Once Been Stranded

small Port in Anggana by the Estuary of Mahakam River

transport with small Ferry

big ship passed the river

 Where the Tide meets the Stream

Tug boat delivered coal

back in the middle of 2009, I worked in a Food Plantation Unit in Borneo (a big island across Java). Borneo is the 3rd largest island in the world and the largest island of Asia and the home of the oldest rainforests in the world

coal mine

This island is divided among 3 countries: Brunei, Indonesia & Malaysia, and is divided by number of marvelous large rivers like Barito in the South, Kapuas in the West, Rajang in the North, and Mahakam in the East.

I stayed for around 10 months in East Borneo, around 2 cities (Balikpapan, Samarinda) and 1 district (Anggana in the region of Kutai Kartanegara), due to my job, I had to travel around those places every week (it was an exhausting journey I tell you what).

the company provided me some houses, 1 of them was in Anggana (from Samarinda, it lies further on the east) and the house was built on the river bank of Mahakam, 1 of the longest river on the island, 900 miles long from Long Apari to Makassar Strait.

along this river can be found hundred of coal mining, fish-prawn farm and drilling in purpose of Petroleum demand, and obviously it makes a lot of money.

with a great length period of exploitation, this river & soil have been suffering a great environmental damage. the soil lost its exuberance & its solidity. often the crops were ruined, unharvested, then land slides often been a headlines on TV & newspapers. the great river anguishes high pollutant by the mining & drilling. the water has been toxicated, shrimps, fishes, prawns, crocs and other species died haplessly. meanwhile the inhabitants often consume the water for their own kids & babies. it is truly a devastating effect. 

it was always a strange feeling that I've been stranded in the middle of nowhere. it was truly a different place to be. knowing you was just a little jigsaw puzzle in this mother earth. I will obviously never suggest you to visit my place here, but there will always some challenges for you to dare for. A life by the wild rain forest and great river will always tempting, o dear mate. so, would you dare to overcome this wilderness? I'll be waiting you on the place where the Tide meets the Stream...