Honey Bear from Manggar

Arched gate at mile 21 Balikpapan-Samarinda highway that reads "Area Integrated Agro-Environmental Education Center." From the gate was exactly, an exciting adventure offered by DAS Manggar Conservation Area, Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.

It is true, when the author together with some people started walking the streets in the area, it does look an effort to maintain these areas as green areas. On the right and left only a few houses. Time as if passed so quickly. There was a few miles we had passed.

When stopped at a point in the journey, the air was very fresh. After that, we continued our journey. The purpose of times it was the Bear Information Center. Yes, a place that provides the most complete information about bears in the world.

Not long ago, a giant bear statue was visible at the edge of a beautiful office complex. The statue was solid and as if from the lips of "the bear" came out greeting, "Come, see me."

We were lucky to come rather than on holidays. The reason, the officers will be very busy serving travelers. One of them even offered to guide us around in an area of about 19 hectares of it.

We immediately headed for Bear Information Center. Once again we say, maybe the time was when our luck. Because, at the time, said the guide, is the time the bear came out of the nest to find food.

We walked through the footbridge spanning follow electrified fences that limit visitors and ecosystems bear. From the bridge we can along the sun bear habitat. Not long ago, animals that we've been waiting for it even appeared. Yes, the bears. There is a middle to climb trees. Some of the tail was eating near the fence. We calculate: at least then we saw six bears on the loose.

Indeed amazing animals. Said the guide, they are able to recognize danger. Very fair, none of them are touching the electrified fence it.

After the satisfaction of seeing a bear, we walked back down the road to another complex. Somewhere, there is a big tent. It was nice to those places where kids can learn a lot. Indeed, other than as an attractive tourist place, inside the big tent that there are various bulletin contains about bears in the world, including the panda from China.

Children who are with us so cheerfully at the venue. Moreover, they can see the various sculptures of bears comes with a garnish of miniature habitats. There are also several interactive quizzes that can be known the answer automatically if we're wrong answer.

In one corner of the tent, there is a diorama that tells the bear that killed one in python prey. Yes, there is a snake wrapped around the statue of a bear that big. That's the real incidence of about 2-3 years ago. The photos of the event to be evidence of such events. The snake was captured and dissected. The poor bear was removed. Although dissected the snake could be saved and released back into their habitat. Satisfied it was getting information about bears in the area.

Our journey has not finished in the tent. There are still many interesting complex which can be visited. Some places even very nice for visitors of children. There are many attractions that can spoil a game little guy. Call it flying fox, playground, and large Dayak house as a retreat guests to unwind after a round educational complex at the same time the conservation area is so vast.

Once out of the complex bears Information Center, we went to the other protected areas that are not less interesting. We drove to the dam Manggar. A bit far is the distance where the conservation of Bear Information Center.

Without wasting time, we begegas headed to the area. Shades of protected areas we see along the journey. There are many warnings that must be adhered to people who come to the region, namely a ban fishing, making traps, or netted fish.

We stopped at the edge of the forest that we feel closest to the artificial lake. Vehicles that we were riding also can not be approached, can only be parked on the roadside of the lake. There is a small trail that we saw in the middle of the forest. Happily, we started down it. The more we move to divide the forest and along the road, the more clearly be seen sparkle of light bouncing off the blue surface of the lake water.

We finally arrived at the lake. On the right and left looks dry trees submerged in water. Hundreds of trees sengon which dries it adds to the vast panorama of the lake nan increasingly exotic. Especially after the lake was getting closer. Blue water had covered most of the region. What is clear, located in the hollow in the middle of the forest, the scene that we saw looked so charming.

We also stopped to enjoy the area that is so compelling. Protected areas are made available also as a multifunctional water supply the city of Balikpapan. This could be a lesson for other places on the importance of a protected forest area.

Elegant stone in the Vegetable Garden

When going somewhere, we surely do not want to go home empty-handed. Also when visiting the city of Balikpapan, certainly we want to find something unique as souvenirs. We do the same.

By the time we were visiting the city, happened to the city of Balikpapan was celebrating World Environment Day which they are concentrated in the Dome. That's the term for a large building in the form of a half circle ball very enchanting.

Without hesitation we went in and blend them together with the visitors Dome. Besides an exhibition about saving the environment, we can also find stalls of typical products of Borneo. Various products there. We could see the line of booths that offer distinctive confectionery and other handicrafts.

We visited the booth that kept the ambassadors City Government tourist city. From them we get complete information about the city. Of course also a matter of typical craft we could get. Yes, the craft that we could get at the Garden Vegetable Market near Muara District Rapak.

We rushed to the market in question. Arriving at the market, how we became comfortable for long. How could I not? There, lined up various stalls that provide a variety of unique crafts. There is a weaving of Samarinda, the silver, and of course the typical jewelry stones Kalimantan.

Many shops with plenty of offerings makes us a little confused. Understandably many interesting souvenirs.

The price was much cheaper when compared with similar stones that are sold on the island of Java. Even so, as travelers, of course not be all that we like we had to buy, right?

Yes, we entered the stall to stall in search of rock's most exciting jewelry for us. Finally, at a kiosk, we found several strands of stone-studded jewelry. There, we also found that weaving handicrafts and other trinkets.

Ah, it feels reluctant to leave the market. It was a day of time we spent was not enough. But thankfully, in our hands there are some unique products that really satisfy us.

Please note, local myth says, anyone who has been drinking water Mahakam River, he will come back and continue to return to Borneo. Maybe there is truth in that phrase. But maybe it was not for drinking water Mahakam River, but fondling Kalimantanlah natural charm that makes one want to always go back there.