Pueblo Volunteers Tour Banjarmasin After Training Teachers

We had an amazing week in Indonesia, working with over 150 teachers in Banjarmasin and the faculty and students of Lambung Mangkurat University. Everyone was very welcoming and friendly, showing us their culture and many of the wonderful things that Banjarmasin has to offer.

Our tour began on the fourth day with an early start at 5 am to catch the sunrise and visit the river market. There, we sampled local fruits including guava, sugar apple, velvet apple, soursop, etc . Breakfast was served on the boat in a coned paper containing rice and snakehead fish stew, complemented by delicious chicken satay, grilled freshwater shrimp and cassava chips made by one of the teachers.

The river tour with the teachers gave us a glimpse into the daily lives of the people living along the riverbanks. We observed how they construct their houses and manage the fact that their land is 1.5 meters below sea level. We also learned about the industries supporting Banjarmasin's economy, including fishing, boat building, wood processing, and cement manufacturing. Along the river, we saw a variety of wildlife, including monitor lizards, various birds, and lots of monkeys.

The river also housed some of the best restaurants in town, and we stopped at one for lunch. We wanted to try everything but decided to focus on a few standout dishes: lobsters, different kinds of catfish, grilled spiced squid, mollusks cooked in herbed and spicy coconut milk, tempeh, and steamed vegetables with their fiery sambal. It was a true gastronomic delight!

We hope to be back next year! Thank you @UNIVERSITAS LAMBUNG MANGKURAT for the collaboration and hospitality!