Flower Island (Kembang Island), Island of Monkeys

Helloindonesia.id – The first time you hear the word Flower Island, what comes to your mind is an island in which there are various types of flowers. Curious whether this island really has a variety of plants? Located west of Banjarmasin City, South Kalimantan, Pulau Kembang is designated as one of the tourist forests. Kembang Island, which is included in the Alalak District, Barito Kuala Regency, turns out to be a habitat for long-tailed macaques (monkeys). It is said that even if visitors are lucky they can also see the appearance of white monkeys.

The Flower Island area is about 1.5 km from Banjarmasin City and can be reached by using a rented klotok boat. It takes about 15 minutes to cross from the pier, visitors will be immediately greeted by agile and very aggressive monkeys. The fee for entering the Flower Island is charged at a rate of 5,000 rupiah / person.

It is said that a long time ago, Pulau Kembang came from a British ship that was destroyed by the Biaju in the 1750s on the orders of the Sultan of Banjar and then the wreckage of the wreck of the ship was overgrown with trees and evolved into an island inhabited by a group of monkeys. And it is said that the monkey group was led by a very large and white monkey.

For visitors to Kembang Island, they can buy a package of peanuts which are sold in front of the tourist gate to attract the attention of the monkeys and get a closer look at the monkeys. In this tourist forest area, there is also an altar with the symbol of two statues in the form of a white monkey (hanoman), which is intended as a place to put a prayer for the ‘guardians’ of the Flower Island. Want to feel the sensation of being in the midst of a herd of monkeys? Try visiting the Flower Island in Banjarmasin.

source : indonesiakaya.com