A Christmas Tree in the River Bank

by Ari Ulandari (Indonesia)

I didn't expect to find Indonesia

My smile arose when I saw a boat came. I jumped to the 6 meter by 2 meter- long tail wooden boat excitedly. We were 6 people on the boat. I was the only female there. Apparently, big river route was not the driver choice, so the boat came into the sub-river of Kayan. “Don’t ever dare to stop there”, Pak Mul whispered while pointing out an island-like spot. “Crocodiles love to take sunbath over there”, continued him. That spot seemed lovely. Soft white sand, surrounded by clean water, plus wide canopy of an old mangrove tree. I sat down in the stern during the 8 Km tracking trip along the sub-river of this second longest river on Borneo Island. The river bank were dominated by more than 30 meter-tall trees. North Kalimantan still had fresh environment. Its 1.35 million hectare national consevation park is the largest primary and secondary tropical rain forest in the Southeast Asia, home of Bekantan (Nasalislarvatus) or long-nosed monkey. The driver stopped the boat at one place where there were some trees grew toward the river. Decomposed leaves is one of fish favorite food. Unfortunately, I realized that I had nothing. Lucky me, I could create a simple fishing tool. I attached the hook to the line, putting baits on it. While, the other fellows looked so professional with their fishing equipments, I just could threw my hook in 3 meters away. But, mother nature works on her own way. “Help! Help!” I screamed out loud. I couldn’t handle the pull. Pak Muji and Pak Mul helped to pull it out of water, still difficult since the fishing line directly press their hands. A towel solved the problem. “Yaaaaaay!” everybody screamed happily. My simple fishing tool succeed to land a yellow-giant Otek-Otek (roughback sea catfish), around 3.5 or 4 Kg and 40 cm long. “Unexperienced lady has taken out males pride!” said Pak Donny while taking picture with the fish as me smiling widely in the background. Feeling bored in the same spot, we moved 3 Km further. A muddy water with trees from sago palm families as its canopy was the next spot. I just could dream having a spinning rods like the others, while putting the line just right under the boat, not confident can catch another fish. After a while, I decided to pull my line out of water as I thought there was no fish being hooked. “Heeeeeelp! What is this!” I was scared. I didn’t know wheather it was a fish or a sea snake, a 70 cm long and 2 or 3 Kg weight animal. I got a Sembilan fish or eel-tailed catfish. Locals believe that front and dorsal fins of this fish contains poison. So, we decided to cut the fishing line and let the hook stayed in the fish’s mouth. I couldn’t catch fish anymore. It was almost 3 p.m. when our boat moved toward the Celebes Sea. We had to go home soon. We were not supposed to drive a boat in the darkness because the accident probablity will increase. We were late and had to sail in the darkness. Once the sky was completely dark, the assistant quickly jump to the bow and stood up there while giving the navigation to the driver who steered the boat in the stern. He also made out-loud voice periodically. The light of torches on the boat were projected to the sky. These things would help anothers boats to recognise our boat. I almost closed my eyes, but suddenly I open them again widely since I witness an interesting thing in the river bank. I couldn’t believe my vison. It was the first time I’ve ever seen a illuminating tree in the wild. It seemed exactly like a christmas tree. “That tree is home of thousand fireflies, Lan”, said Pak Mul. I wanted to capture that phenomenon, but unfortunately my camera was not able to do that. So, I didn’t stop staring at that tree until I couldn’t see it again since the boat keep passing by. I hope this such beautiful environment can be always preserved.