Balikpapan
Balikpapan is one of the cities in East Kalimantan (Kalimantan), Indonesia. Balikpapan has a population of 701.066 inhabitants, which represents 22% of the entire population of East Kalimantan. Balikpapan is a city with the highest cost of living in Indonesia. Logo of the city which often called the Oil City (BANUA Patra) and Bumi Manuntung is a Honey Bear, the mascot of Balikpapan which began on the verge of extinction. The original name of Balikpapan is Billipapan or Balikkappan (Banjar accent).
Image: Balikpapan from the air
History
The origin of the name of Balikpapan
There are several popular of saga that tells the origin of the city on the east coast of Borneo:
- The presence of 10 pieces board (papan) back to Jenebora of 1,000 pieces requested by the Sultan of Kutai as donations of building materials for the New Palace of Kutai Lama construction. The tenth board which is called by Kutai people as Balikpapan Tu. So that the area along the Balikpapan Bay, precisely in Jenebora called Balikpapan.
- The tribe Pasir Balik (indigenous tribe of Balikpapan) are descendants of grandparents named Kayun Kuleng and Papan Ayun. So that the area along the Gulf of Balikpapan by the descendants called Kuleng-Papan or means Balikpapan (in Paser, Kuleng means Balik).
- In another legend also mentioned the origin of Balikpapan, a daughter who was released by his father, a king who did not want her daughter fell into the hands of the enemy. The princess who was a toddler strapped on some pieces of boards (in bahasa: papan) in a state of lying. Because washed and exposed to the waves, the board reversed (in bahasa: balik). When the board was stranded on the beach discovered by a fisherman and when he turned out the board there is a princess who is still in the bound state. It is said that the princess named Princess Petung originating from the Kingdom of Pasir. So that the area called Balikpapan.
- Birthday of Balikpapan city is February 10, 1897. The designation is result of the Seminar of Balikpapan's History on December 1, 1984. On February 10, 1897 is the date of the first oil drilling activity in Balikpapan conducted by Mathilda company as the realization of the articles of cooperation between JH Menten with Mr. Adams from the Firm Samuel and Co.
Kutai
Allied troops landed in Balikpapan, July 1, 1945. Balikpapan area and Balikpapan Seberang (Penajam) is part of the dependent territory Kutai. In 1942 Penajam included in Balikpapan area. Since about the year 1636, general Kalimantan included in Kutai states, states of Paser and state of Berau claimed as territory of the Sultanate state mandala Banjarmasin. On August 13, 1787, Sunan Nata Alam has to cede sovereignty over most of Borneo to the VOC, which is then updated again on May 4, 1826 at the time of Sultan Adam. After that Kalimantan in general became the territory of the Dutch East Indies. In 1844, the former state Kutai officially gained recognition as a state within a state dependencies in the Dutch East Indies. According to Staatsblad van Nederlandisch Indië 1849, Kutai included in zuid-Ooster-afdeeling based Bêsluit van den Minister van Staat, Gouverneur-Generaal van Nederlandsch-Indie, on August 27, 1849, No. 8 1855, Kutai is part of de zuid- en oosterafdeeling van Borneo, with its capital in Banjarmasin.
Image: Allied Troops Landed in Balikpapan July 1,1945
Dutch East Indies
With the discovery of oil resources in Balikpapan and the surrounding areas (Samboja, Sanga-Sanga and Muara Badak), the Dutch government finally bought this region from Sultan Kutai Kertanegara and established to support the efforts of mining, especially petroleum, by oil refineries constructions, operational office and employee housing (the remnants of the Dutch East Indies development efforts can be seen from the settlement of Pertamina staff). The petroleum activities also help the movement of people, especially the workers of Java, as well as from various regions. On that time the well known oil companies are BPM, Shell and KPM. Balikpapan area in 1930 included Balikpapan Seberang (Penajam).
Image: Jalan Minyak (Oil Road) in 1950’s
Japan
During World War II, Japan targeting this region as a stepping stone to attack Java. On January 23, 1942, the Japanese fleet under the command of Shizuo Sakaguchi snatched Balikpapan from the Allied forces and the Dutch East Indies hands . The area included Balikpapan Seberang (Penajam). The strategic values of Balikpapan were also taken into account the allied forces, in 1945 the allied forces under the command of Australia took the city from the hands of the Japanese in the battle of June 26 to July 15, 1945 in an attempt to retake the region which fell to the Japanese.
Indonesia
News of the Proclamation of Independence of the Republic of Indonesia rather late to this city, circa 1945-1946 through BPM workers who came from Java in order to rehabilitate the oil refinery which was destroyed by the war and followed by the declaration of the people in Foni Field. However, because the Dutch intended to recapture the city so the war continued until the battle of Sangatta. During the recognition of sovereignty in 1949, the area was handed over to Republic States of Indonesia's Government and continued to the Republic of Indonesia.
Article Source: Wikipedia
Balikpapan Today
 Image: Jalan Minyak |  Image: Semayang Sea Port Balikpapan |
 Image: Balikpapan City |  Image: The Most Beautiful Air Port in Indonesia |
Image: Bekapai Park Balikpapan, Taken by Ngakan Kebo Maesa
Now we are back to the subject. We will listen to the music by Kolam Band. This song is not completely describe about Balikpapan city, but only a piece of nostalgic past. Please, enjoy the song. You can download the song here.
