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Pictures of our Borneo-Sulawesi-Moluccas-Papua Trip -  in August 2017-May 2018
- First part: On Borneo Part 1 from Miri via Kuching in Sarawak/Malaysia to Balikpapan in East Kalimantan/Indonesia
                                                     and continuing by ferry to Central Sulawesi in Indonesia
before:
3rd Rejuvenation of our LandCruiser FJ60/1982 in Miri/Sarawak/Malaysia from 2/6/2017
Myanmar (Burma) Part 3 – from Nyaungshwe at Inle Lake to Mandalay and Goteik viaduct
Myanmar (Burma) Part 2 – Bago (Pegu) - Shwenyaung at Inle Lake
Myanmar (Burma) Part 1 – from Yangon (Rangoon) to the 'Golden Rock' of Kyaiktiyo
Ukraine Part 3 – from Russia border at Kyaterinіvka to port city Odessa (29th container to Bintulu/Sarawak/East Malaysia)
Russia – from Kazakhstan (at Mikhaylovka) to Mongolia border (at Tashanta) and Ukraine border at Krupets August 21st to November 11th, 2016
Kazakhstan –  from Kyrgyzstan border at Korday to Russia border at Shemonaika – August 9th to 21st, 2016
Kyrgyzstan from Tajikistan border in Pamir to Kazakhstan border at Karkara June 27th to August 9th, 2016
Tajikistan Part 2 from Dushanbe to the Kyrgyzstan border June 19th to 27th, 2016
Tajikistan Part 1 from Uzbekistan border to Dushanbe May 31st to June 18th, 2016
Uzbekistan from Turkmenistan border in Dashoguz to Tajikistan border near Oybeck May 10th to 31st, 2016
Turkmenistan from Iran border at Bajgiran to Uzbekistan border near Khiva May 6th to 10th, 2016
Iran from the ferry port Bandar Abbas to Turkmenistan border near Ashgabat April 11th to May 6th, 2016
United Arab Emirates from Saudi Arabia border to Sharjah and the ferry to Iran January 12th to April 10th, 2016
Saudi Arabia from the ferry port Jeddah in transit to United Arab Emirates border January 9th to 12th, 2016
Sudan – from Ethiopia border to Suakin and the ferry to Saudi Arabia December 9th, 2015 to January 8th, 2016
afterwards:
North-Sulawesi Part 2 – Tomohon and surroundings to Tangkoko NP and onwards to Bitung with ferry to Ternate on North Moluccas
North-Moluccas Part 1 – Ternate and Tidore and onwards by ferry to  Sofifi on Halmahera on North Moluccas
North-Moluccas Part 2 – Halmahera and onwards by ferry to Sorong in West Papua Part 1 (Irian Jaya) on western Bird's Head Peninsula
West Papua (Irian Jaya) Part 1 – Sorong, ‚Trans Papua Road’ and onwards by ferry to Seram in Moluccas (Central)
Moluccas (Central) Part 1 – Seram and onwards by ferry to Ambon in Moluccas
Moluccas (Central) Part 2 – Ambon and onwards by ferry to Serui on Yapen in Papua
Papua Part 1 – Yapen and onwards by ferry to Biak in Papua
Papua Part 2 – Biak and onwards by ferry to Manokwari in West Papua Part 2 (Irian Jaya) on eastern Bird's Head Peninsula
West Papua (Irian Jaya) Part 2 – on the eastern Bird's Head Peninsula from Manokwari, ‚Trans Papua Road’ and onwards by ferry to Makassar in South Sulawesi
South Sulawesi-Kalimantan-Sarawak Part 2 – Makassar in South Sulawesi by ferry to Batulicin in South Kalimantan and continuing via Kuching to Miri in Sarawak
Continuation of the 3rd Rejuvenation of our LandCruiser FJ60/1982 in Miri/Sarawak/East Malaysia from 2/6/2017 and again from 7/16/2018
 
Sarawak Map
 
 
 Map of Southeast Asia
Malaysia
Indonesia
Attention:
Because we drove the current first part below from Miri in Malaysia to Pontianak in Indonesia already in October/November 2006, which is published on the website “Borneo” (see pic # 26-51) as well as the first “Indonesia Trip Part 1“ (see pic # 49-54), we won't show now anymore so many photos from this stretch. Though we shall see “new land” between Pontianak and Kumai. However also the current second part – the sector from Kumai to Balikpapan – is a repetition for us (July 2007) and can be seen on the site “Indonesia Trip Part 6” (see pic # 2-34). Links are in the captures. New land” for us is definitively  from picture #31 onwards.
