The Summit of Batu Sicien, Krayan, North Kalimantan: The Beauty and Wonder

Batu Sicien: the natural and historical allure of humanity.

Reaching the summit of Batu Sicien is not easy. It requires hard work, in addition to smart work, to conquer it. 

There is only a six-meter-long rope tied to a tree trunk that grows like moss on a large rock. On this rock, bees build their nests, and bats chirp at dusk.

The stunning natural beauty of The Heart of Borneo

I am one of the few people who have reached the summit of the Batu Sicien cliff. In the process and framework of researching the historical sites of the Krayan people, 

I discovered ceramics, ancient graves behind the rock, and the "mystery" of the origin of the Lengilo people in the context of "Teror aco," and the legend of Yuvai and Semaring.

From the height of Batu Sicien's summit, we can witness the stunning natural beauty of The Heart of Borneo. 

A piece of Eden that has fallen to earth. Indeed, Krayan was created by God with a smile. And it is evident, the Dayak people have inherited and preserved nature and its resources throughout time. Amen.

A historical legacy

Batu Sicien is historical. Besides being located above the mountain village of Tang Paye, Krayan, Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan, it is also at the headwaters of the Krayan River. According to Marli Kamis, a member of the North Kalimantan Provincial Parliament who once served as the Head of Tang Payeh Village, Batu Sicien is not only an ancient burial ground but also a historical site.

"In the 1980s, many people dug at the foot of Sicien Hill. They were seeking treasures within, such as jars, ceramics, kitchen utensils, and other ancient artifacts like beads and songket," Marli explained.

As stated by Dr. Yansen TP and Masri Sareb Putra, M.A. in the book Jejak Peradaban Manusia Sungai Krayan (The Footprints of Civilization of the Krayan River - 2023), Batu Sicien is considered an important ancient historical site in Krayan. The two researchers and authors describe the contours and structure of the Batu Sicien site as similar to the Niah Cave in Miri, a human habitation site dated back 40,000 years by carbon testing.

 The Wonder of reaching the Summit of Batu Sicien

The wonder of reaching the summit of Batu Sicien is not just in the stunning panorama of the Krayan landscape, still lush with tropical forest, but also in the blue sky, covered with white clouds like snow. It feels as though we are standing atop an infinite earth.

Then, there is a precious inspirational quote that reminds us:

"Never measure the height of a mountain until you have reached the top. Then you will see how low it was." - Dag Hammarskjold

(Masri Sareb Putra)