Riau To Organize "Hammock Festival"

PEKANBARU, April 11 (Antara) - The Riau Province's Ecotourism Campaigners (LPE) will organize the "Hammock Festival 2017" at Buluh Cina Natural Park in Kampar District on May 6 and 7, the organizer spokesman Ibnu Khalid said here on Monday. "We hope the number of participant could increase four times to 100 people, compared to last year's festival, which was attended by 50 tourists," Khalid stated in the province's capital city Pekanbaru. Hammock has been one of the travelers' favorite gears while hiking, climbing, or exploring the forests and other natural landscapes. Therefore, the organizer will use hammock as a main symbol to attract the domestic and foreign tourists to visit the Buluh Cina Natural Park and experience the forest's relaxing ambiance. Khalid further stated that the participants can witness not only the locals' unique lives and cultures but also interact with Sumatran Elephants. The province's Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA) has approved to hand over two elephants temporarily to the festival's organizer, Khalid noted. Other attractions to be performed at the festival are sailing with the dragon boat, visiting the Malaya's "rumah panggung" (wooden-stilt house), and learning local's traditional fishing method. Besides sleeping in the forest on the hammock for a night, the participants will be asked to feel the nature's ambiance by staying silent for 15 minutes. "As a lush virgin rain forest, which is still inhabited by birds and insects, Buluh Cina will present a natural harmony to the participants," Khalid remarked. The organizer further stated the locals will be involved in this year's festival, mainly to serve the traditional feast to the participants. However, the tourists should sign up earlier to join the festival by registering online in lperiau.wordpress.com by the end of April, Khalid added.