Kayan Mentarang National Park

Kayan Mentarang National Park

In 1980, Kayan Mentarang National Park, KMNP, was designated as “Natural Reservation Area,” then was changed to “National Park and Forest Tourism Destination” by the decree of Forestry Minister No.631/ Kpts-11/ 1996, in 1996. The entire width of KMNP is around 1.360.500 ha.
With Mount Longnawan as the highest peak, this national park comprises the various landscapes such as flat area, hills and mountainous area, about 200 meters to 2.558 meters above the sea level. It has tropical climate, the average rainfall is around 3.000 mm / year, with the temperature is around 20,5° C to 33° C. During September to December is the best time for visiting the location.
Kayan Mentarang National Park is the biggest and the oldest forest area, both primary and secondary forest, in the Southeast Asia. It is derived from the name of two significant rivers spread out in Bulungan District, the Kayan River, located in the south of the area and the Mentarang River, located in the north of the area.

There are many various species of flora and fauna. The various types of vegetative in the location are categorized by the substrate substance and the variety of topography.

• The hills and the Lowland of Dipterocarpaceae forest, over than 50 % of the entire width.
• The Lowland and mountainous forest (at altitude of 1.200 to 1.600 meters) which is over than 40 % of the entire width.
•  The Kerangas Forest, growing in the low substrate substance.
•  The Limestone forest.
•  The Savanna, which is the effect of shifting cultivating.
•  The Secondary forest, the effect of take and turn cultivating.

You will find some plant species such as pulai (Alstonia scholaris), jelutung (Dyera costulata), ramin (Gonystylus bancanus), agathis (Agathis borneensis), kayu ulin (Eusideroxylon zwageri), rengas (Gluta wallichii), gaharu (Aquilaria malacensis), aren (Arenga pinnata), orchid, palm, etc. In addition, you will see Rhodonderon (the only flower that can be found in Asia).More than 100 types of mammals (15 of them are endemic), eight types of primates, and over 310 types of birds (20 types are Kalimantan endemic threatened with extinction) can be found there. From the mammal species, you will see macan dahan (Neofelis nebulosa), kucing dampak (Prionailurus planicipes), civet cat (Felis marmorata), red cat (Felis badia), honeybear (Helarctos malayanus), bull (Bos javanicus), deer (Muntiacus spp), forest pig (Sus sp), and bajing jenthik (Sundaicurus jentiki subsiganus). The Primates animals such as lutung dahi putih (Presbytis frontata), lutung merah (Presbytis rubicunda), beruk (Macaca nemestrina), bekatan/kahau (Nasalis lavaratus), klampiau (Hylobates mulleri), long tail monkey (Macaca fasicularis), and Tarsius (Tarsius bancanus) can be found there. The species of birds such as kuau kerdil (Polyplectron schleimacheri), julang jambul hitam (Aceros corrugatus), enggang jambul hitam (Anthrococeros malayanus), enggang gading (Bucceros vigil), and cucak rawa (Pycnonotus zeylanicus) can be found in the same location.

A threatened with extinction species of Kalimantan Elephants (Elephas maximus borneensis), can be found when you are lucky. The species includes into the sub-species of Asian Elephants that was assumed that were intentionally brought to Kalimantan.   According to the survey of Balai Konservasi Sumber Daya Alam, BKSDA (Natural Resources and Conservation Center), WWF and the Biological Laboratory of Forestry Faculty of Mulawarman University on February to March 2007 states that about 25 to 45 of Kalimantan Elephants population which were remained.

KMNP is inhabited by about 20.000 -  25.000 of Dayak people in various sub-tribes such as Dayak Kenyah, Dayak Puran, Dayak Lund Aye, Dayak Tagel, and Dayak Lun Bawang. They live in their tradition in the Lamin homes (The stage houses of Dayak tribes that are inhabited by 100 peoples). They live by farming, using their own knowledge about natural conservation. They know how to preserve natural resources based on their principals such as how to cultivate various paddies.
Hiking, jungle trekking passing through the river and enjoying the magnificent scenery and the wonderful waterfall can be activities for you. It is also used for research and observation by students, lecturer and professional researcher focusing on natural preservation and environment cases.

Where Kayan Mentarang National Park Location?

Kayan Mentarang National Park is administratively included into Bulungan District, East Kalimantan Province. It is at 01º 59´- 04º 24´ of north latitude and at 114 º 49´-116 º 16´ of west altitudes.You may take air transportations to reach the destination. The access is about an hour from Samarinda to Tarakan, continued by Klotok / speedboat passing by the River Mentarang in approximately 6 hours.

There are three rivers, the River Bahau, the River Kayan and the River Mentarang, which are used for water transportation by visitors. During the journey, you will see the various of wildlife animals inhabiting the destination.There are lodgements for you who want to spend more days in the location. Check posts, Klotok/ speedboat and other facilities are easily found there.

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The Traditional Art of Didong in Nagroe Aceh Darussalam

Didong Gayo Aceh

Most of Gayo people in Central Aceh District live either in mountainous areas or in highlands. They tend to preserve their traditions like Didong. Didong is a very popular traditional art amongst Gayo people. The players of Didong are commonly called ceh-ceh didong. There are Ceh Lakiki, Ceh To`et, Ceh Daman, Ceh Ibrahim Kadir, Ceh Ujang Lakiki, Ceh Ucak, Ceh Tujuh, Ceh Idris Sidang Temas and Ceh Abd Rauf who are famous didong players in Nangroe Aceh Darussalam.

More often than not, it is usually performed in groups consisting of 15 men showing self-improvisation such as sitting, standing, while hitting their feet on the floor. This wonderful performance with beautiful dance come out from the combination of reciting magnificent Gayo poems, beating of traditional percussions, pillows and pans, and clapping hands.

Didong is the proudness of Gayo people that stays alive among the enormous influence of modern technology and western civilization. Gayo people never get bored with the play, watching every show that is performed on Saturday night starting after Isya (7 p.m.) until Subuh (4 a.m.).

The recited poems combined with dance, literature, and “hypnotizing” sound luring the viewers to keep watching the performance, offer the portrayal of social and religious messages and the relation between human and their nature. The performance also contains moral messages so that we can set a wise mindset towards human being.

The regeneration processes of didong are done well as there are many talented figures appear at every generation. Most of them learn from nature. They acquire the knowledge of nature cosmology as a part of microcosm awareness, wise and local awareness. It tends to show humanistic messages and people`s aspirations. A director, Garin Nugroho, states that Aceh is a warehouse of great artists.

Didong Traditional Art can be watched in Central Aceh District, Nagroe Aceh Darussalam Province, Indonesia.It will be easy to reach the location through Bireun City, Nagroe Aceh Darussalam Province. There is a small bus station where numbers of public transportation can be easily found there. It will carry you to Takengon with IDR 25.000 for its costs (per January 2008) for approximately five hours. You may also take alternative way to Central Aceh District by Blang Kejeren or Kutacane.There are some middle class hotels or luxurious hotels, restaurants and food stalls in Takengon, Central Aceh District. However, there is only little information stating that hotels or inns can be easily found in the hinterlands of Nangroe Aceh Darussalam Province.

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