Balikpapan, East Borneo

Balikpapan is the second largest city in East Kalimantan. Located in a small bay in the Makassar Strait, a distance of approximately 115 km from the capital of East Kalimantan, Samarinda. Balikpapan is a major center of oil, mining and timber industries. The city is sometimes called the Main Gate of Borneo. It has one international airport, Sepinggan; several ports, such as Semayang and Somber, and one port of the oil industry and international port in Kariangau. Additionally, Balikpapan, also known as the city rich, clean, and one of the safest cities in Indonesia. Surrounded by bays and straits, the city also has the potential for business, such as trade and tourism. Many diverse people live in the city of Balikpapan, such as: Dayak, Bugis, Javanese, and many other immigrant tribes.

Balikpapan City

Balikpapan City Night View

Balikpapan City View

Balikpapan City View

Some Tourism Spots Around the City
 
MONPERA (Monumen Perjuangan Rakyat)
This monument is located in the city center, exactly at Jl. General Sudirman, in front of Kodam VI Tanjung Pura Headquarters. The monument depicts the struggle and courage of the people in fighting the invaders.

Melawai Beach
This beach is located on Jl. Jend. Sudirman, near the Island Tukung, where the traders sell a variety of delicious dishes and beverages with a relatively cheap price. Visitors can relax, dine on the mat, while enjoying the sound of waves and see the ships sail, and which is anchored in the port of unloading Semayang sea. The beach is open starting at 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m..

Beach Manggar Segarasari
Beach which has an area 13 000 square meters has a crystal clear sea water, small waves and ripples of white sand. A great place for those who want to play, sailing, or playing beach volleyball. This place is open to the public starting at 06:00 to 18:00, can be reached by private or public transport. This beach is located in Manggardan barnacles, with a distance of 9 km from the airport Sepinggan or 22 km from the city center of Balikpapan.

KM.23 Agrotourism
This park, established on December 17, 1997 by former Vice President Tri Sutrisno. By area of 100 hectares, is located on Jl. Soekarno Hatta Km. 23. In this park visitors can enjoy various kinds of tropical fruit, or picnic area with facilities including: "Long Houses" (Lamin), who opened with Dayak ornaments, camping places with natural scenery and Play Ground. This place is open to the public every day and can be visited by using two-wheel vehicles mapun four wheels, there are also the public transportation bus route No. 8 with a tariff of Rp. 2500,-

Lamin (Long House)

Sungai Wain Protected Forest

Sungai Wain Forest is one set by the Government as a protected forests with total area of 10.025 hectares. This forest is split by the 18.300 m long River with clear water, named Wain. on both sides of the river there is a dense mangrove forest. Animal habitats contained in the Sungai Wain Protected Forest are fish, crabs, birds, monkeys, orangutans and many others. This river is also used as a source of clean water for housing and the existing oil refinery at Balikpapan.

 

Matano Lake; Another Heaven on Earth

Matano Lake is located in a small town named Sorowako, a distance of approximately 600 km southwest of Makassar, South Sulawesi. Arriving there, visitors will be greeted by the blue lake water, almost without a ripple. The water was so clear, until the bottom of the lake clearly visible. Anyone who saw it, seemed unable to resist the temptation to plunge into the water to enjoy the freshness and crystal clear water of this lake.

Enchantment of the lake is so tempting. Beautiful landscape and cool with lush forests on the shores of the lake. Do rafting on the lake covering 16 408 hectares, with an altitude of about 600 meters above sea level, is the most tourism activities carried people around.

With beautiful panoramic views and surrounded by Veerbec mountain forests, Lake Matano has become an attractive tourist destination. Besides swimming and rafting, a quiet lake has also become an appropriate location for various types of water sports such as screens, water skiing, canoeing and diving.

Most proud of this lake is a lake ecosystem which is still preserved and maintained since the 1930s to the present. For this reason, some scientists assess the Lake Matano deserves to be world heritage.

To reach this lake, visitors have to travel overland by bus-, air-conditioned bus for about 12 hours from Makassar, South Sulawesi provincial capital. Can also use the DASH-7 aircraft with a capacity of about 50 passengers, specially hired by PT. Inco to facilitate accessibility to Sorowako for both corporate and community interests.

Performed once daily flights from Hasanuddin Airport in Makassar at 12:00 pm while the flight to Makassar from Sorowako at 6:30 pm with any travel time approximately 85 minutes

Sabang, The Hidden Paradise at the Tip of Sumatra

Sabang is widely known as a port named "Kolen Station" by the Dutch since 1881. In 1887, the Firm assisted Delange Sabang Haven obtain authorization add, build the port facilities and supporting infrastructure. Free port in Sabang era began in 1895, known by the term "vrij Haven", and managed by Kolen en Zeehaven Maatschaappij Station hereinafter known by the name of Sabang Maatschaappij. In 1942, Japanese troops occupied Sabang, then bombarded by the Allied Aircraft and suffered physical damage until later forced to be closed.

However, now Sabang has changed a lot. Various tourism potential can we visit there.



Sabang is a city located on the island called the island of Weh, means Separate Island. The island is situated in the northern city of Banda Aceh with a distance of approximately 18 miles and can be reached during the two hours by ferry boat. In this area there are many other small islands such as island Rubiah and Breeh Island. Sabang has many attractions to visit and was already well known to foreign countries. If we are heading west, until at the western tip there is a monument called Zero Kilometer Statue, the monument is a sign where the starting point for extensive calculations of Indonesia from Sabang until Meuroke.

Zero Kilometer Statue

Rubiah Island tourist objects had the potential beauty beneath the sea. Coral reefs and colorful fish that are hidden paradise on the island. Small ship takes about two hours to round the island. Rent per boat cost only Rp 200,000, - which can be carrying up to 10 persons. Rubiah island was uninhabited, but many tourists who come here for fishing, fish such as grouper, large squid, and many others.

Rubiah Island

Before you arrived at Iboih and Rubiah Island, there are still other Tourism, namely Gapang beach that is only 4 km from the town of Sabang. This area also has attractions the beautiful white sand. Here are also available cottages for rent, for lease permalam dependent type, is available from the price of Rp 150,000, - to Rp 300.000 .-

Gapang Gate

In this beach you can enjoy a variety of food servings. But the main purpose of the tourists here is for diving and snorkeling. We can rent the tools needed for diving. Only Rp 50.000, - per person you can dive much as you like, if thirsty provided so many young coconut juice and quite tasty.

Snorkeling

Welcome to Sabang! 

This blog contains various information about tourist destinations in Indonesia, from the very low-cost to expensive. hotel information, lodging, transportation, and accommodation support can also be found here.

Tanjung Bira, South Sulawesi

Tanjung Bira is in the southern tip of South Sulawesi province, precisely in the District of Bonto Bahari, Bulukumba.

Tanjung Bira beach is already well known to foreign tourists, has now been laid out nicely into a reliable tourist area. Various facilities are available, such as hotels, restaurants, and other means of telecommunication. Bira beach is located about 41 km east of the city Bulukumba.








Tanjung Bira located about 40 km from Bulukumba, or 200 km from Makassar City. Travel from Makassar to Bulukumba can be reached by public transport with a rate of Rp. 35 000,-. Furthermore, from the City Bulukumba to Tanjungbira can be reached by using public transport with rates ranging from Rp. 8000 to Rp. 10 000,-. Total travel time from Makassar to Tanjung Bira about 3 - 3.5 hours.

In the tourist area of Tanjung Bira, public transport to operate only until the afternoon. When a visitor must return to the city of Makassar on the same evening, there is a car chartered (leased) at the rate of Rp. 500 000,-