Banjarmasin, S Kalimantan, Jan 28 (ANTARA News) - In one of the corners of the suburb of Banjarmasin City, there is always an activity that has almost never ended: a ferry service.
The ferry service is just right at South Kuin, an urban village that foreign or even domestic tourists frequently forget. It is located at the area where the old floating market was, as there is now a new floating market at the center of the city.
If you ever stop over at the pier of the old floating market, go a few hundred more meters inside. But the quay is almost covered by houses. People have to go through a narrow hallway to get to it. And if you find no sign, just ask the people around.
There you are. If you do not find the ferry, look across, and you will see her on the river. The ferry is from Pulau Alalak, Barito Kuala District.
Look around you. You will see passengers waiting. Some will be sitting on the long bench, and others will be waiting on their motor bikes. Sometimes, you will notice one or two merchants with their merchandises, as well as mothers with their toddlers or babies.
It does not take much longer before the ferry arrives. When she touches the land, a helper takes a bridge down and passengers get down one by one, followed by new passengers getting in.
It is not a big ship. It is only a simple medium boat made of wood. Its space is only sufficient for about 12 motorcycles and few riders.
When you are on the river, do not miss the panorama around you. South Kuin and Pulau Alalak, on the opposite side of the river, are known as villages of various crafts.
People here make traditional boat out of jukung, which are used by floating market merchants to trade their products. They make the simple boats as well as the large ones. Some people make furniture from wood, while others carry out their business using sawmill.
There are handicrafts such as the large traditional hat made of the leaf called tandui. A delicacy of soto Banjar cuisine can also be found in Kuin. Here people also make large water jars called tajau.
A pile of wood, sawmill, or even wood cuts are a general view when you are crossing from South Kuin to Pulau Alalak. It is actually an island with three villages, but people prefer to say three island (pulau) rather than three villages, namely Pulau Alalak, Pulau Sugara, and Pulau Sewangi.
When it was the time to pay, a passenger askedthe rate. Me and my motor bike will cross again to return?"
"3,000 (rupiah)," the motorist named Hadi remarked.
A passenger, Nimah, acknowledged that the fare had remained the same for many years. "The first time I went on the boat was four years ago. The fare remains the same," he revealed.
Why does it not increase? "We are aware of the condition," Hadi explained with a smile.
Hadi could not remember exactly how many years the ferry had been operating. What he knows is that he serves people all day, from morning till dusk. "Then other (motorist) will replace me from dusk till dawn."
"It means 24 hours" Hadi just smiles.
news feature - A never-ending ferry service in s kuin
Selasa, 29 Januari 2019 6:26 WIB