latest picture: October 18, 2017
  • click a picture to see details

 
 
 
 
 
 
001  Departure from our MCity Apartment
in Miri/Sarawak/East Malaysia on the Island
of Borneo. It was our pleasant "home" during
the 3rd rejuvenation of our LandCruiser .....
002  ..... where we experienced
magnificent sunsets from our
balcony on the 3rd floor
003  Is there a lovelier lighthouse
than the seahorse at Miri's Marina,
which is the towns mascot?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
004  The three of us in front of Miri's
famous landmark – the seahorse – at
our departure to the South from
northern Sarawak
005  A traditional longhouse of the Dayak
in Sarawak, here before Sibu. At Sungai Asap
near Bintulu – the longest longhouse – up to
100 families live under the same roof but have
different doorways from the communal terrace
006  Our LandCruiser at the 100 years old
Tua Pek Kong Temple along the Rajang
River in Sibu. With its 7-storey pagoda it
is an impressive landmark of the town
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
007  On the coastal road to Kuching through Pusa
and Sebuyau our LandCruiser drives off one of the
two ferries that connect this route. Both of the two
ferries cost amazingly only 1 Ringgit (= US$ 0.20).
Although the distance from Sibu to Kuching in
southern Sarawak is therefore about 60 miles
[100km] shorter, the time remains about the same
due to the two river crossings
008  Emil enjoys our picnic of satay sticks
with beer at the camping table below a shady
jackfruit tree along Maludam National Park,
which cannot be classified as spectacular from
the roadside view, because it can be entered
only with difficulties (flat peat swamp forest)
009  While Miri in northern Sarawak has
the seahorse as mascot, Kuching is the city
of the cats. Cute and funny cat monuments
are scattered in and around Sarawak's
capital in the South of the Malaysian
state on the Island of Borneo. Here the
most important in the East of the old city
(South City Council)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
010  Another enjoyable cute cat monument
– a whole family – in Kuching, the city of
cats. Actually there are three in the old city:
East (South City Council), center and West
(North City Council)
011  Kuching's most striking 9-storied building
– the "Sarawak State Assembly" with its
distinctive "payung" (umbrella) roof –
sits on the northern shore of the Sarawak
River and was opened on July 27th, 2009
012  The pedestrian zone of the "India
Street" in an old area of the city of Kuching
is lined with shops selling all kind of stuff,
particularly textiles. Its special roofing
was completed in 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
013  9/6/2017: We celebrate our easy-going
531st border crossing, this time from Tebedu/
Malaysia to Entikong/Indonesia with an
Indonesian “Bintang” beer. All we get is one
with 0.0% alcohol. Bleak prospects – finished
with Malaysian “Tiger” and “Tiger Radler”!
014  The new Tayan Bridge between
Tayan (North) and Piasak (South) over
the mighty Kapuas River in West
Kalimantan is announcing
itself in huge letters .....
015  ..... the bridge is part of the “Trans
Kalimantan Highway” and connects West
Borneo with Central Borneo. It was opened
on May 22, 2016. It is the longest bridge
in Borneo with a length of 6'480 ft [1'975m]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
016  9/7/2017: About 3 miles [5km] North of
the Tayan bridge over the Kapuas River in West
Kalimantan, we cross the Equator from the northern
to the southern hemisphere for the 20th time,thereof
14 times with our LandCruiser. Nothing indicates
latitude 0°, just the Garmin GPS shows us the spot
017  A settlement along the relatively new
“Trans Kalimantan Highway” that leads more
than 250 miles [>400km] through lush tropical
vegetation. From here until Pangkalanbun, it is
“new land” for us. This stretch wasn't
driveable in 2007 due to heavy rain
018  An Indonesian lady protects
herself from the scorching Equator
sun with an umbrella
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
019  One of the ten landslides on the 1'150 ft.
[350m] high hill passage from West to Central
Kalimantan. They are all more recent, but already
passable again. With it the most attractive and
still mostly untouched part of the improved
“Trans Kalimantan Highways” ends
020  The huge “plant fronds” emerging
from the tropical vegetation
are always eye-catching
021  A narrow but one of the many slow-
moving brown jungle rivers in Kalimantan,
fringed by luxury tropical vegetation.
