Kalimantan Shopping

Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo Island, is made up of four provinces. Each region boasts its own capital – central Kalimantan: Palangkaraya, east Kalimantan: Samarinda, west Kalimantan: Pontianak and south Kalimantan: Banjarmasin. The area is relatively undeveloped and is one of the world’s last bastions of untouched wilderness; the best attractions of the region lie within the forests.

The region has its dark side – rampant logging, energy extraction, mining industries and intentional forest fires have cut through a swathe of rainforest – those hungry for the unknown have to be quick to take advantage of this Borneo nation’s hidden world. One of the last refuges for most of the world’s orang-utans and a world-class diving destination, Kalimantan is also home to indigenous tribes such as the Dayak people.

Shopping in Kalimantan is limited to a handful of places where you can get your retail therapy fix – in point of fact Pontianak and Balikpapan are the best places for handicrafts and handmade local products. Meanwhile Palangkaraya is popular for its rattan products – must-buy items include hats and pleated rattan bags. Furthermore Kalimantan is popular for its array of jewellery made of precious and semi-precious stones – topaz, emerald, jade and turquoise pieces are well worth the price tags here.