Kalimantan (Borneo) Local Custom Tips by belgianchocolate

building works in progress...

It was quit amazing to see how they build concrete houses...
As we are used to see solid iron constructions to reach the working spot;..

Not here on Kalimantan. A ravel of canes also does the job.

Natural resources...

Most people on Kalimantan aren't aware that there are lots of laws and regulations that forbid to kill snakes , keep orang utans , log wood...

That is nothing to get astonished about as when you know that the authorities themselves take hush money and allow these activitys.

Please be smart yourself. Don't buy things madke of animal skin , bones , tropical hardwood. (coconutwood is a beautifull alternative) - you will have a big penalty if they catch you in europe with it.

There is nothing against that the local people use wood : just think about your garden furniture , where did that wood came from...

In the picture
A snake skin. The local python can grow up to a lenght of 9 meters. They lay the skin drying along the way. (seen in banjarmasin)

The little private room...

Why waste good money on expensive sewerage ?

Just make a floating toilet.
We have seen several in Banjarmasin and in palangka raya , actually...most people living by the water have got one.

mandi

Indonesian people don't wash themselfs like we do...
The traditional way is using a mandi. And I believe that is the worth for bathroom.

In an indonesian bathroom you will find a concrete tub or a plastic one and a scoop.
They fill the tub and take water with the scoop.

Did I catch that right?

petrolstations look like this...

I haven't seen much petrol stations as whe know them in europe in Kalimantan. I spotted 2 of them....

All the other looked like this.

There might just be a reason for that. They never drive with a full tank either. Benzine appears to be very expensive here.