It has a kind of inscrutable appearance
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
022  Surprise, surprise! Is this not a shop with
REAL beer? While driving through a bigger
town Emil discovers the piled up Bintang cases.
Hopefully better days are ahead!
023  This monumental mosque stays in the city
of Sampit in Central Kalimantan. Such huge
buildings can be found everywhere, as Islam
is the main religion in Kalimantan: West 59%,
Central 74%, South 96%, East 85%, North 65%
024  One of the many “swiftlet fortresses”, besides
palm oil another lucrative business. Swiftlet's nests
are collected and sold to China. They are a Chinese
delicacy. 1lb = about 55 nests cost up to US$725
[1kg/120 nests US$1'600], depending on quality
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
025  During a short stopover on our roller coaster
ride from South to East Kalimantan a father takes
a picture from us, while his family is enjoying it.
Smartphones are just everywhere!
026  The crossing from South to East Kalimantan
is a constant roller coaster ride through luxurious
tropical green. Up to now it is the slowest stretch
due to the holey bad road condition
027  It never takes long for kids to spot our
special looking LandCruiser. Somehow it doesn't
fit into their normal scene; therefore their
astonishment is always obvious
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
028  At the ferry terminal of Penajam with its
pretty backdrop of stilt houses we take our
1st ferry across the Balikpapan Bay to
Kariangau near Balikpapan
029  The ferry ride on board of the 21-year-
old “KMP Dharma Ferry” was our 300th
shipping during the past almost 33 years and
lasted for the 4.2 miles [6.8km] one hour.
Cost Rp. 269'500 (US$21.50)
030  Kariangau/Balikpapan is greeting us
with the attractive scenery of Balikpapan – a
big city with a population of more than 700'000
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
031  The lights of the city of Balikpapan are
already switched on when we leave Kalimantan
on board of the ferry “KMP Tuna” (24 years old)
and make ourselves comfortable for the 22 hours/
232 miles [374km] long crossing through the
Makassar Strait to the island of Sulawesi .....
032  ..... the crew is cheerful and hopes
that they will catch a big fish during the
calm sea journey, which unfortunately
does not happen .....
