*Click title to read book on Open Library (if available)
*Click picture for link to Goodreads description and reviews
by Tash Aw
The Land of Five Towers
by Ahmad Fuadi
Child of All Nations
by Pramoedya Ananta Toer
The Dancer
by Ahmad Tohari
by H.G. Wells
We have now arrived at our final stop around the equator, in the city of Pontianak, Indonesia!
We are officially the closest to the true Equatorial line since visiting Quito - less than 2 miles to the south! While this isn't Indonesia's most popular tourist destination, Pontianak will not disappoint the high expectations that have been set throughout this journey. Below is a quick tour guide for the city:
Fun fact about the city's name and origin story. Dan Stables writes for discoveryourindonesia.com: "In Indonesian and Malaysian folklore, the pontianak is a ghost who eats her victims alive, said to be the spirit of a woman who died in childbirth. The story goes that the city of Pontianak used to be a nest for these ghosts until the former sultan arrived and founded the city. Happily, you’re unlikely to encounter any pontianaks in Pontianak these days."
Who thought they'd visit an actual ghost town when starting this journey?
Now that we know a little more about "the Equatorial City," let's explore some of the most popular features:
Outside the city is the Borneo rainforest. According to naturalworldsafaris.com: "At 130 million years old, Borneo's Rainforest is one of the oldest in the world, and home to a dizzying number of species (15,000 of plants, 3,000 of trees, 221 of land mammals & 420 of birds!)."
Within the rainforest, you'll be able to interact with different species of monkey, such as the silvered leaf monkey (silvery lutung), pygmy elephants, and a variety of other fauna and flora. It's not all fun and games in the jungle, however! There are big cat species such as the clouded leopard, and your boat tour or kayak adventure may bring you face-to-face with crocodile. There are indigenous tribes that call Borneo home, also. Watch the video below and see a little bit of everything this rainforest has to offer:
What good is a trip to a city ON the Equator if you don't go to the equatorial monument/museum? While Pontianak is a developing city, it is the largest true equatorial city in the world! Back on point, here is some fun history and information about the Equator Monument from Atlas Obscura: "The spot was first marked simply with an arrow on a pole in 1928 by a Dutch geographer when he visited Borneo. The first monument, originally consisting of four wooden pillars surrounding the pole, was rebuilt ten years later by architect Silaban who turned the simple marker into a permanent monument. A globe was added to cap off the work, and a guard was added to keep it safe. A dome was finally built over the landmark in 1990 to cover the original monument and a grander replica, five times the size of the original marker monument, was added to the top.
Due to constant global shift, the monument no longer lies on the exact line of the equator. In 2005, the true equatorial line was recorded a short distance south of the monument and, according to GPS readings, the line continues to move south. Despite this increasing inaccuracy, the city of Pontianak holds a party each year during the time of the spring and autumn solstices, when the shadows of the monument and everything around it disappear at noon."
Below is one final video, which features the monument, but also offers some insight to the local cuisine and a few other interesting cultural tidbits:
Wrap up your summer tour in the Western fashion, with some mall shopping and R&R at a popular town square!
The Ayani Megamall is true to its namesake. You can get anything from clothing, to hardware, to a new car or motorcycle here. There are also cinemas, a food court, and finer dining experiences. If you're looking to take home a few souvenirs from your travels, this is the place to stop.
Finally, a coffee or tea break at a cafe in Kapuas Square is a nice way to unwind before your long flight back to the States. It is named after the Kapuas river on which it sits, and one can hire a boat in the evenings, or simply sit and watch the sun set. This is a popular place for relaxing amongst the locals.
This is it, our last chance to try something unique before going back to our hotdogs, hamburgers, and peanut butter sandwiches. Below are a couple culinary delights you shouldn't leave Indonesia without trying. Click the name of the dish to link to its recipe!
Nasi Uduk (Rice cooked in Coconut Milk)
From indochili.com: "This aromatic dish is also one of Indonesia’s national dishes. The meal revolves around rice cooked in coconut milk...it is usually served with fried chicken, tempe (soybean cake), shredded omelette, fried onion, anchovies and topped with sambal and emping (melinjo nut crackers). You definitely cannot leave out sambal for Nasi Uduk. This dish is popular among lunchtime crowds."
From indochili.com: "One of our favorite desserts would be Indonesian Sweet Martabak. It is an Indonesian version of a pancake. The interesting thing is, Martabak is only sold in the evenings. You can choose mix fillings from chocolate, cheese and peanuts."
The sun now sets on our equatorial adventure. As night and day are perfectly divided in the cities we toured, so may your life be as harmoniously balanced. Thank you for taking time to explore another KCU Virtual Vacation. As we stated at the beginning of the guide, we appreciate your feedback, and welcome comments on how your personal vacations are going this summer.
Until next time, adiós, adeus, au revoir, kwaheri, vakivelan, and selamat tinggal!
