Looking North Borneo Gate
Same speech that flight attendants remind passengers that the plane a few moments will Juwata landed at Tarakan, I tighten the seatbelt, looking at the panorama below. Northern Borneo Island is very beautiful seen from above. There was a small group of islands full of mangroves and ponds around in the middle of the screen-grooved insulation.
Well, like a pizza pan cut asymmetrical shapes: the edge of mangrove forests is his, and his pond is topping. Looks as if the small islands was intentionally designed with a high artistic flavor to greet the traveler who missed the beauty of nature. Soon the plane landed on the runway was built right on the beach.
Nothing wrong to claim the island city as the North Gate of the island of Borneo. The reason is, just in Tarakanlah Island, large aircraft can land in northern Borneo, or better known as Borneo. Airport in the city and other districts only for aircraft pioneer.
Outside the airport is a taxi that can take passengers anywhere around the island, taxis are available just type in the airport. As for public transportation in the city using other types of taxi, which we call Java angkot.
The next morning, visited the mangrove forest to see the proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus), the monkey who became icons of Dutch cities. On the small island was not difficult to find an inn. From the inn you can walk through the town while looking for people who sell foods of Tarakan.
Not too far from downtown, about one km walk, arrived at the mangrove forest. Front fence adorned with paintings arise proboscis monkey and jungle themed. walk quickly down the wooden bridge built between the mangrove roots. It was like entering another world.
Imagine, had just been in an atmosphere of a city bustling enough, a sudden spread of mangrove forest green and shady, just by walking through the door in the wall two feet.
Various types of mangrove allowed to grow naturally without the interference of the building. Signs posted on trees species of trees growing on the edge of the track, so that visitors can identify and study the plant species of mangrove forest constituent.
In these forests, I hope to see from the proboscis monkey which had begun rare. But up miles down the track, the Dutch orange monkeys that showed no sign of him. Was busy taking photos unique mangrove roots, suddenly appeared a gray monkey (Trachypithecus villosus), I even took a picture. Maybe the monkey was disturbed by the flashes of a flash, he was coming toward me and screaming like mad. I immediately hid the camera in a jacket, fear seized the monkey, as often happens in Sangeh or Uluwatu, Bali.
It turned out that the monkey is not alone. Behind him came the others, seems a family. One of them is very big, maybe the head of the family. There were eleven tail. The monkeys were walking toward me with a look that is not friendly. I also throw a glance at the other, fear of challenging thought.
My heart pounded as the biggest monkey walked up to me, let alone no other visitors who looked around me. I try not to panic and to remember what the bully in the film when the beast attacked. Stay calm, do not make any suspicious movements, and alert to the possibility of the worst.
Slowly, the big monkey walked past me toward the tower not far from where I stood. I breathed relief and walked slowly tried to pass some of this monkey. It turned out that the test was not finished, a baby monkey came over and immediately pulled my pants, take a joke maybe.
Not quite attractive pants, monkey boy began to bite my shoes. What should I do? I tried another strategy. If I had not dared to look into their eyes, this time I pelototi monkey boy. It worked, pulled off my pants and rolled around trying to attract attention. Lived through a few monkeys who do not seem too concerned me.
Apart from the siege of gray monkey, I speed up the steps to find a more crowded place. Lucky, I soon arrived at the guard post. A staff guard the area there. After chatting some time with Mr. Kadir, the guard, I headed to a place he showed as a favorite location of the proboscis monkey.
True, the location was seen several big-nosed monkeys are the tops chewed leaves or swinging from a tree branch. Proboscis Monkey is a shy animal. They would hide when meeting people. So, I moved as quietly as possible, trying to not attract attention. I was sitting on the edge of the bridge and observe their activities with binoculars.
According to Mr. Kadir, proboscis monkey is in the region comes from Berau, a small island near Tarakan. The amount originally only 13 tail and breed until they reach 47 tails. Unfortunately, in 2008 the population decreased to 17 the tail was left alone. Population decline that occurred because of management turnover, so maintenance proboscis monkey received less attention.
Another issue is the location of the mangrove forest is located in the middle of town. Unlike usual mangrove forest in the area of tidal sea water, 9 ha of forest area is not located on the beach, but it is in the middle of town. Behind the coastal forest to the factory building and stood fishing companies nationwide.
Although the building stage, but it hinders the entry of sea water into the mangrove area. The sea is a source of nutrients trees making up the mangrove canals flowed through a less manicured. Therefore, the existence of mangrove forests and its flora and fauna in them are threatened with extinction if the management is not immediately addressed.
Life in the Left Tonight
Morning and afternoon, the city of Tarakan like a dead area. Everyone was busy working in their respective jobs. As a result, like the deserted streets. If any traffic, the numbers did not like that we encounter in the cities of Java. And indeed, the crowd just happened at the airport or port. It was only at certain hours.
By late afternoon, stretching the life began to appear in the city. Townspeople began crowded public spaces. Oval Park, the park is designed to be a favorite oval citizens who want to relax, tired after a day off work, or enjoying the evening atmosphere brightness with the family.
The city center was starting to look alive. Here it is the uniqueness of Tarakan. Do not ever spend the morning or afternoon because it was only going to see some stores open. Towards four o’clock, before the real crowd looks.The traders in the markets and shops began to open his stall.
Variety of goods ranging from basic food, clothing, accessories, electronics to be obtained at the night market. The goods are imported from Surabaya. If you want to get a special discount, try to bargain with the Java language for nearly 90 percent of traders in the northern tip of Borneo were from East Java.
Crowd at the night market can last until midnight. It depends whether the many visitors who come and shop or not. When quiet buyers, at ten o’clock at night lapaknya traders began to close. But as long as shoppers crowded, even the night market continues.
True, not all products imported from Java. There is a small part from neighboring countries, Malaysia. Unlike typically imported products through official channels, the products are tax free and still use the label of Malaysia. Malaysian products are brought from Tawau, Malaysia’s island bordering Indonesia. Products that are often sought by newcomers to-by. Although illegal, can be obtained at the supermaket, malls, shops, and markets.
Besides food, other products are often sought as a souvenir beads, knives, and rubber shoes. So, to bring a souvenir from Malaysia, we do not need passports, just come to the island of Tarakan. But once again, Shop after dusk began to arrive. Because, Tarakan is more alive from dusk until midnight.
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