Paradise is Here – Kalimantan | PRW-60YBM: Explore and Fish in the Mysterious Primeval Rainforest with Me

Most people know about the Amazon rainforest, but few know much about the Kalimantan tropical rainforest (Kalimantan). As one of the two largest tropical rainforests on Earth, Kalimantan is warmer and more humid, with even more abundant rainfall. The coverage of its primeval rainforest reaches as high as 85%, making it truly the lungs of the Earth.

Photography: Wang Leilei Equipment: DJI Mavic

Photo: A breathtaking aerial view of the Kalimantan rainforest

As an overseas explorer of exotic fish angling, I have ventured deep into this rainforest five times just to seek out the unique stream fish species of Kalimantan. What makes me particularly fond of the Kalimantan rainforest is its distinctive climate. Although it sits right on the equator, the high-altitude areas of the rainforest enjoy surprisingly cool and fresh air. It’s also home to several stream fish species that captivate anglers worldwide, such as the Harlequin Rasbora, Checkered Barb, and the “Unforgettable” fish (a type of Girotto stream fish) which is worth its weight in gold. Not only are the stream fish species here numerous, but there are also giant individuals that get any angler’s blood pumping.

This fishing expedition focused on the jungle located in the eastern part of Kalimantan Island within Indonesian territory. This core area of the eastern rainforest falls within the upper reaches of a tributary of the Mahakam River. To reach the upper part of this river, you need to fly south from Shanghai, make a transfer in Jakarta, then head north to the small eastern city of Kalimantan Island, Samarinda. From there, take a five-hour 4x4 drive to a small village called Long Lees, followed by a grueling seven-hour upstream boat ride. Our final destination was a campsite located over 800 meters above sea level deep within the rainforest.

For overseas fishing trips to reach sparsely populated destinations, you often need to transit through multiple countries and regions, so we’re always very mindful of time differences. Upon arrival, we immediately confirm meeting times with local guides. On this trip, I wore the PRW-60YBM from the PRO TREK series. In different time zones, it automatically adjusts the time, making time difference adjustments extremely convenient. This ease of use is backed by Casio’s unique six-band radio wave technology.

Counting layovers, it took us a full three days to reach the campsite from home. Transportation in the Kalimantan region of Indonesia is extremely underdeveloped, with most areas having rural dirt roads or poorly maintained asphalt roads. The journey was extremely bumpy.

To venture deep into the core of these rainforests, we relied on local indigenous guides with rich jungle survival experience. These indigenous people are laid-back and casual, often stopping their vehicles or boats to sit on the ground and chat. On our way to the destination, we had to stop to fix the car at least ten times. It seems Indonesian drivers rarely pay attention to vehicle maintenance. Along the way, we encountered bizarre issues like broken shock absorbers, stuck windows, and even a missing exhaust pipe, which extended our originally five-hour drive to ten hours.

Photo: An Indonesian driver inspecting the vehicle condition.

After all the hassle, when our team finally arrived at the riverside, there were already 15 indigenous boatmen waiting for us. We loaded five boats with supplies and began heading upstream along the stream toward our team’s final destination.

Photography: Wang Leilei Equipment: DJI Mavic

Locally, many people use extremely unstable, narrow wooden boats where you can only sit properly on the waterlogged deck; even crouching can easily cause imbalance and send you tumbling into the water. But our team only realized the advantage of these boats once we entered the tributary. The tributary was full of rapids and shallow rocky areas, and the narrow wooden boats were much better at dodging rocks and maneuvering through the rapids.

Photography: Wang Leilei Equipment: 5D 2

The journey was surrounded by dense primeval rainforest. Kalimantan boasts abundant flora and fauna. Along the river, you can often spot lizards, hornbills, monkeys, wild boars, hornbills, birds of paradise... and various plants whose names we couldn’t identify. The tree canopy was laden with countless wild fruits, and the air was occasionally filled with the fragrance of flowers and fruits.

During the trek through the rainforest, spending seven hours on a waterlogged narrow wooden boat, I simply put on my headphones, listened to music, took out my laptop to organize materials from the last fishing trip, and watched the fish in the water. It was quite a relaxing time. By evening, we finally reached the area near the campsite. My lower body, soaked for six or seven hours, was drenched and exhausted. We found a nearby place to rest for the night.

