BORNEO, THE AMAZING OIL AND GAS CITY (PART I)

BORNEO, THE AMAZING OIL AND GAS CITY

(PART I)

Few years ago, I have already made a blog but it totally failed. So I removed it and changed it to this travelling blog. Hope you guys will enjoy this. In 2013, me and my friends went to Balikpapan to do Practical Works in PT Pertamina UP V Balikpapan which location is in Minyak Street, Balikpapan. Because of our experience in Balikpapan was amazing, so we decided to go to Balikpapan again after we graduated in 2015. Balikpapan, or for many people who called it as ‘Borneo’.

 

Day #1

After I arrived in Sepinggan Airport, I went to Whiz Prime Hotel to  check in. I arrived first, because my friend must finish few things in Jakarta. So, she took a flight the next day. According to me, this three star hotel is so much acceptable. I am feeling comfortable in this hotel. Because although the price is not so expensive, but the service is so much OK. The bed, pillows, and towels are all new.  I booked single room with double bed and the price is only 600 K IDR. It is not a guest house, if you thought it is, it’s a three star hotel. But, I guess I can say that I little bit disapointed because there are no breakfast in the morning and swimming pool. If you want to feel more comfortable in Balikpapan with full services, including breakfast and swimming pool, I suggest you take Ibis Hotel, because with the same price, you will get all services. After I check in, I directly went to Kemala Beach, which location is near from my hotel, only take one public transportation. Arrived in Kemala Beach, I bought a ticket which only costs 1000 IDR. After entering the Kemala Beach ward, I saw many restaurants and food courts. Then I ordered a plate of rawon which only costs 25 K IDR because I am so hungry.

 

Picture 1. Restaurant or food courts in Kemala Beach

According to me, Kemala Beach is quite clean but the sea was not as blue as Thousand Island, Lombok, or Bali.  This is because the sea at the Kemala Beach empties  into the Semayang Harbor that is used for sea transport to Balikpapan. But I am quite happy in this place because I can experience the sunset there.

 

Picture 2. The view of the sea at Kemala Beach

Day #2

On second day, my friend arrived in Balikpapan and finally I don’t have to hang around alone like yesterday. Thank God ! Before we went to travel around Balikpapan, we had nasi kuning for breakfast. Nasi kuning is steam rice which served with egg, rendang, and serundeng which is good and differ from nasi kuning in Jakarta. The price is so low, only costs 10 until 15 K IDR.

Picture 3. Nasi kuning Balikpapan

(Source : http://www.kaltim.tribunnews.com)

After we had breakfast, we continued to go to area in Balikpapan which is far from the city. We went there with rental car that have been booked before. For all you guys who want to travel around Balikpapan, you can book rental car from Astra Trac or from Hotel. Our first destination for today, of course, is Bengkirai Hill with its excursion, Canopy Bridge. Our journey to Bengkirai Hill took about 2 hours, so you guys have to leave early. The ticket for entering Bengkirai Hill  is about 35 K IDR with car ticket is about 10 K IDR and if you want to get into canopy bridge, you must spend about 15 K IDR. For all you guys who was enjoy watching National Geography, you will love the view in Bengkirai Hill but without the dangerous animals.

Picture 4. Bengkirai Hill

After visiting Bengkirai Hill, we went to Honey Bear Enclosur. This place is actually an area for conservation for Borneo Honey Bears that is made by Chevron, an oil and gas company. They made this place because the amount of Borneo Honey Bears become fewer than before. Entering this place is free cause has already fully funded by Chevron. Inside this place, we will know more about honey bears because they provide us with guides. We also can feed the bears, but we are not allowed to touch them. Don’t worry we still can took a selfie in front of these animals.

 Picture 5. Borneo Honey Bear Enclosur

 

Picture 6. Borneo Honey Bear

Just remember that this Honey Bear Enclosur only open until 3 p.m. So, after taking photos and feed them, we directly went to the cafe or restaurant near this place. We found the Mexican Restaurant near this enclosur. The name is Batakan Beach Restaurant. When we got there, it was very quiet. We assumed that this restaurant only crowded in the night. We didn’t order many, because we planned to go to Bondi Ice Cream in the city.

 Picture 7. Batakan Beach Restaurant

We only stayed for a while because we want to quickly taste the legendary Bondi Ice Cream. The price of ice creams in Bondi are around 20 K IDR until 50 K IDR. The lowest price is for banana split ice cream. The prices are so acceptable because the portion is quite bigger. Not only ice creams, Bondi also serves fries, burgers, bakeries and cakes which are good also. If you visit Balikpapan, you must go to this place because it’s very recomended.

Picture 9. Bondi Ice Cream

So, it is a wrap traveller ! Thank you. Gracias. Arigato.

“You don’t have to be rich to travel well, just travel great !”

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