Balikpapan, Heaven The Boro
The ships passed on the blue sea. Not so long later, visible green hills and valleys split large rivers. Exotic panorama seen some time before that I rode the plane flying over the city of Balikpapan International. But nature is full of Borneo’s charm.
Balikpapan is different now than in the 1980s, the last time I was there. Airport Sepinggan large, stately, and the nuances of local culture that was once the area near the beach. Which adopted the airport design buildings with all the Dayak Joglo really charming ornaments.
If observed, the geographical conditions of Balikpapan is not much different from the city of Semarang: beach town is hilly. The difference may be in some houses in the suburbs or residential areas. There are still many people who use ironwood to-houses stage.
First days in Balikpapan, of course I speak Indonesian to communicate with people. Java language used by me only my aunt’s house. But once down the corners of the city, I met the people who communicate with the Java language. They are the traders, shopkeepers, transport drivers, and many others. As a result, I became more frequent use of these languages.
It is true, most people in Balikpapan is the boro. They are outsiders who come to work and eventually settled there. Most came from Java. After decades of cultural acculturation interact there. Each resident is not a root of origin. This is what makes people unique Balikpapan. Because they are so mastered many languages. At least three major languages, namely Indonesia, Banjar, and Java.
Balikpapan allure is so great, especially for job seekers. Job opportunities are still great and so did the average income of its population. About the cost of living, not much different from Semarang
Not less interesting and comforting is the coastal settlement in the town was called. semarang city may be setting modeled. Because coastal areas in Balikpapan is a great place to visit. When I visited Klandasan (new market), coastal areas, which looks neat and orderly antirob. We do not encounter a puddle when and after it rains.
Along the road, lined with shops and shopping centers. A few hundred yards behind the store, looks beautiful beaches. The area was equipped with docks a small boat docked lengthwise. There, people can enjoy the beauty of the beach. Public rights of coastal areas was not taken. The area was also equipped with a variety of shelters, restaurants serving seafood, ornamental fish sales centers, and a souvenir of the coast.
Yes, that’s the other side of the face that made the boro feel as heaven and finally reluctantly left Balikpapan. This may not be copied owned and Semarang who aspire to be city services and city tourism visit.
There is the assumption that we have to if you do not feel kalimantan confectionary delights uniquely local. One of the unique snacks that we enjoy is the studio.
Actually, it was usual snacks we meet in Java. We used to call it fried. Of course there are banana fritters, Bakwan, or Mendoan. But there are distinct differences in the way of enjoying it. balikpapan citizens, as residents in other cities in Kalimantan, always enjoyed fried with sambal. Her sambal variety. There was a similar peanut sauce seasoning pecel. There are also liquid-like sambal chilli rujak.
We have not tried, of course we would feel strange if you have to enjoy the food banana rujak fried with chilli. After trying, I assure you, our tongue would be reluctant to stop swaying. The combination of the original feeling a bit weird for me, a long feels good.
This morning it was the stomach is filled with galleries, which provide enough energy for me to “down” Balikpapan. One more thing that we can never forget in Kalimantan is nothing but the durian. Yes, the island does have different varieties of durian. Durian lay, one of them.
I went to Bukit Soeharto on the path to Samarinda. Quite far around 40 kilometers from the center of Balikpapan City. With ride-cost urban transportation USD 10 thousand, I set off down the long road in the middle of the forest.
Along the way to the destination row stalls offering fruit durian Pondoh lay and salak. Salak Pondoh? Of course there. Because, along the path the local population and develop the forest opens into several types of plantations. Of course, palm oil, bananas, and do not miss Pondoh salak.
I went down and visited the stalls. But this time I was a little less fortunate. Because, when it was entering the final season of durian. As a result, I can only lay the durian might obtain price has doubled from the original price. If in season, the only Rp 5,000. Still, when it began eating the flesh of the fruit, an expensive price to be forgotten. Durian smelled strong and fleshy yellow fruit concentrated. Very appetizing. And when the tongue, taste sweet, savory, and legit.
Ah too bad, why the fruit was not up to Java? Why do we have to import the Montong from Thailand? Actually, durian Kalimantan, no less quality than the production of the White Elephant Country.
The crocodiles of Borneo Life
Development of Balikpapan City after the local government must be balanced with the preservation of natural balance. Over the function of forest and swamp land is happening so quickly, would also be evicted treasure of flora and fauna of the original property Balikpapan (other than oil and coal, of course).
The loss of marsh and many large trees have started looking there. Formerly, tahun1980′s, is still easy to find large trees with diameters of 4-5 meters high towering straight. But now, various giant trees are gone and it is hard to find anymore. Similarly, the marsh crocodile inhabited.
This is what apparently prompted the government of trying to save and develop the back of green areas and centers of animal rescue.
When we walked towards the city of Balikpapan Samarinda through Jl Soekarno-Hatta, would we find the new or the national park areas into green belts. Call it environmental education center Balikpapan in Soekarno-Hatta road Km 22, an orangutan rescue center at Km 35, and Samboja Seed Research Center (managed by MoF) at Km 38 which has an area of 3000 hectares.
One of the animal rescue center of interest of Borneo Life. Crocodile breeding center has hundreds of crocodiles, ranging from eggs, children crocodile, alligator, teenagers, to adults who have a crocodile 3-4 meters long.
The crocodiles that are the result of natural catchments and the results of breeding indukan in place. Normally, the crocodiles will be laying on the ground. Eggs that later hatched. The children were separated crocodile from indukan and raised in its place. This is what makes the crocodile population in Borneo Life is growing rapidly. Because alligators life chances become greater than if you live in the wild.
There are two kinds of crocodiles in place, the crocodile chopsticks (estuarine crocodile) which we are familiar with alligators as well as freshwater crocodiles known as cooking rice. Differences both easily recognizable from the snout and body size. Crocodile snout chopsticks smaller and elongated. Crocodile’s body was relatively small. While freshwater crocodiles have a triangular mouth wider. Body size was very large. The crocodiles were placed in the pond different, according to the type, and age.
Besides trying to save, Borneo Life also commercialize the crocodiles were. They get funds for captive breeding of admission visitors USD 10 thousand per person and the results from the sale of crocodile itself. Indeed crocodiles are considered ready and large, they cut to take the skin, bones, and flesh.
Therefore, in the place is always crowded visited local residents or travelers from other cities, we can buy various souvenirs such as crocodile skin. We also find reptiles tangkur supposedly can increase the vitality of men. Want more extreme again? Try crocodile satay meat manager offered to visitors.
Indeed the potential use by creating this balance that will make us still have a wealth of flora, fauna until the end of the period. We would not be prosecuted by our children and grandchildren for spending the real nature of wealth and the rights of their deposit.
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may i know what is the “boro” means?