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TARAKAN |
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A 24-kilometre spread of low hills just off the coast northeast of
Tanjung Selor, Pulau Tarakan floats above extensive oil reserves:
offshore rigs dot the horizon, while the west-coast town of TARAKAN is
surrounded by smaller-scale "nodding donkey" pumps. It's a surprisingly
brisk, busy place, just a stone's throw from Pulau Nunukan and the open
border with Malaysia .
The Jalan Sudarso/Sudirman junction, 2km north of the port, marks the
town centre. The airport is 2km north of town, Rp5000 by taxi. Wisma
Murni Travel at the Hotel Wisata (tel 0551/21697) can book flights to
Samarinda, Nunukan and Balikpapan. All marine traffic docks at the
southern end of Jalan Sudarso: ferries from Berau (Rp25,000-40,000) and
Nunukan (about Rp15,000) use the jetty about 1.5km south of the
intersection. The port, 500m further down, is served by Pelni 's Kerinci,
Tidar and Awu to Balikpapan, Nunukan, Sulawesi and Java . The Pelni
office is here too. Bemos around town are plentiful and cost Rp300 a
ride.
There are numerous places to stay , mostly east down Jalan Sudirman
within 150m of the centre. Hotel Wisata, Jl Sudirman 46 (tel 0552/21347;
$25-40), is a good standby; the adjacent Orchid, Jl Sudirman 171 (tel
0551/21664; $15-20), is cheap and grotty, with Tarakan's best-value
rooms a little further along at the tidy Barito Timur, Jl Sudirman 129 (tel
0551/21181; $20-25). At the intersection on Jalan Sudarso, the Kartika
is a fine Chinese restaurant , as are the Cahaya and Anneka, both along
Jalan Sudirman. Good exchange rates and ATMs can be found at the BNI
bank just south of the intersection and across from the police station
on Jalan Sudarso.
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