Balikpapan, ensconced in a hilly coastal region beneath the towering carapace of rich tropical rainforest, is a major seaport and oil boomtown on the coast of East Borneo. Formerly a small fishing village, the town experienced massive growth throughout the 20th century, following the discovery of oil in the early s. This historic site of CIA intrigue is now a modern-day base for international oil heavyweights Baker Hughes, Chevron, Total and Thiess, to name but a few.
The quality of life for foreigners is fairly high, and everyday creature comforts are easily found in the larger supermarket chains such as Hero and Toko Susana. What is special or unique about your city? The town itself is very safe and quiet and relatively clean with a mix of Indonesians from all over the archipelago and a large number of expatriates mainly from US, France and Australia.
However many other nationalities are also represented. Expatriates work mainly in the oil and mining industries and associated service companies. Large multinational companies have a big presence with their own housing compounds.
What are a newcomer's first impressions of your city? It's very quiet, in terms of traffic, compared to the major cities in Indonesia. What is the local language? Bahasa Indonesia, which is a variation of Malay, is the official language of Indonesia. Also, many Indonesians speak English and Dutch. How easily could I live in this city without knowing this language?
Indonesian people are very friendly and when they hear someone trying to speak their language, they will be very helpful.
