fishing nets drying along the river bank in Long Bagum
Trading post and furthest stop of the Kapal Biasa
With water levels high, the kapal biasa – the public ferry that cruises the Mahakam River – reaches all the way to Long Bagum, a small trading village (otherwise, it doesn’t go further than Long Iram, near Tering). Long Bagum itself is on terra firma, not surprising as the river scenery by now has turned into a more hilly, occasionally even rocky, landscape, quite different from the water-inundated flats downstream. Despite its position on real land, the village still hasn’t got much more than one street, following the river bank, and flanked by houses, shops and an attractive meeting hall.
the main street, including bridge
food stall
boat landing
entrance to village and meeting hall, Long Bagum
From here, one can travel even further upstream, to Long Apri, in a canoe or speedboat, a somewhat challenging trip through several rapids. Alternatively, forest and jungle treks can be arranged in the village, to further long house villages. Having seen sufficient villages, and enough river scenery, we elected to return to Samarinda by kapal biasa, a 24 hour journey downstream – which also ends this virtual tour.
meeting hall in Long Bagum
young boat driver in on the river at Long Bagum
limestone cliff – the only rock visible for miles – just below Long Bagum
