Kalimantan
In 1957, when Bapak first brought Subud overseas to Coombe Springs, UK, he mentioned in a talk that Bapak had received that one day there would be an international Subud Center and community in Kalimantan.
Bapak and Ibu Siti Sumari in Coombe Springs Courtesy WSA Archives
In 1980, at the age of 79, Bapak, his wife Ibu Mastuti and several Subud members, travelled to Central Kalimantan. He felt that the time was right to begin to explore the possibilities of bringing this project to fruition, which would benefit us all. A key project included an international Subud Centre and community near the city of Palangka Raya to support enterprises and projects throughout Central Kalimantan for the benefit of Subud and local communities.
Bapak and Ibu Mastuti in Kalimantan
In the early 2000s, the phase one development of a community complex known as Rungan Sari (meaning Essence of the Rungan River) was completed and hosts a multicultural community from Indonesia and other parts of the world. At the same time, a Subud house was built in the centre of Palangka Raya.
The residential area includes some 40 houses. There is also a resort, a school, a football academy, an eco-village, community/latihan halls, and meeting and sports facilities - all surrounded by forest.
Rungan Sari
Find out more about Kalimantan
Read Kalimantan: A New Beginning - a journal of Bapak’s visit. Read more
Watch this inspiring video from BPI and get a bird’s eye view of Rungan Sari.
Members Stories
-
5 Questions: Kedai Itah Cafe
Kedai Itah was launched mid 2020 by Frederika Paembonan – an Australian mother of four –and her husband Jayadi, who is a permaculture expert. ‘Kedai’ means canteen/local style cafe and ‘Itah’ in the indigenous dayak ngaju language means ‘our’ (inclusive our, not exclusive). So essentially it means ‘our (inclusive) cafe’, noting the community inclusiveness of the cafe.
-
Rungan Sari 2024 Update!
Welcome to the Rungan Sari 2024 Update! This is the first of three newsletters meant to inform and answer members’ questions about the Subud complex and preparations for the World Congress.
-
5 Questions: Wow Borneo
WOW Borneo is a river cruise enterprise in Kalimantan on the island of Borneo. The area boasts some of the world’s most beautiful and bio-diverse forests, and is home to the endemic, iconic and endangered orangutan. WOW Borneo’s Orangutan Cruises were founded in 2008 in the capital of Central Kalimantan, Palangka Raya, by two women, Lorna and Gaye, who were inspired by Central Kalimantan’s mighty rivers, wildlife and culture.
-
5 Questions: Bina Cita Utama School
In 2003, Mansur and Sri Utami Geiger and their three young daughters moved to Palangka Raya after the Subud mining company moved its headquarters there. At the time, Palangka Raya was a small town and schools didn’t use the latest teaching methods. Utami (front left), chair of the BCU Foundation, and her sister, Sati Soesetyo (far right), General Manager, take a look at the school’s development.
-
5 Questions: YTS
Yayasan Tambuhak Sinta (YTS) is a community development foundation based in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. YTS works to create an enabling environment for sustainable and equitable development in the province – helping communities reach their potential. For the past two decades, Bardolf Paul has led YTS.
-
5 Questions: Kalimantan Gold
This is the first in a series of Q and A’s with Subud members who have started projects in Kalimantan. We start with Mansur Geiger and Kalimantan Gold.
-
Reminiscing
Osanna Vaughn (wearing blue hat in Spokane) looks back at past World Congresses and looks forward to our next congress in Kalimantan.
-
Escape On The River
Raquel writes about the river trip she did at end of Ramadan, on a small wooden boat (klotoks) provided by Borneo Escape.
-
Rungan Sari Festival
As part of Bapak’s birthday celebrations this year, The Rungan Festival 2022 was held over the weekend of June 25 and 26. It was hosted at the Rungan Sari Resort.