033  ..... the jetty in Taipa, about 10 miles
[16km] north of Palu – the capital of Central
Sulawesi – comes in sight. We "survived" the
crossing at calm sea carrying only few
passengers and vehicles
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
034  Sunday morning in Palu: Families enjoy
themselves at the stony seashore. Eateries
spring up. At lunchtime, when it is getting
sticky hot, the beach is deserted again
035  Children obviously have much
fun in their rubber dinghy watched
by their parents
036  The renter of car's inner tubes in Palu is
packing up. He manages to cram up to 16 of
the inflated tubes onto his motorbike
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
037  Thundery atmosphere across Palu Bay.
Sheltered by mountain ridges, Palu itself is
regarded as the driest location in Indonesia
038  Palu's white horse monument
at the beach front contrasts with
the dark mountain backdrop
039  The floating ‘Arqam Bab Al Rahman’
Mosque in Palu. It was inaugurated in 2012
by the Governor of Central Sulawesi
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
040  It is sizzling at every street corner.
Here a lady is scooping fried
bananas from her pan
041  Bride and groom are posing for
their photographer and smile as well
into our camera
042  Three school girls in their Muslim outfit
are waiting to be picked up from school. 77% of
the population of Central Sulawesi are Muslim
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
043  Just on Liliana's birthday our LandCruiser
surprises us with its 188th flat tire. Emil is
fetching the spare tire from the roof
044  Not everyday a foreigner is changing
a tire. Children are fast to spot us and follow
each of our movements
045  A farmer drives home from his
plantation with some coconuts
tied to his motorbike
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
046  Northern Sulawesi is known for its
extensive coconut plantations. About 20%
of the copra production of Indonesia
can be found here
047  At the turquoise shimmering natural pool
(sinkhole) “Pusat Laut” about 9 miles [14km]
southwest of Donggala, resp. ca. 30 miles
[50km] from Palu, children dip into the water to
catch the coins, visitors have been throwing in
048  The beach lying along Makassar Strait
is gleaming white and is deserted on the day
when we visit it during the week
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The beauty of exotic plants are eye-catching
049  A hanging heliconia (Heliconia
rostrata), actually a South American plant
050  A bunch of coconuts (Cocos nucifera)
that hang heavily at the palm tree
051  A tree trunk where delicate fresh
plants are springing everywhere
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
052  Liliana at the terrace of our Bungalow
under palm trees directly at the beach of the
"Bambaleno Beach Cottages" in Parigi, located
ca. 50 miles [80km] east of Palu at Tomini Bay
053  A smelly billy goat tries persistently
to make friend with Emil
054  Next morning we are awakened by a
gorgeous sunrise at the very calm Tomini Bay
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
055  9/27/2017: Equator monument in
Central Sulawesi. We cross at Tada the equator
for the 20th time from South to North resp.
the 12th time together with our LandCruiser
056  The island feeling is evident when
we roll on the ‘Trans Sulawesi Highway’
across the lush landscape
057  Peace and solitude: A modest hut,
a fishing boat and in front the wide blue
sea, the Tomini Bay in Molucca Sea –
on the road to Moutong
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
058  Morning mood at 5am: View across
the calm sea from our seaside terrace at
the ‘Sakana Beach Resort’ in Moutong
059  The dead and leafless mangrove trees are
a desolate sight. About half of the originally
32'865 acres [133km²] of mangroves of the
‘Tanjung Panjang Reserve’ in the Gorontalo
Province have been converted since 1989
into extensive fish ponds
060  View over a sea of palm trees –
one of the many plantations near the
‘Randangan Panua Reserve’ along the
southern coast in the province of
Gorontalo – that spread an exotic feeling
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
061  The southern coastal route from
Gorontalo along the ‘Dumago Bone National
Park’ to Kotamobagu and in direction
Manado is very picturesque with its little
hidden bays and beaches .....
062  ..... the many quaint fishing villages .....
063  ..... and mostly narrow roads, often
fringed with palm trees. But this route is about
60 miles [100km] shorter than the ‘Trans
Sulawesi Road’ along the northern coast
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
064  Nature pure: A stony mountain stream
carves its way through lush tropical vegetation –
on the Gorontalo- Kotamobagu south route
065  A pretty mosque in Molibagu at the
Molucca Sea, where it's said to have another
23 mosques, although the village lies already
on the rather Christian dominated
(up to 93%) Minahasa Peninsula
066  Beach, palm trees and the sea
– what more could we want? - near
Molibagu, North Sulawesi, at the
Molucca Sea. This picture is our
10'000th photo on our website
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
