Indonesia - Borneo - Orangutans, Jungles and Jetties

With the visa worries sorted (thanks Lilian for your suggestion and help) we landed in Jakharta, stayed one night and then caught our plane to Pangkalan Bun Borneo (thanks to Christie for organising these). Pangkalan Bun is a major city in the region of Kalimantan, and sits just a short boat ride away from the Tanjang Puting National Park.
We were met with hugs and happy faces from the two coordinators for the project, Christie and Grant. Both enthusiastic and supportive.

Christie and Grant organised our pick up and hotel in Pangkalang Bun... the group meets for the first time

where's Ange??

Our first week is a leisurely trip to the Tanjang Puting NP to see the Orang-utans.

Our home for the next 4 days...A two storey kelotok, hired from Majit

...Majit's two sons, waiting to wave us off...

...setting off ...Louise at the fore, Inez and Ben in the distance....ah chilling 

Christy and Rob

...Sekonyer river is a major commercial artery

The journey upstream passes many large ships, before slipping into a small tributary, which after an hour lands us at the first feeding station and of course the stars of the NP.

It's a hard life.

Pitcher plants

That's not an orang-utan.

The resident male - Tom

Spot the baby.

So cute!

Leeched

The park is accessed by water.

After our trip to see the orang-utans we head off to Lamandau to start work on the 2011 Orang-utan Foundation project.

Loading up - we have to transport everything we'll need as the nearest shop is 3 hours away by boat. So near no SPAR!

Waiting for the kelotoks to be loaded.

Jetsam or flotsam - whatever the river is a mass of rubbish.

The wee room!

Under way - fully loaded.

We arrive at Pos Mangkung to start a 4 week walkway construction. The walkway will be used to transport orang-utans to a release site 3 km away from the main river.

Walking the plank!

First job - construct a bridge using string and wood.

Sunrise over the Lamandau River - you can just see the WC in the foreground.

The wc rises and falls with the tide, making going to the toilet an interesting experience.

Relaxing

Watch out for the crocs Louise.

Wildlife safari in a kelotok.

A cheeky monkey.

The river is very busy.

There are small communities at various points along the river.

Sunset

Once the generators are switched off it's time to light the candles.

Sunday is rest day. Time is spent playing games and dpoing the washing.

A furry friend.

Inez having an afternnon nap.

Night night!

Grant and Pak Seraymat

A view down the toilet. Spot the fish.

There are lots of butterflies around the camp.

The main river is fed by many tributaries.

Food is prepared in the camp kitchen three times a day.

Preparing the vegetables.

Look at the pancake stack on the left. Louise is so happy she's having
a dance.

Time for work.

You can now see the first stage of the boardwalk.

The boardwalk extends across the marshy ground...

and into the forest.

It's hot work building a boardwalk. The Indonesians take a well earned rest...

...as do the volunteers.

Fish for tea.

Heigh ho heigh ho it's off to work we go - come on Pak Seraymat.

The longer the boardwalk becomes the further we have to walk before we can start work.

We do see some wildlife whilst we are working...

A bird of prey

A strange caterpillar

After a hard days work it time to kick off your shoes.

Another day dawns at the wc...



... and on the river.



Today we have some visitors.

Changing of the guards.

A view of the camp from the river.

The only place to sit is on the steps and veranda at the post house.

Christie and Grant