The Meratus Mountains divided South Kalimantan into two distinct regions. The eastern part of the province is filled with the mountains covered with dense tropical rain forests, home to the “Orang Gunnung” or Mountain Peoples.
Collectively called the Dayak, they form the minority of the region’s population. The Southern section of the province is much flatter with large rivers, meandering through lowlands to vast mangrove swamps along the coast, helping to make South Kalimantan an exceptional fertile land. Many villages and settlements have been built along these rivers, particularly the Barito River, by the indigenous majority, the Banjar.
South Kalimantan is full colorful and distinctive traditional arts and cultures which can be seen in its people’s ways of life, art, dance, music, ancestral dress, games and ceremonies. Exquisite traditional and commercial hand-crafts are all made from local raw materials which include a variety of precious and semi-precious stones, gold, silver, brass, iron and a wide variety of trees such as ironwood, meranti, pinups and rubber have helped to make the province a unique and rich natural resource.
The provincial capital, Banjarmasin, lies a short distance from the mouth of the Barito River at its confluence with the Martapura River. The rivers are literally the lifeblood of the city and everything revolves around them. They are lined with tightly packed stilt houses. A lot of business is done on the water ways; floating markets flourish selling an enormous variety of goods including a tropical selection of fresh fruit such as Kesturi, a rare aromatic species of mango, durian, rambutan, butter fruit, pineapple, watermelon and banana.
South Kalimantan is well connected with cities all over the Indonesian Archipelago through Syamsuddin North airport, which is about 25 km from Banjarmasin. This busy airport handles DC-9’s, allowing Merpati Nusantara, Bouraq and Sempati dan Dirgantara Air to service the prov-ince. South Kalimantan can also be reached by sea at Trisakti arid Banjarmasin. For interior travel there are roads, but the waterways are the pre-ferred form of travel.
Banjarmasin and its surroundings
Banjarmasin, the capital city, lies at the delta of the Barito river. Nicknamed ‘River City’, it is crisscrossed by numerous rivers of various sizes and lengths, the major two being the Martapura and Nagara. Local people build traditional floating houses made of wood or bamboo facing the rivers called “lanting”. There is a virtual flood of lively floating markets. To experience Banjarmasin you must take to the river, either by “klotok” (river bus), or a speedboat for longer trips.
Banjarmasin is developing as a tourist city. Supermarkets such as Mitra Plaza, Duta Mall, Metro Hi-tech mall,Ujung Murung Central Market, and Pasar Baru provide for the travelers needs. There are 7 starred hotels and 20 lesser hotels. For entertainment there are 21 movie theatres, Karaoke bars, cultural theatres and restaurants serving local as well as international foods.
