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Caption: Journey to the Frontier SEBATIK
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Caption: "Have you ever wondered what does your country's border looks like?"
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Caption: That question had successfully made me curious.
Perhaps not many of you know where Sebatik is located, since it's not a mainstream destination for ordinary tourist.
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Caption: Sebatik is an island located in North Borneo province, just north of Tarakan.
Uniquely, it's divided into 2 regions that belong to two countries
(Indonesia & Malaysia)
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Caption: Yes, in the name of personal mission, I went to that very own place. The border of
Indonesia and Malaysia.
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Caption: Continued from the previous story, I went to Berau, Kalimarau Airport to take flight to Tarakan.
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Caption: Waiting for departure...
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Caption: Here come the flight!
I boarded a twin otter aircraft model with the propellers spinning at both wings.
Well, it was my first experience.
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Caption: I witnessed vast deforested lands from above here in 20 minutes flight. That really shame human...
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Caption: Shortly after, I arrived at Juwata Int. Airport, Tarakan and headed to Tengkayu port.
From here, I could across the sea to Sebatik island in about 3 hours by riding a speed boat.
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Caption: "ARRIVING" A simple port, jetty obviously, greeted me as I alighted in Sebatik Island,
Sei Nyamuk Jetty.
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Caption: EXPLORATION, BEGIN! #stellerjourney
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Caption: Long road
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Caption: In fact, I found 80% of Indonesian daily necessities comes from Malaysia.
Drinking water, cooking oil, foodstuff, propane gas, and many more.
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Caption: I stopped at the first marker to capture it. Just behind that wooden fence is Malaysian territory.
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Caption: Border Monument of
Mighty Garuda
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Caption: Aji Kuning Post My exploration brought me to the 3rd marker. The place that often gets visitors. It's Aji Kuning Post. (visitors mean journalists,
not tourists)
Next to the post, there are dozens of local's houses. These houses actually have an interesting
story behind.
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Caption: This house has its living room in Indonesian territory, and surprisingly...
...its kitchen is in Malaysian side.
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Caption: And of course, they trade with two currencies at the same time.
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Caption: Local madam is showing her money
(Rupiah & Ringgit)
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Caption: Aji Kuning Post looks quiet with 2 of Indonesian army personels are guarding the border.
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Caption: I had an enjoyed and long enough chat with them. We talked and shared about everything, from politics to our personal experiences.
After a while, I also asked them to join me taking some pictures at the marker.
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Caption: We got sudden guests from the
Ministry of Transportation
(Kementerian Perhubungan)
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Caption: Posing next to the marker
(the red and white flag)
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Caption: Just behind the post and the marker, there is a narrow
canal/swamp. That thing is considered by the locals
as the exact demarcation line.
But still we don't know where the official line is.
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Caption: I was able to see a village across and this colourful wooden boat with a tiny Malaysian flag
by the tail.
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Caption: I also got an info from the army that Indonesian locals often across the country from here by riding a small motor boat.
Only 20 minutes, they will arrive at Batu jetty of Tawau town (Malaysia).
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Caption: So I decided to do the same!
But, alas! My passport doesn't have a check out stamp. So I had to bury my intention deeply.
If I still persisted to get across, maybe I have to deal with the
Polis Malaysia.
But what do you think?
Isn't it cool to across a
country by land?
(at least not using airplane)
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Caption: Yes, from here I might reach Malaysia by small boat.
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Caption: I remembered there was a sudden ignition to my nationalist spirit even it was just a glimpse.
Without realized, I keep singing "Indonesia Raya" anthem in my mind while capturing the
pictures there.
"It's not just about the destination, but the journey"
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Caption: Photos by George Martinus
(except the map from Google)
#stellerid #stellerverse #travel #places #borneo #indonesia #malaysia #journey #travelphotography #roadlesstraveled #makanangin
Caption: "It's not just about the destination, but the journey"
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Caption: George Martinus
Travel Photography | Travel Journalism | Culture | Off-beaten Path Travel
Blog: makanangin-travel.blogspot.com
instagram.com/georgemartinus