067  A forested volcano watches over
a rice field in the Minahasa Highland
068  The three of us feel very happy in the
tropical surroundings of Tomohon, the
capital of the Minahasa Highland
069  After each tropical rain, the hills in
the Minahasa Highland get shrouded by mist
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Churches dominate in the Christian oriented Northeast of Sulawesi particularly the Minahasa Highland. Mostly they are impressive monumental buildings
and the houses of worship belong to different congregations. It is not uncommon that in a small modest village different congregations are “competing” and
churches are standing side by side. And Christians do as Muslims do: They also stand on the street in front of their places of worship and collect
money from passing motorists
070  Gereja GMIM Kalvari Tombasian
Atas in Kawangkoan, 10 miles [17km] south of
Tomohon, i.e. 25 miles [40km] south of Manado
071  Gereja GMIM Imanuel Leilem in
Leilem, 5½ miles [9km] south of Tomohon,
i.e. 20 miles [40km] south of Manado
072  Gereja Katolik St. Fransiskus
Xaverius Kakaskasen in Tomohon,
13½ miles [22km] south of Manado
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
073  The Buddhist ‘Vihara Buddhayana’
complex in Tomohon at the ‘Minahasa’ Highland
sits on a hill surrounded by agriculture
074  View from the top of the nine-story
‘Ekayana’ pagoda down to the 18 golden
‘Lohan’ statues that line the entrance
075  One of the impressive golden ‘Lohan’ statues
– Pindolabharadvaja – with 5'184 ft. [1'580m] high
‘Mount Lokon/Empung’ volcano) in the background
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
076  The lovely little temple (Palace of the
Goddess ‘Kwan Im’) is a fascinating example
of Buddhists rich decorations
077  Emil is enjoying the view from the top
of the ‘Ekayana’ pagoda. Wherever it is
possible to climb a tower, Emil does it
078  A shrine with a statue of Goddess
‘Kwan Im’ besides the ‘Ekayana’ pagoda,
flanked by bouquets of flowers
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
079  Mystic figures frame the fountain at the
‘Vihara Buddhayana’ complex in Tomohon
080  A giant frog-headed dragon is part of
the ‘Vihara Buddhayana’ complex in
Tomohon, which symbolizes luck
081  A remembrance picture of the three
of us in front of the impressive ‘Vihara
Buddhayana’ complex in Tomohon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
082  Emil serves as a “guinea pig” of the
dished up Minahasa’ food bowls at the Heng-
mien Restaurant, because Indonesian food is
often too spicy for Liliana thanks to its chili
083  The family of the Hengmien Restaurant
at the Tomohon-Manado road
084  Emil eats “Fondue” at the Kitty
Bakery in Tomohon – at least that's
what the little bowl with the creamy
cheese-milk-sauce is called!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
085  View from the big panorama
window at the Hengmien Restaurant
into the tropical surroundings …..
086  ….. with its exotic orchids …..
087  ….. and a butterfly resting on a green leaf
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
088  The encounter with like-minded Swiss
fellows Marius, Diana and their two boys at the
Mountain View Resort in Tomohon is too brief
089  Our LandCruiser always generates attention:
At the Kitty Bakery in Tomohon we are asked to
pose for a picture with officials
090  Thomas and Ursi from Switzerland belong
also to the holiday makers with whom we had nice
conversations at the Mt. View Resort in Tomohon
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
091  The monument with the white wild
horses stays in Manado's ring road at the
entrance to the residential complex
“CitraLand” of “Ciputra”
092  The 98 ft. [30m] high statue of Jesus
Christ in Manado is besides the ”Cristo
Redentor“ in Rio de Janeiro/Brazil and the
”Cristo Rei“ in Lubango/Angola the third big
Christ monument we were able to admire on
our epic journey; left of it the ”Big Ben Tower“
093  The “flying” Christ statue in Manado
watches over the city. It is situated on the
hill of the ”Citral“ residential area
 
More websites from the "Borneo-Sulawesi-Moluccas-Papua" trip:
Part 2: Pictures from the second part of North Sulawesi – Tomohon and surroundings, Tangkoko NP in October 2017
Part 3: Pictures from the North Moluccas Part 1 – Ternate und Tidore in November/December 2017
Part 4: Pictures from the North Moluccas Part 2 – Halmahera in November/December 2017
Part 5: Pictures from West Papua Part 1 (Irian Jaya) – Sorong and westerly ‘Trans Papua Road’ in December 2017-February 2018
Part 6: Pictures from the Moluccas Part 1 (Central) – Seram in February 2018
Part 7: Pictures from the Moluccas Part 2 (Central) – Ambon in February/March 2018
Part 8: Pictures from Papua Part 1Yapen in March 2018
Part 9: Pictures from Papua Part 2 – Biak in April 2018
Part 10: Pictures from West Papua Part 2 (Irian Jaya) – Manokwari and easterly ‘Trans Papua Road’ in April 2018
Part 11: Pictures from South Sulawesi-Kalimantan-Sarawak Part 2 South Sulawesi via Kalimantan to Kuching and Miri/Malaysia from May to July 2018
More websites from Indonesia and Timor-Leste:

More websites from East Malaysia und Brunei: