Pontianak is the capital of the Indonesian province of West Kalimantan, founded firstly as a trading port on the island of Borneo, occupying an area of 118.31 km² in the delta of the Kapuas River at a point where it is joined by its major tributary, the Landak River.

Is Pontianak safe?

Is it Safe to Travel to Pontianak? Our best data indicates this area is somewhat safe, but with extra warnings in a few regions. As of Oct 07, 2019 there are travel warnings and regional advisories for Indonesia; exercise a high degree of caution and avoid some areas.

What is the best in Pontianak?

Top Attractions in Pontianak

1. Masjid Raya Mujahidin. 128. ...
2. Equator Monument. 477. ...
3. Saint Joseph Cathedral. Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks. ...
4. Ayani Mega Mall. 137. ...
5. Sentarum Lake. Nature & Wildlife Areas.
6. Kapuas Square. 198. ...
7. Keraton Kadriah. 106. ...
8. ParadisQ Waterpark. Amusement & Theme Parks • Water Parks.

Why is Pontianak called Pontianak?

The name Pontianak refers to a story about ghosts that people in West Kalimantan refer to as Pontianak (a ferocious female ghost in Malay); it was a ghosts' nest until Syarif Abdurrahman Alkadrie and his army fought and extruded ghosts who attacked his group by shooting cannonballs.

How do you know if a Pontianak is near you?

Pontianak only appears under the full moon and typically announces her presence with the cries of infants or feminine laughter. It is said that if the sounds are quiet, she is nearby, but if they are loud, she is far away.

A Tourist's Guide to Pontianak ( Equator City) Indonesia

17 related questions found

What is Pontianak English?

pontianak in British English

(ˌpɒntɪˈɑːnæk ) noun. (in Malay folklore) a female vampire; the ghost of a woman who has died in childbirth.

What is the main city of Kalimantan?

Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan. Since it was established as the capital of Central Kalimantan province in 1957, the first president of Indonesia, Sukarno, outlined a plan to develop Palangkaraya as the future capital of Indonesia.

Is Kalimantan safe?

Staying Safe

Although Kalimantan is home to all sorts of potentially dangerous wildlife, the lowly mosquito is actually the most dangerous creature on the island. Take extra precautions to avoid bites, especially at sunset when mosquitoes most often transmit Dengue Fever. Drinking homemade arak can be dangerous.

What is the difference between Borneo and Kalimantan?

Kalimantan (Indonesian pronunciation: [kaliˈmantan]) is the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo. It comprises 73% of the island's area. The non-Indonesian parts of Borneo are Brunei and East Malaysia. In Indonesia, "Kalimantan" refers to the whole island of Borneo.

Is Borneo Indonesia safe?

Borneo in general is a safe destination with relatively low crime rates. Tourists should exercise the usual precautions – not walking alone at night, not leaving valuables such as cameras and smart phones on display, and using registered taxis.

Which part of Borneo is better?

Head deep in the rainforest at Danum Valley, Sabah

Few things beat waking up in the heart of the jungle more than two hours from the nearest settlement to the sound of nature. Danum Valley leads the way with the most beautiful places in Borneo for the rainforest experience.

Are there tigers in Borneo?

Borneo and Sumatra are the only places on Earth where tigers, rhinos, orangutans, and elephants live together. The forests are home to marvelous creatures like the proboscis monkey, sun bear, clouded leopard, and flying fox bat, and endangered animals like the Sumatran tiger, Sumatran rhino, and Bornean elephant.

What religion is Borneo?

Malaysia Borneo Religions

Borneo is a great example of a place where tolerance of religious and political views can create a peaceful and respectful society. The population is approximately split between Islam 60%; Buddhist 19%; Christian 9%; Hindu 6%. Many of the indigenous groups, such as the Penan, are Christian.

What languages are spoken in Borneo?

What language do they speak in Borneo? Bahasa Malaysia is the official language spoken in the Sabah and Sarawak. Other widely spoken languages include Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, Hainan, Foochow), Tamil and English. All the indigenous tribes in Borneo also speak their own language.

What is Borneo famous for?

Borneo is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, being home to an estimated 15,000 different plant species. Borneo is home to the Rafflesia Arnoldii flower; the largest flower in the world. Said flower is also known as the corpse flower as it is said to smell like rotting corpes.

Is Borneo polluted?

'Dangerous' air pollution in Indonesia's Borneo leads to school closures. ... The air pollution index in Palangka Raya, the capital of Borneo's Central Kalimantan province, hit 500, or “dangerous”, on Sunday, data from Indonesia's Environment and Forestry Ministry showed. Any reading above 100 is considered “unhealthy”.

Who owns Borneo?

Borneo -- An Awesome Island. Covering an area of roughly 287,000 square miles, Borneo is the third-largest island in the world. It is divided into four political regions: Kalimantan belongs to Indonesia; Sabah and Sarawak are part of Malaysia; a small remaining region comprises the sultanate of Brunei.

Are Malaysians nice?

"Malaysians are naturally friendly and nice to strangers, and Kuala Lumpur is the best example of this. The easy-going temperament of locals and their friendliness towards visitors means that it's easy to make friends here. "KL is a top spot for both tourists and expats, " Big 7 Travel wrote on its website.

Are Malaysians friendly?

While Malaysia generally stays under the radar, it is one of Asia's most friendly and tolerant countries where its three major ethnic communities live mostly in harmony. ... All this is to say that I have found Malaysian hospitality itself as cordial as this Manglish word.

Are Malaysians good in English?

As English is commonly used, Malaysians have become accustomed to understanding and speaking it. Although Malaysians might not be very fluent in English, most are at a conversational level. To learn more about Malaysia's level of English proficiency and whether you can get around without learning Malay, read on.

Are there still cannibals in Borneo?

Thousands of miles away on the island of Borneo, native groups are engaged in a far more gruesome conflict, one that - according to British and Asian news reports - includes widespread incidents of headhunting and cannibalism. ...

Is Brunei and Borneo the same?

Brunei is the only sovereign state entirely on Borneo; the remainder of the island is divided between Malaysia and Indonesia.