The next morning, our first task was to find a place to stay. By chance, on a hillside by the river in the high mountain forest, there was an abandoned wooden shack no larger than ten square meters. The shack was full of bugs and dust, and the hillside outside was overgrown with shrubs. So we began clearing the shrubs around the shack, started a fire, set up temporary tents, arranged the kitchen and storage area. We cleaned the shack’s floor, laid down moisture-proof mats, and after all this tidying up, it became our cozy home for this fishing expedition. With our arrival, the campsite was now filled with life.

As evening approached, the generator we had prepared earlier roared to life, allowing us to charge all our electronic devices properly. Tonight, we could finally relax and get some well-deserved rest. After tidying up, I lit a small fire in my resting area to dry my damp clothes. The ambient temperature was pleasant, and I could finally lie down comfortably to enjoy the rare moments of leisure.

A mantis warned me with its posture, telling me this was its territory

The low-altitude rainforest is hot and humid, but the high-altitude rainforest is fresh and cool, especially in the early morning and evening, which is very comfortable. Although there are many bugs, there are no annoying mosquitoes, so you can comfortably wear T-shirts and shorts to expose your skin. But the rainforest is teeming with all kinds of bugs, counted in the tens of thousands. There are too many to count, and any insect repellent is useless. You just have to get used to their harassment and live harmoniously with them. Those with sensitive skin may want to bring anti-itch cream just in case.

The little monkey, PRW-60YBM – wanna check it out?

By the way, the locals eventually took the little monkey back to their village, reportedly to keep their son company. I hope the little monkey is happy and I’ll come to see it again next year.

Back to the main story, our team finally reached our destination after all the hardships. After settling in, we eagerly put on our waders and water shoes, applied sunscreen, prepared the necessary fishing gear, and officially began our fishing trip. Carrying complete outdoor tools is essential when working outdoors. After all, Kalimantan is still a wild place, and items like the PRO TREK watch, a knife, and sunscreen are crucial outdoor tools in case of emergencies.

During our days in the rainforest, it rained almost non-stop. While rain may be good for wildlife, it’s definitely not ideal for fishing because it muddies the rivers and affects the fish's willingness to feed. Based on this, our indigenous guide decided to change the plan and head two hours upstream to try our luck. Sure enough, the water there was clearer. Once we reached the upper section of the river, we drifted downstream along the stream while fishing. The climate of the tropical high-mountain streams was quite pleasant, with ample sunlight but not feeling hot. If you feel a bit sticky, you can just jump into the water for a quick wash and continue fishing with your rod.

Photography: Wang Leilei Equipment: DJI Mavic

Sometimes, when we encountered a good river structure, we would also disembark for stream hiking and fishing. The shoes for stream hiking fishing are different from regular stream hiking shoes. Stream hiking fishing basically involves stepping on countless moss-covered rocks, so we opt for specialized shoes with felt soles to prevent slipping. Protection for the ankles and knees is also essential, and neoprene booties are a must-have item for stream hiking fishing.

Photography: Wang Leilei  Equipment: 5D 2

The two major factors affecting fishing are changes in air pressure and temperature. The transition between high and low pressure directly impacts the feeding activity of fish. For example, differences in air pressure between morning, noon, and evening, as well as frequent sudden rainfall in rainforests, can all lead to changes in air pressure. During fishing, it is also very important to constantly adjust fishing strategies and techniques based on changes in air pressure.

And the PRW-60YBM seems to have been made for fishing in the wild. With it, I can use the watch’s built-in triple sensor to get real-time feedback on changes in air pressure, temperature, and water temperature, thereby staying sensitive to changes in fish activity.

Another point is that water temperature is also a major factor influencing fish feeding activity. I often need to measure the water temperature to understand how rainfall from upstream mountain peaks affects it. If the temperature drops suddenly, fish will move to deeper areas where the water temperature is relatively more stable. The temperature measurement feature of the PRW-60YBM allows me to perceive atmospheric temperature in real time and thus estimate the water temperature, greatly improving my efficiency while fishing.