Banjarmasin

It is the capital city of South Kalimantan, usually nickednamed as the city of waterways, because it lies at the mouth of Barito and Martapura rivers. As the capital, Banjarmasin ia also the centre of trades and tourism. It lies at a delta in the Barito rivers. The city is intervened by numorous rivers of various degrees of importance, size and length. Some of the most important are Martapura and Negara River. The numorous rivers make the city get its nick name River City.

These rivers and waterways gives a certain identity to live in Banjarmasin. Water or river transports have become major transportations. Local people even build traditional floating houses along the rivers and these houses are called ‘lanting’. The houses are facing the rivers and they are made of wood or bamboo. Rivers have been very important for business and economic activities. This one of the reasons why there has been floating markets everywhere.

Making trips along the mighty Barito river and Martapura river by klotok boat or river bus will give a unique satisfaction. For longer trips one can hire speedboat. The actual living of the people is along the rivers. Banjarmain, the capital city has developed into business, industry and tourist city.

Business centres are selling and buying all sort of commodities. Supermarkets such as Mitra Plaza at Jalan Pangeran Antasari, Ujung Murung Central Market at Jalan Simpang Sudimampir and Pasar Baru at Jalan Pangeran Samudera and also Pasar Antasari at Jalan Pangeran Antasari.

Banjarmasin is the capital of South Kalimantan, Indonesia. It is located at 3°20′S 114°35′E / 3.333°S 114.583°E / -3.333; 114.583, on a delta island near the junction of the Barito and Martapura rivers. As a result, Banjarmasin is sometimes called the "River City". Its population is about 444,000 (As of 1991^[update]).

A row of hotels in downtown Banjarmasin

Pasar Lima, a market by the river

Banjarmasin's waterfront of Martapura River

Banjarmasin is served by the Syamsudin Noor Airport, which is located about 25 km outside the town. The town is also served by a port, named Trisakti Harbour. A fairly important deepwater port, Pelabuhan Trisakti Banjarmasin is the trade center of the Barito basin; exports include rubber, pepper, timber, petroleum, coal, gold, and diamonds. Passenger ships and ferries to and from Java also carry their operation here.

The city is laced with flood-prone waterways, and many houses are built on rafts or stilts over the water. Many of such waterways are also used for travel, using relatively small rowboats (only major rivers are accessible by larger speedboats, tugboats, longboats, and barges).

(from Wikipedia)

South Kalimantan

outh Kalimantan is one of the 30 provinces in Indonesia, or one of the 4 provinces in Kalimantan (formerly called Borneo). It lies between 140 o Western longitude between 11o eastern longitude, and between 10 northern lattitude and 44 o southern lattitute.

The province id bordered with East Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan at the north, with Maccasar Strait at the East with Java Sea at the South and with West Kalimantan and Central Kalimatan at the west. South Kalimantan Province covers the area of 37.000 km2, with 50 % or about 21.000 km2 forest and mountain range with 1.000 to 1.500 metres latitude above sea level.

The northern and central regions are mountain range which is Meratus range, at the west low land and swamp, while at the East, forest and grassland.

South Kalimantan is often called the province of thousand rivers. Barito river is the largest and the longest river in Indonesia which is more than 6.000 kms long. One of its tributary rivers is Martapura river and this river has two tributary rivers and they are Riam Kanan and Riam Kiwa rivers. Others are river of Kusan, Batulicin, Sampanahan and Cengal River.

All these rivers run right from Meratus range and go through Java Sea, Maccasar Straits and Selat Sea. It branches with Negara river which branches in lesser rivers. Other important river are Maluka river, Tabanio, Sawangan, Asam-asam, Jorong, Kintap, Satui, and Sebamban river.

South Kalimantan is devided into 11 regencies, they are; Banjar Regency or Martapura, Tapin Regency or Rantau, Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency or Kandangan, Hulu Sungai Tengah Regency or Barabai, Hulu Sungai Utara Regency or Amuntai, Tabalong Regency or Tanjung, Barito Kuala Regency or Marabahan, Tanah Laut Regency or Pleihari, and Kotabaru Regency, plus 2 new regencies; Tanah Bumbu and Balangan Regency which formerly build in 2003. Last but not least, Miniciply of Banjarbaru and the Capital of South Kalimantan, Banjarmasin.

Climate

South Kalimantan is close to the equator, it has two seasons, rainy or wet season and dry season. Rainy or wet season usually occurs between October to April while dry season occurs usually between June to September. Average temperature is 17 o C to 36 o C, with humidity rate of 61 % - 91 % and sunshine 40 % - 90 %.

Population and Culture

In 1990 total population of South Kalimantan is 2.463.792 with rate of growth about 1,8 % annually. That means, now total population is about 3.000.000 people. 54 % of the population earn their living from agricultural sectors and the rest from industry, transport, construction and so on.

The population comprises the native inhabitants and the outsiders. The native inhabitant are the Banjarese which contitutes the majority of the population. The Banjarese can be sub-devided into the Banjar Kuala (down stream Banjarese), the region are Batola, Banjarmasin, Banjarbaru, untill Banjar regency. Banjar Pahuluan (upper stream Banjarese), the regions are Tapin, HSS, HST, and HSU Regency. And The Batang Banyu Banjarese is in Tabalong Regency, including Margasari and Kalua.

Other native inhabitants are Palangan Dayak, Labuhan Dayak, Warukin Dayak, Bukit or Hulu Banyu Dayak, Datar Laga Dayak, Bakumpai, Abol. Dusun and Lawangan Dayak. The outsiders are Javanese, Madurese, Bajau. Bugenese, Chinese and Arabian.

About 95% of the total population are Moslems, the rest are Christians, Hiduists, Budhises and others, even there are some followers of religious belief or belief of animism/dinamism; for example Kaharingan for Dayaks. The people of South Kalimanan are very devoted in their religion. Living in good understanding among these folowers are very common in this region.

Daily communication uses both Bahasa Indonesia and Banjarese; Banjarese which is very similar to Malay is used for informal communication. English and Arabic also used among the educated.

Culture and tradition in South Kalimantan are the assimilation through ages of these ot the Dayaks, Malay and Javanese. Then came the influence of Islam which was introduced by Arabic and Persian traders.

Introduction

Hello Friends in all over the World,
My name is Lis Maulina. I live in Banjarmasin, the capital of South Kalimantan, Indonesia. I want to share many stories about my hometown, country, and other sides of my life, to anybody all over the world.
warmest regards,
Lis