Today we rented a car for a trip to Bangkerai, which is a nearby forest outside Balikpapan. On the way back the car was stuck in the mud, but we managed to get out thanks to two helpful passers-by. Gave them Rp 50,000 for the help.
Walking on suspension bridges between the trees, about 15 meter above the ground.
Uno did not cross the bridge, however.
After returning from the forest, we were taking a rest at the beach in Balikpapan.
I made my third visa run to Singapore on 28 October, and here are the boring details:
28 Oct: Mandala flight Balikpapan – Jakarta. Rp 503,200. Stayed at “the place” next to Asri (which was full). They have mounted an air conditioner at “the place”, great! The room now costs Rp 90,000.
29 Oct: Lion Air flight Jakarta – Singapore. Rp 499,000. Took the MRT from Changi Airport to downtown first (Raffles Place) to do some business, then took another MRT to Harbourfront ferry terminal and catched a ferry to Batam, Indonesia. Checked into Hotel Hallo Batam after a survey of two other hotels in the neighbourhood. Hotel Hallo Batam is still my choice.
30 Oct: Lion Air flight Batam – Jakarta. Rp 479,000. I arrived at terminal 1 around 17:30, and from there took a shuttle bus to terminal 2 and checked into the airport transit hotel, which was booked the day before at the outrageously high price of Rp 1,550,000. I then went to the arrival gate to wait for Uno (my father), who arrived from Frankfurt around 19:15. We spent the night at the airport transit hotel.
31 Oct: Lion Air flight Jakarta – Balikpapan. Rp 669,000. Uno and I were picked up at the airport by Caecil. Thank you Caecil! Uno then checked into Pacific Hotel, downtown Balikpapan. He was lucky enough to get the Total E&P Indonesie corporate daily rate of Rp 405,000, thanks to Caecil. We then had lunch at our residence in Bukit Damai Indah. Dinner in the evening at Ocean restaurant (sea food).
Dinner at Ocean restaurant. From left to right: Uno, Made, Kalvin, Caecil, Astrid.
I have previously posted a couple of pictures from Balikpapan downtown (here).
Below a picture taken on 2 October at the outskirts of town, to the North. The terrain is quite hilly.
Here is an example of a typical local dish (Nasi Padang), consisting of rice, a piece of spicy beef, a piece of mashed potato mixed with spices, vegetables (cassava leaves, jackfruit, cabbage), and chili.
This tasty meal is a favorite of mine and was bought in a restaurant for Rp 12,000 (around one dollar and twenty cents) here in Balikpapan.
Nasi Padang.
I visited the dentist today, Dr. Ari at Balikpapan Dental Health Center.
For the check-up and filling of two small cavities I paid Rp 360,000, which is around USD 36.
