Mama 1

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Sat 1 Oct 2016 22:37
Moving on to Mama 1 and Heading Up the River
 
 
 
IMG_5443
 
We bid ‘farewell’ to our beloved Beez as we speed off on our water taxi. The two sons of our driver are moving aboard this afternoon (only in the cockpit – which is the norm), I offered them twice the going rate if they clean my chrome – the princely sum of ten pounds per day. With Beez safe and looked after we can enjoy three nights, four days of a major tick on the Bucket List whilst living on a klotok...........To see the orangutans of the National Park.
 
 
IMG_5444  IMG_5446
 
IMG_5446
 
As we turned back from Beez we both read the tee shirt in front of us. Such a powerful slogan.
 
 
IMG_5449  IMG_5450
 
Soon settling aboard Mama 1 we loved the front deckchairs but Beds did begin to wonder about the lumpy bed.......
 
 
IMG_5454  IMG_5477
 
We both tried the chairs as the crew began to ready for the off.
 
 
IMG_5475
 
From the front looking beyond our bed – our luggage, dining table, wash basin and down the three steps at the back of the boat the toilet with pail of water to flush straight into the river and shower giving coolish water. Behind the sink a couple of steps lead to a bench providing a higher seat. At night privacy as a mosquito net is dropped around the bed and if it rains.......most days.......plastic blinds are rolled down. All the staff (cook and her young son, crew, captain and guide) bunk in the one room downstairs sharing our toilet and shower.
 
 
IMG_5493  IMG_5494  IMG_5496
 
Our first lunch was delicious, we chose to come alone on a two-guest klotok for me to not have to worry about herbs and garlic – if all our meals are like this – I’m a very happy tourist. Amazing, all the years we have eaten watermelon, this was the first time we have ever had ‘handles’, so simple but so effective.
 
 
IMG_5484
 
From the back looking out as we had first entered the Sekonyer River, sadly, palm oil plantations left and right.
 
 
IMG_5570
 
Parking at our first stop, number one feeding station.
 
 
IMG_5573
 
A very excited pair boarded Mama 1 after our first orang utans. Our afternoon snack was the weirdest thing – sliced banana with grated cheese topped with condensed milk. Unsure about such a combination we put just a small dab of milk on - It really worked. Soon dolloping out bigger dabs of the thick, rich condensed we polished the lot off. Since this first try we have been known to serve it on Beez.
 
 
IMG_5472
 
A rather handsome klotok on the river (sadly, more palm oil plantation as a backdrop). Most layouts are the same and they all sound alike. The boat's name refers to the noise it makes, “klok tok tok tok” some are noisier than others but you soon get used to it.
 
 
image  image
 
A little about the area. The Indonesian territory makes up 73% of the island by area, and 69.5% (13,772,543 at the 2010 Census of Indonesia) by population. The non-Indonesian parts of Borneo are of Brunei (400,000) and East Malaysia (5,625,000), the latter comprising the states of Sabah, Sarawak and the federal territory of Labuan. The region within Indonesia is also known as Indonesian Borneo. Kalimantan's total area is 544,150 square kilometres (210,097 square miles).
 
 
DSC_5414  DSC_5689
 

The park was set aside in the 1930’s by the Dutch colonial government for the protection of the orangutans (our first) and proboscis monkey (our first), and was designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1977 and a national park in 1982.

In addition to orangutans and proboscis monkeys, the park is also home to gibbons, macaques, clouded leopards, sun bears, wild boars, porcupines, and sambar deer. The park also features many reptiles, including crocodiles, monitor lizards, and pythons, birds, including hornbills and kingfishers, and insects, such as the giant Bornean butterfly. The Pondok Ambung Tropical Forest Research Station was established in 2005 for the study of all wild species found in the park.

Today Tanjung Puting National Park is a popular ecotourism destination, with many local tour companies offering multi-day boat tours to view wildlife and visit the research centres. The park was home to 105,000 people as of 1997. The park was heavily damaged by fires in 1997 and 1998, and today remains threatened by illegal logging, illegal mining, and forest clearing for agricultural uses.

Conservation efforts by Indonesian NGO Friends of the National Parks Foundation is leading towards a slow but progressive reforestation of damaged areas. Their reforestation work has seen the planting of thousands of saplings in the area to recreate habitat for the endemic wildlife in the area.

 

 

DSC_8794

 
Mama 1 coming across from her parking spot to pick us up from our Camp Leakey stop.
 
 
DSC_8817  DSC_8821
 
Following another klotok up river to find a space in the ‘hedge’ to park for the night. So pleased to be in real jungle. Soon our new friend was swallowed by her surroundings.
 
 
IMG_5857
 
Our skipper at his post.
 
 
IMG_5921  IMG_5922  IMG_5923
 
Beds was in short horror when we had a small visitor. He returned later and took several of our Triomino pieces thinking they were snacks. We knew nothing of this until later, we returned from a feeding station to find our skipper soaking wet............He had dived in to retrieve a few pieces for us – sadly, the treble five was missing. New game required, literally a little monkey.............
 
 
 IMG_5662
 
A busy time at Camp Leakey...............
 
 
IMG_5835
 
................so worth it.
 
 
 
 
 
ALL IN ALL THE START OF SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL
                     WELL ORGANISED AND HOMELY