The Old Bugis Town of Balikpapan
by MKA, So... this is Balikpapan, the second largest city in East Kalimantan after Samarinda. It is a port city I am no historian, therefore I don't know for sure where the hell the city got its name from. But from Malay translation, it could mean "the other side of a plank" or "behind a plank". The locals claim the name came from a story where a local king threw his newborn daughter into the sea to protect her from his enemies. The baby was tied beneath some planks that were discovered by a fisherman. Believe it or nor? Believe it!. The city used to be an isolated Bugis fishing village until early 1900s before oil was discovered. The discovery of oil has transformed the village into a bustling city as what it is today. Other than Indonesian locals, there are also many Europeans, mainly French, living in this city. Most of them working in Petroleum Industry which is the main source of economic income for this city and the country as well. To get here fro...