January 16, 2011

Heart of Borneo - 7 - Sintang: The Land of the Gods

7th Dec 2010.




Sintang is a district in WEst Kalimantan or Kalbar.

There are two main attractions for our group in Sintang, besides visiting the town. We visited the Grotto of Maria, a sacred retreat for the Roman Catholics, and Mount Kelam (which we did not climb)

The long road from Lubok Antu, through Badau and on to Putussibau was rough and in spots the mud was deeper than a whole wheel. Francis Lim's car  was good and we managed to go through. A few of the vehicles were stuck and one had to be winged.

A bus along the way stuck in the mud obstructed our movement so we were delayed for a few hours.
It was amazing how we all got along and travelled together in great harmony.

This Catholic/ Christian centre would be a great place for pilgrimage in time to come, especially when the road from Badau to Putussibau and Sintang become better.

Many Catholics in our group spent some time in prayers here.

It was a good visit.

 Extra notes on Bukit Kelam. It is an exposed granitic dome with an elevation of 1,002 m.

In 1894, German botanist Johannes Gottfried Hallier becasme the second European to climb it.
(After Dr. Gurtler). Hallier ascended the summit 5 times between Jan 30 and February 13.

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