Badness and Goodness in Beting

When you go to Kampong Beting, what is in your mind? Do you feel peaceful when see the two historical place in Pontianak, Jami’ Mosque and the Kadariyah palace? Or you see the place that provides high criminality rating? Forgot those two problems, how about the potential of tourism object in Kampong Beting, the place that seperate the river and have the longest “Gertak” in Indonesia even in the world. In this article, I will give my opinion about the goodness, the badness and the potential tourism object that Kampong Beting have. First, let we see the history of Kampong Beting.

Two Main Transportation to Visit Kalbar

West Kalimantan has a lot of tourism object to visit. Starting from the objects that have been known as the equatorial monument, palace, royal palace and others as well as objects that are hidden like a Pancur Aji waterfall, Landak waterfalls and the exotic lakes Sentarum. For the people of West Kalimantan, they can easily reach them. But, for the people who live outside of West Kalimantan, there are two main transportation which can be a choice of air and sea transportation. The air transportation using a plane and sea transportation by ship. Both are of course very different. The purpose of this essay is to contrast the cost and long trips, service and comfort at the time of travel and access to tourist attractions and lodging.

Different Cultures, Different Acts

Many ethnics in one region can be sitting together, but in some places they are not able to confirm the other ethnic and realize that they are also human being. In my place, conflict between ethnics once happen and thousands died. Now the situation is safe, but still we can see in some places it is hard for people to accept other ethnics. If we think deeply, it is only wasting our time and it provides unstable condition. On the other hand, I cannot blame them and force them to receive my conception. It needs long time to change. I am a blended child because my parents come from different ethnics. I am proud that my parent’s ethnic never cause conflict. It means that they have understood each other. In my family, it provides a different act of my parents. Sometimes they have different ways and intonation when they speak to teach their children.

BIG FISH VERSUS SMALL FISH IN KAPUAS RIVER TRANSPORTATION

Through many years, people have been living with a lot of development in transportation element. In past, people used to walk to travel from one place to another. Then people develop a vehicle to reach far places called bicycle. After many years, as human nature, people become not satisfied with bicycle. They begin to develop another vehicles start with motorcycle, car, ship, and plane. Nowadays, people can travel to farther places without wasting their time. In our country Indonesia, there is an island with the longest river, the island is Borneo and the river located in West Borneo. The river name is Kapuas River. People in West Borneo prefer to use ship rather than car or motorcycle. Capital city of West Borneo is Pontianak. Pontianak city is divided by Kapuas River.

Bubur Pedas is a traditional meal of west-borneo especially in sambas region. If we meet sambas people and ask them about their traditional food, they will absolutely mention Bubur Pedas as their traditional food. Eventhough its named Bubur Pedas, the tastes is not spicy at all. Sambas people said that Bubur Pedas is the king of porridge, because all of the ingredients blend into one. There are 3 steps for making Bubur Pedas, from preparing the food materials, choosing the vegetables and preparing the refined ingredient.

DAYAK'S HANDICRAFT

As a biggest ethnic in Borneo, Dayak also has a lot of unique handicrafts and have a lot of function, for example Shield which is a tool to defense from enemy's attack. However, every single handicraft also have a long story and used for a long time. In this writing, i want to show you some of the the traditional handicraft from Dayak.

 

Shield/Kelembit
It is a tool to repel enemy's attack in a battle. The shield is made of wood so that it is light and not easily breakable. In front of the shield there are ornaments, however nowadays the ornament is composed with painting of white and red or white or black color. There are 3 basic motives for decorating the shield: 

1. Motif of Enggang Bird (Kalung Tebengaang) 
2. Motif of Dragon/Dog (Kalung Aso') 
3. Motif of Mask (Kalung Udo') 

Besides as protector from enemy?s attach, the shield also functions as: 

1. protection from fire  
2. War dance equipment  
3. Tool for break up a fight 
4. Equipment for Belian ceremony

Nowadays, shield is sold as souvenir / house decoration. 

KUNTILANAK

According to local people, the word Pontianak comes from word Kuntilanak. Kuntilanak is a ghost that frightening us in night. There are many stories about how kuntilanak, but here, i will tell you the trusted story of Kuntilanak. I got this story from old people in pontianak and other places.

A long time ago, there was a beautiful woman named Intan Lemang. Her beauty was well known to many villagers as she has big round eyes, a pointed nose and long black hair past her shoulders.  When she smiled at others, they always always smiled back. Her laugh sounded like melodies that comfort every heart. She was adored by everybody.