points of similarity with the local religions.

Borneo Mahakam River Trip

In the past, mengayau or head-hunting continued to haunt the Dayak Benuaq community. Its men armed themselves with swords and protected their families in stilted long-houses. Their lives depended highly on forest resources and the Mahakam River. Travelling to Mahakam river usually cruise from Loa Janan heading to Muara Muntai, the transit town. This small district town lies on the riverbank, and having its own unique feature. Nearly all buildings, bridges and roads linking its villages are made of ulin (ironwood), typical of Borneo. the roads of wood are wide and sturdy enough for motorcycles and cars. The town's floating houses, shops and workshops offer another interesting sight of this small district.

Borneo Tanjung Isuy Dayak Tribe

Tanjung Isuy, originally thought to be inhabited by a backward or even primitive tribe, turned out to be populated not only by the indigenous Dayak Benuaq tribe but also by long-assimilated Banjar, Kutai and Javanese migrants leading modern lives. Tanjung Isuy is inhabited by over 7,500 Dayak Benuaq people who have descended from the tribes of Benuaq Bentian (from around the Muara Lawa, Damai and Bentian Besar districts), Benuaq Ohen, Benuaq Kenohan (Lake Jempang area), Benuaq Tengah and Benuaq Dayak. There were three lamin or traditional Dayak long-houses, besides modern structures like mosques, churches, restaurants, shops and construction material dealers. Interestingly, a grand mosque could also be found, indicating Islam's rapid growth as far as the Mahakam interior, while a Hindu kingdom had existed on the riverbank since the 4th century. In the past, lamins were built to protect the extended families of Dayak Benuaq against wild beasts, enemy attacks during tribal conflicts and headhunters from other tribes. The beheading of enemies or mengayau/head hunting was based on the belief that human heads could produce great supernatural powers.The tribal houses are now heritage centers, as population growth, intermarriage and behavioral changes have prompted the Dayak to switch to modern buildings; while Mengayau/head hunting was abandoned during the colonial period, when the Dutch regime imposed severe punishment on headhunters for their inhuman practices. Dozens of Dayak Benuaq girls in Tanjung Isuy gather before their lamin to receive guests. The Dayak welcome the guests by wearing red and white headbands and textiles sporting flora and fauna motifs. Also present is the chieftain with his gray hair, wearing a necklace of colorful stone beads. He is flanked by several aides wielding mandau, typical Dayak broadswords with carved handles and fang-studded scabbards. These men wear vests made of red wild-cat skin, necklaces of wild-boar teeth and rattan hats with hornbill feathers. In receiving visitors, the Dayak Benuaq conduct a pelas welcoming ceremony, with a dance to protect guests against sickness and danger, other typical dances are belian (shaman), berhempas (a duel with swords and rattan shields) and a homecoming for headhunters. The 920-km-long Mahakam river, is still a heaven for diverse species of fish, snakes, crocodiles and certainly pesut, freshwater dolphins. Tourist adventure spots along Mahakam river including the black orchid reserve of Kersik Luway in Melak and the Cultural Reserve of Muara Kaman, a Hindu kingdom relic, at the Mahakam-Kedang Kepala junction, around 125 km or two hours by speedboat from Tenggarong, place of Mulawarman museum and royal cemetery of Kutai Kartanegara Sultanate.

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