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Singkawang, a middle city located on North West of Borneo Island is a unique place in Indonesia. Unlike others cities in this country, Singkawang inhabited by majority of Chinese, presently 60% of Singkawang inmates are Chinese. Background of this community composition has correlation with the arrival of the mass immigrant population from the mainland of China to the west part wild jungle of Borneo. According to oral history, their arrival in large numbers in the 17th century is associated with gold deposits around Monterado, at first they worked to Sultan Sambas ruler of the area at that time. Sometimes later then they began to form of consortium and solidarity group, as response to various problems on their new homeland. They have to fight many problems at the beginning, economic and cultural conflicts are the main problem they have to solve. The conflict happened with various parties; Sultan Sambas authority, the indigenous people, and Dutch colonial. Time, wisdom, vision combined with long mutual understanding development effort might have brought them to create blend heterogenic cultures into a unique Singkawang community as now we can see.
Culture
Cap Go Meh is the most important festival in Singkawang, this festival recently become one of international event, the festival held to celebrate Chinese New Year and held between January or February depending on Chinese calender. Every times when the festival held, the entire of city will look very festive, entire city will be covered by red color, lampions, banner, Cap Go Meh garnish and another ornament all in red combined with a little yellow. For days before the peak or festival all citizens involved in welcoming this important celebration, no matter what ethnic lines are.
The summoned spirits can enter anyone, depending on whether the Tatung qualified. The cast of Tatung must be fasting for three days before the day of the celebration that means that they are in a state of purity before the celebration.
This is the most natural tourist spot of Singkawang. Facing to the Natural Sea, this beach also decorated by some small islands, you can explore the beach and its small islands by speedboat that can be rented here. If diving is one of your interests, you can also satisfy you hobby here. This beach located only 17 km from the downtown, facilities like hotels, restaurants, cottages and discotheque available, this beach also a good location to enjoy both sunrise and sunset moments.
If you are willing to enjoy the carnival Cap Go Meh, do not forget to make hotel book in advance.
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| Singkawang |
Singkawang surrounded by non-volcanic mountain Pasi, Poteng and Sangkok, majority of Chinese people there are comes from Hakka ethnic, a sub ethnic of Chinese, the dialect used daily is Fujian-Hakka dialect.
Administratively Singkawang is a Kotamadya (Middle City who has autonomy equal to district and lead by a major city). Besides Chinese ethnic (about 42% of total population), the rest of ethnic group who live in Singkawang are Melayu, Dayak, Javanese and some others ethnicities. Singkawang is a part of West Kalimantan Province; it is located at about 145 km north of Pontianak, the provincial capital.
Singkawang is also informally named City of Thousand Temples because its temples amount.
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| Vihara Tri Dharma Bumi Raya |
Culture color of Singkawang dominated by Chinese culture and Buddhism are the major religion, Singkawang also has informal title as City of Thousand Temples, this because a lot of temples build on this city and we can easily find temples with its China characteristic anywhere. Vihara Tri Dharma Bumi Raya is the most famous temple in town and become one of the main tourist objects. Chinese food especially Hakka style food also the main food that dominates, stalls or restaurants spread across the city. Housing and architecture also very influenced by Chinese architecture, not only in term of form and model but also color of paint and its housing decoration. Peaceful and safe feeling for everyone makes Singkawang to be one of the cities with lively night, people enjoy the night with their friends discussing the local hottest issues, singing, or playing cards.
The old typical Chinese city landscape and architectural buildings also still decorate the city. Some building already built more than century ago. Chinese architectural can be found almost on everywhere; temples, stores, and houses building. Red is dominant color in temples.
Cap Go Meh Carnival
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| Imlek and Cap Go Meh Carnival |
Cap Go Meh carnival comes from Chinese tradition, this is mainly is a thanksgiving festival, grew from agricultural culture to celebrate the peak of harvest session, closing the old year and welcoming the new year. Cap Go Meh is the peak of Imlek, Imlek as a thanksgiving held 15 days nonstop and closed by a great ceremony named Cap Go Meh. Lampion party is one of the event that you must see, lampion party is only a part of Imlek festival, there are some others activities held during Imlek and closed by Cap Go Meh carnival.
The highlight Cap Go Meh is to ward off bad luck or a disorder in the future, the expulsion of evil spirits and bad luck symbolized by Tatung in the show. Tatung is the main medium of Cap Go Meh. Activity of Tatung in Cap Go Meh filled with mystical and thrilling, because many people possessed. That tranche people are named Tatung. The ceremony led by a preacher, the preacher lead calling spirit ritual, the spirit of a deceased process called to permeate Tatung, the spirits are summoned spirits believed to be well capable of warding off evil spirits who want to disrupt the harmony of life. The spirits are summoned to enter into Tatung body are believed to be the hero of a Chinese legend, such as warlords, judges, poets, princes, prostitutes who have repented and other saints.
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| The Tatungs |
Tatung that already possessed by the spirit of the dead behaving strangely, there were Tatung who trampling sword or a knife, the others thrusting a stick tapered steel wires into the right cheek piercing up to left cheek. Strangely, the slightest Tatung has not scratched or injured. Several other Tatung greedily eating animals or live chickens and drank their fresh blood.
In every Cap Go Meh ritual many Dayak people (the origin people of Borneo) voluntary joint to be a Tatung, there is grass root togetherness in Singkawang. Since the first Chinese people already developed very good mutual relationship with the local peoples, especially with the Dayak ethnic, so far there is no clumsiness on their daily life activities, even in term of joining sacred ritual activities like Cap Go Meh.
Even though there are many of supernatural phenomenon and magical attractions during the Tatung Parade but this peak of Cap Go Meh Festival actually is a festival of joy, we will find smile everywhere in a city that at that day will be covered by all red color.
Another attraction.
Though cultural tourism is the main attraction of Singkawang, but there are some other attraction that can be considered to be include to be visited when you visiting Singkawang.
Hongkong Market Singkawang
Located at the city downtown, this is actually night market for the local cake and culinary. Activities of the market starting on 18.00 and closed at midnight, at this location we can find various cake that influenced by Chinese culinary.
Pasir Panjang Beach
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| Randayan Island |
Randayan Island
This object can be reached in 2 hours by speedboat from Pasir Panjang Beach, beautiful sea coral, various sea living, white sands and its blue water, are the main attraction in the site. We can overnight here, there are villas available to be booked.
How to reach Singkawang.
Since Singkawang has no airport, you must first fly to Supadio Airport of Pontianak then continue to Singkawang by private car, taxi or public bus.
If you are willing to enjoy the carnival Cap Go Meh, do not forget to make hotel book in advance.
