Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Jalan Sudirman serves as the city's core,
where you'll find hotels, restaurants and
the best shops, but, as almost everything
is imported from Java or Sumatra, prices
are generally much higher here than in
the rest of Kalimantan.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By plane
Sepinggang Airport (
T
0542 766886), 10km
east of the city centre, is linked by taxi (15min; Rp55,000)
and taksi (from the airport, take green #7, and switch at
the Damai taksi terminal to a blue #5 or #6 into town; each
Rp4000). VOA (Visa On Arrival) available at the airport.
Destinations
THE DAYAK
Dayak
is an umbrella name for all of
Borneo's indigenous peoples. In Dayak
religions, evil is kept at bay by attracting
the presence of helpful spirits, or scared
away by protective tattoos, carved spirit
posts (
patong
) and lavish funerals.
Shamans also intercede with spirits on
behalf of the living. Although now you'll
often find ostensibly Christian
communities with inhabitants clutching
mobile phones and watching satellite TV,
the Dayak are still well respected for their
jungle skills and deep-rooted traditions.
Traditionally,
head-hunting
was an
important method of exerting power and
settling disputes. It was believed that
when cutting off someone's head the
victim's soul was forced into the service of
its captor. It is not practised now, but in
1997, West Kalimantan's Dayak exacted
fearsome revenge against Madurese
transmigrants. An estimated 1400 people
were killed in a horrific purge of ethnic
cleansing which involved head-hunting
and cannibalism. Similar violence
reoccurred between the Malays and the
Madurese in the Sampit region of South
Kalimantan in 2001. The situation is
relatively peaceful now, and head-hunting
has once again been relegated to the past.
Jakarta (21 daily; 2hr); Makassar (6 daily; 1hr
5min); Manado (2 daily; 1hr 40min); Pontianak (via Jakarta;
3hr including transit); Singapore (1-2 daily; 2hr 15min);
Surabaya (20 daily; 1hr 30min); Tarakan (13 daily; 1hr 5min).
By ferry
Boats from Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi berth at
the Pelni docks, 2.5km west of the centre on Jl Sudirman.
Taksis #3 and #6 both go here. Tickets are available from
the Pelni o
ce (Jl Yos Sudarso 1;
T
0542 424171) at the
harbour or from one of the many travel agents in the centre.
Destinations
Makassar (1-2 weekly; 22hr); Nunukan
(1-2 weekly; 32hr); Tarakan (weekly; 24hr).
By bus
Terminal Batu Ampar, 6km north of the centre,
serves long-distance destinations such as Samarinda
(daily every 20min from 6am-7pm; 2hr 30min) and
4
Terminal Batau Ampar
BALIKPAPAN
0
250
DIRECTORY
Banks and exchange
The bigger banks and money-
changers have branches near the junction of Jl Tanjungpura
and Jl Diponegoro. There are ATMs all over the centre.
Hospital
Dr Sudarso Hospital, Jl Adisucipto (
T
0561
732077).
Immigration o
ce
Jl Sutoyo 122 (
T
0561 767655).
Post o
ce
Jl Sultan Abdul Rahman 49 (Mon-Fri
7.30am-7pm, Sat 7.30am-6pm).
metres
Syahda
Mestika
Novotel
Gelora
Cinema
Taman
Bekapai
Police
BNI
Angkassa
Express
N
Balikpapan
Plaza
0
500
metres
BALIKPAPAN
Built around a huge petroleum complex,
BALIKPAPAN
is Kalimantan's wealthiest
city, its residents enjoying a high standard
of living thanks to massive offshore oil
reserves that shed a dim orange glow on
the surrounding waters at night. For the
traveller, Balikpapan is the transit point
en route to Samarinda, Banjarmasin or
the Mahakam River. he intersection of
the main roads Jalan Ahmed Yani and
Gelora
Cinema
Immigration
Bouraq
D
I
A
N
S
U
Pasar
Klandasan
Merpati
SEE INSET
Makassar Strait
ACCOMMODATION
Aida
Aiqo
Ayu
Gajah Mada
EATING & DRINKING
Balikpapan Plaza
Bondy
Zeuss
2
3
1
4
2
1
3
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