Mahakam bike boy
Along the rivers of Kalimantan, huge areas are under water for much of the year, including of course during the wet season. Villages in these area will often have all of the houses and roads built up on tall pillars…
Jokar Photography
John Boyd Macdonald
Jokar Photography
John Boyd Macdonald
Category Kalimantan
Fruits of Kalimantan
Just some of the special fruits of Kalimantan – three types of durian, mangosteen, rambutan, chempedak, langsat, and a rare variety of mango. Some of these are rarely seen outside the island of Borneo. All are delicious, and grow at the Kebun…
Durian season (again!) in Tewang Rangkang
Durian! Yes, durian! Loved by many as the Raja Buah (the ‘King of Fruit’), and reviled by others as stinky and disgusting. I’m a durian lover, and can’t comprehend those who aren’t. Perhaps it’s a genetically determined hypersensitivity? There…
Sanggar Ranu Mareh Mabuan – dance troupe
Photos of dancers from the ‘Sanggar Ranu Mareh Mabuan‘ – a Dayak Ma’anyan dance studio based in Buntok, Barito Selatan, Central Kalimantan. We had the pleasure of watching them perform at the wedding of Dini and Xavier in Palangkaraya. These…
Mimosa – the ‘Shy princess’
At the Kebun Raya Balikpapan (Balikpapan Botanical Garden), five different species of Mimosa have been identified. There are over 400 species of Mimosa worldwide, most of which originate in South and Central America. But many of them are now found in tropical regions…
Katingan canoes
Downstream from Kasongan on the Katingan River (Central Kalimantan), few villages have road access – especially at his time of year during the rainy season. The river IS the road, and motorised canoes (‘ces‘, ‘kelotok‘, ‘perahu‘) are the vehicles of…
Birds of the Balikpapan Botanical Garden – Part II
This is a followup to my previous blogpost, showcasing some of the wonderful birdlife which may be encountered at the Kebun Raya Balikpapan (Balikpapan Botanical Garden). Collared kingfisher (Todiramphus chloris) This lovely bird was remarkably unperturbed by my presence, and…
Birds of the Balikpapan Botanical Garden
The Kebun Raya Balikpapan (Balikpapan Botanical Garden) is focussed on collecting, conserving and showcasing the unique trees, orchids and other plants of Kalimantan. Across its 307 hectares, it achieves this admirably. Most of that area consists of protected lowland dipterocarpus…