Location : Dusun Lara Gunung, Kecamatan Bengkayang, Kabupaten Bengkayang, Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia.

We have to thank brothers Aras & Ujang for inviting us to their village about 15minutes ride from Bengkayang.  Basically a farming community growing both wet and hill paddy beautifully decorating both sides of the tiny road leading to Aras’s house.

Bengkayang, gold mining, paddy fields, Kalimantan Barat, Borneo, mountainous, village, bupati,
On the way to Lara Gunung village, saw few ladies harvesting paddy.
Bengkayang, gold mining, paddy fields, Kalimantan Barat, Borneo, mountainous, village, bupati,
Knife use for harvesting paddy

Rain came too early and we had to postpone the trek up to the mountain where the miners were.  Their uncle Weng insisted we had dinner and sleep over at his house.  We obliged and listened to his stories of his years of experience working in Sarawak.

Dusun Lara Gunung bawah (new village)

Bengkayang, gold mining, paddy fields, Kalimantan Barat, Borneo, mountainous, village, bupati, Bengkayang, gold mining, paddy fields, Kalimantan Barat, Borneo, mountainous, village, bupati, Bengkayang, gold mining, paddy fields, Kalimantan Barat, Borneo, mountainous, village, bupati, Bengkayang, gold mining, paddy fields, Kalimantan Barat, Borneo, mountainous, village, bupati,

Bengkayang, gold mining, paddy fields, Kalimantan Barat, Borneo, mountainous, village, bupati,
School at the back

Bengkayang, gold mining, paddy fields, Kalimantan Barat, Borneo, mountainous, village, bupati,

Bengkayang, gold mining, paddy fields, Kalimantan Barat, Borneo, mountainous, village, bupati,
With our host in the middle Mr Weng
Aras's parent
Aras’s parent
Bengkayang, gold mining, paddy fields, Kalimantan Barat, Borneo, mountainous, village, bupati,
Drinking with the villagers

Early next morning we did the hour long hike up to where the gold mine was.

Bengkayang, gold mining, paddy fields, Kalimantan Barat, Borneo, mountainous, village, bupati,
The road to that pot of gold is sure tough
Bengkayang, gold mining, paddy fields, Kalimantan Barat, Borneo, mountainous, village, bupati,
View of Bengkayang town
Bengkayang, gold mining, paddy fields, Kalimantan Barat, Borneo, mountainous, village, bupati,
Dusun Lara Gunung atas (old village)

This small time mining is actually environmentally friendlier compared to the big time mining companies.  Minimum impact on their own farming land.  Its good money and keeps everyone happy besides having abundance of good quality rice…..I’m moving here next week.

Bengkayang, gold mining, Kalimantan Barat, Borneo, mountainous, village, bupati,

Bengkayang, gold mining, Kalimantan Barat, Borneo, mountainous, village, bupati,
Manual breaking up of rocks with hammer
Bengkayang, gold mining, Kalimantan Barat, Borneo, mountainous, village, bupati,
Gold “factories”
Bengkayang, gold mining, Kalimantan Barat, Borneo, mountainous, village, bupati,
Processing
Bengkayang, gold mining, Kalimantan Barat, Borneo, mountainous, village, bupati,
Gold

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