Hitting the road to mark August independence days
Hitting the road to mark August independence days
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
There are the usual ways to celebrate independence day, and then
there are ways which are a little off the beaten track.
Included in the latter would be an overland trip exploring
remote places of the country. Or make that two countries.
The 3,600-kilometer Independence Roadventure Indonesia-
Malaysia expedition, organized by PT Java Adventure, is slated to
start in Jakarta on Aug. 17, Indonesian Independence Day and
finish in the Sarawak capital of Kuching in Malaysian Borneo on
Aug. 31, when that country marks its independence.
"The Independence Roadventure is the first event to co-
celebrate the independence of both countries," event consultant
Suryantoro Purbo said at a media gathering on Tuesday.
"This expedition is not a pure off-road expedition as most of
the route, some 3,000 kilometers, consists of scenic and
panoramic routes where participants can enjoy beautiful scenery
during the drive."
Although most of the trip will be what the organizer terms a
"silk road" of smooth driving, participants are recommended to
use four-wheel drive vehicles because there is a segment of some
20 kilometers of rough terrain along the border of Central
Kalimantan and West Kalimantan.
Suryantoro said the expedition would take less traveled roads
to give participants the best opportunity to glimpse another side
of the countries.
During the journey, participants will visit major tourism
spots in Bandung, Yogyakarta, Borobudur Temple in Central Java,
Bromo Mountain in East Java and Bali.
From Bali, participants will head to Surabaya for a ferry
crossing to South Kalimantan's capital of Banjarmasin. They then
start their Trans Borneo leg of the expedition to Entikong before
entering Malaysia.
The fee of US$1,400 per car includes 12 days of full
accommodation. The other four days will be a camping trip or
simple accommodation with locals.
Participants are expected to be a mixture of real off-roaders
seeking a challenge and novices wishing for new experiences.
So far, the organizer has received confirmation from 15
Malaysian cars and eight Indonesian cars.
"We are limiting the participants to 40 cars in order to
provide good services from the expedition crew," said Suryantoro.
He added that the Indonesian State Ministry of Tourism and
Culture and the Sarawak Tourism Ministry had given their full
support to the expedition.
"This is a good opportunity to introduce the fact that we also
have this kind of tourism, in addition to the mainstream sun, sea
and sand," he said.
"We can, for example, promote this kind of expedition as part
of what should be an Asian adventure triangle."
Interested parties can contact the organizer at Jl. Kemang Utara
No. 33, South Jakarta. Phone 021-7190810, fax 021-7197517