Borneo gallery online

Selamat Pagi apa kabar? During my assignment on Borneo I shot a few images in and around the town of Pankalang Bun where we stayed. Images that I have very kindly been allowed to also use myself. So I am very happy to be able to present to you this fascinating glimpse of life in Pankalang Bun and my visit to the Orang Utans in the the Tanjung Puting National Park. The Borneo gallery can be viewed here and don’t forget the couple of videos I have online at vimeo.

I have a tendency to overuse words like mind-blowing and amazing, something I discovered when running out of words to describe Borneo. It is a completely different life and deeply fascinating. A River Runs Through It and is everything to everyone. Food, shower, laundry, swimming pool. A hot humid tropical heat and the smell of teak tree bombard your senses. The people are some of the most friendly, smiling and polite I have ever met. Mobile phones and scooters are everywhere. Fuel for your car or scooter is sold in a Coke Bottle. All the colours in the world seem to have gathered in Pankalang Bun as every house, boat, sign and all clothing are vibrant and saturated off the scale. And had we landed in a spaceship, had 8 arms and green skin, we would not have created any more attention than we already did. It is mind-blowing…and I really like blowing my mind. Have a look at a few samples here and then head to the gallery for more, although my travel photography does this experience no justice at all.

Click to see large size on my gallery! Copyright Flemming Bo Jensen Photography

Pankalang Bun – Laundry day
© Flemming Bo Jensen Photography

Click to see large size on my gallery! Copyright Flemming Bo Jensen Photography

Pankalang Bun – street life
© Flemming Bo Jensen Photography

A most fascinating visit to see the Orang Utans was arranged for us by our fantastic hosts. About 415,000 hectares have finally been set aside as a National Park, presently home to about 5,000 orang utans. Many of them rescued from other areas of the island and relocated here to survive. The things we do to our planet and fellow inhabitants. To think we came close to wiping out these incredible animals. To meet these gracious creatures in their environment and study their behaviour is so fascinating you never want to leave. I guess we see ourselves in them, they are so human-like it is spellbinding.

Click to see large size on my gallery! Copyright Flemming Bo Jensen Photography

Orang Utan in Tanjung Putin
© Flemming Bo Jensen Photography

Borneo – I look very much forward to another mind-blowing visit! And I must find the time to tell some more stories like: sailing on the river in what can only by described as 3 wooden boards and a two-stroke engine, drinking Pocari Sweat, the airport where boarding passes are hand written, best food in the world, learning Indonesian language and how not to be eaten by the cannibals!

14 Comments on “Borneo gallery online”

    1. Hi Jamie and thanks very much! We as humans need to stop wrecking the planet and killing everyone else. The orang utans are still very much an endangered species and could be extinct soon. We're killing them through habitat destruction. As you say, we need to learn fast how to co-exist and protect the planet. Some days I feel there's hope, some days I feel we're unable to learn from mistakes.

  1. I prefer to think there is still hope. I feel very strongly about whales and dolphins and wish there was a way I could use my photography skills to help them out. Its interesting that the very same people who worked in whaling stations in Western Australia are now some of the most ardent whale advocates in the country.

    Jamie

    1. I try to 😀 Like you say, getting out there is the best medicine. And I haven't even started yet. Watch me, leaf in the wind, as I take off soon on a nomadic photography adventure around the world!

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