:: Balikpapan City of East Kalimantan Travel
Guides ::
Balikpapan is a seaport city
on the eastern coast of Borneo island in the East
Kalimantan province, a resource-rich region well known
for its timber, mining and petroleum export products.
Two harbors, Semayang and Kariangau - ferry harbour, and
the Sepinggan International Airport are the main
transportation access to and from the city.
Geography
The topography of the municipality of Balikpapan is
generally hilly (85%), with only small areas of flatland
(15%), particularly along the coast and surrounding the
hilly areas. The hills are less than 100 meters higher
than the adjacent valleys. The altitude of Balikpapan
ranges from 0 to 80 meters above sea level.
Most of the soil in Balikpapan contains yellow-reddish
podsolic soil and alluvial and quartz sand, making it
extremely prone to erosion.
History
Prior to the oil boom, Balikpapan was an isolated Bugis
fishing village. The etimology of Balikpapan name (lit.
balik is behind and papan is a plank) came from a folk
story where a local king threw his newborn daughter into
the sea to protect her against his enemies. The baby was
tied beneath some planks, which were discovered by a
fisherman.[citation needed]
In 1897, the first drilling of oil began by a small
refinery company. Roads, wharves, wharehouses, offices,
barracks and bungalows construction started when a Dutch
oil company arrived in the area. On January 24, 1942,
Balikpapan became a war theatre between Japanese army
and the Allied Forces in which the oil refinery and
other facilities were heavily damaged. Several campaigns
followed until the 1945 Battle of Balikpapan which
concluded the Allied Forces' Borneo campaign after which
they took control of the Borneo island.
Extensive wartime damaged almost total oil production in
the area and a major repairs were performed by the Royal
Dutch Shell company. Shell continued operating in the
area until Indonesian state-owned Pertamina took it over
in 1965.[1] Having lack of technology, skilled manpower
and capital to explore the petroleum region, Pertamina
sublet petroleum concession contracts to multinational
companies in the 1970s.
Being the only oil refinery site in the region,
Balikpapan emerged as a revitalized center of petroleum
production. Pertamina opened its regional headquarter in
the city, followed by branch offices establishment by
international oil companies. Hundreds of labourers from
other part of Indonesia and skilled
expatriats as managers and engineers, flocked into the
city.
Administration
Balikpapan is bordered by the following:
* Kutai Kartanagara Regency (in the North)
* Makassar Strait (in the South and East)
* Penajam Paser Utara Regency (in the West)
Demographics
During
the Suharto administration, Indonesia faced
unprecedented growth of economic expansion by promoting
foreign investments, particularly in the exploitation of
natural and mineral resources. Although the policy was
heavily criticized for uncontrolled environmental
damages and corrupted bureaucrats and politicians, it
significantly boosted urban development in resource-rich
cities. In 1970s, Balikpapan experienced 7% population
growth annually when exports of timber and petroleum
increased dramatically.
Transportation
Balikpapan's airport is the Sepinggan International
Airport. This is the second busiest Indonesian airport
after Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and permits
large aircraft.
Airlines currently using the airport are Lion Air,
Merpati Airlines, Batavia Air, Kartika Airlines,
Sriwijaya Air (domestic routes), and Garuda Indonesia,
Air Asia, and Silk Air (International routes).
The airport is one of the five principle sites in
Indonesia where Muslims begin the pilgrimage to Mecca,
the "Hajj". Between 1996 and 1997, the airport served
over 4,500 East Kalimantan pilgrims, and from 1997 to
1998, it served pilgrims from East Kalimantan, South
Kalimantan, Central Sulawesi, and North Sulawesi.
Other than the airport, Balikpapan also has a seaport
called "Semayang" which has many destinations to
Surabaya, Makasssar, Jakarta, Pare-Pare, and Manado. in
1990s, transportation using ships was very popular. But
after the booming of so many new airlines with very
cheap price, people now prefer travelling using
airplanes to the ships.
The ferry is also another alternative for travelling to
other places within coastal areas in East Kalimantan,
such as Penajam
Most people arrive by air.
There are frequent flights from Jakarta, as well as
commercial services from Surabaya, Banjarmasin and
Makasar. There is also an international flight from
Singapore operated by Silk Air a few times a week.
The airport, Sepinggan, is located on the coast just
outside of the city. Airport taxis operate from the
terminal; there is a fixed fare depending on the
destination.
by Land can be accessed from Samarinda, Bontang And
Banjarmasin by land trough 2 bus terminal From Samarinda,
Bontang by Terminal Batu Ampar, and From Banjarmasin
from the other terminal in the Batu Ampar District.
By sea can be accessed from semayang seaport that serves
cruises from makassar, pare pare, tarakan, surabaya, and
other eastern parts of Indonesia. this port is one of
the busiest port in Indonesia it served cargo ship not
only from indonesia and south east asia but as long as
china, it served as gateway to borneo. You can also
access Kalimantan Timur from Tawau / Malaysia. From
Tawau there is a boat to Tarakan. From there another one
to Nunukan in Berau district. You need a visa to enter
indonesia on that port (Visa on arrivel is not
available) but there is an consulat in Tawau which seems
to do visas quite quick.
Place to Stay:
* Dusit Hotel
* Bahana Surya / Blue Sky Hotel probably the best place
in town. With a nice swimming pool
* Hotel Benakutai
* Grand Senyiur Hotel
* Hotel Bhatera from 400.000 IDR
* Hotel Murni a cheap option
* Town House Bukit Damai Indah
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