Explore Borneo: Traveling Budget in Borneo (For Backpacker only)

 I would like to share something important than my silly story or other kind of junk (honestly I have a lot of that in my brain, so don’t worry I’ll be shared all of them to you soon). 

Based on my last trip from Palangka Raya in Central Kalimantan to Samarinda, Tenggarong, and Balikpapan in East Kalimantan, I’ll try to give you information about travel budget include land trip and local transportation, meals, and accommodation fee. 

Well, hope you interested!

Transportation fee:

(From Palangka Raya to Balikpapan or Samarinda, you have to transit in Banjarmasin to take other bus or travel)

Palangka Raya-Banjarmasin

   Bus (medium size, non-AC) = IDR 40,000 (depart at 3 A.M and 9 A.M but if they already have many passenger, that bus may start before their departure time)  

   Travel (family car, AC) = IDR 75,000 (departure time is flexible)

Banjarmasin-Balikpapan

   Bus non-AC (depart every hour) = IDR 110,000

   Bus-AC (the departure schedule can be confirmed when you buy the ticket) = IDR 135,000

Banjarmasin-Samarinda

   Bus non-AC (depart every hour) = IDR 130,000

   Bus-AC (the departure schedule can be confirmed when you buy the ticket) = IDR 155,000

Balikpapan-Samarinda

   Bus non-AC (departed when the bus already full) = IDR 22000

   Bus AC (available at 9 A.M till 2 P.M) = IDR 27000

Samarinda-Tenggarong

   Public Transportation (L300 Car) = IDR 15,000-20,000

Local Transportation Fee

I always use angkot (public transportation car) within the city and you must remember the angkot route so you never get lost and don't show your blank face to the driver if not you'll be cheated (pretending that you are that town citizen is always helpful to avoid trickery).

Samarinda

   Angkot Fee = IDR 3000

   but for some angkot that have route from downtown to Samarinda seberang (the part of Samarinda 

    across the Mahakam river) you must pay IDR 5000

Balikpapan

   Angkot Fee (downtown) =IDR 3000

   Angkot Fee (downtown to suburbs) = IDR 5000

Accommodation Fee

I just have less information about accomodation fee because I was slept on my friend house in Tenggarong and Balikpapan. In Samarinda, I stayed on the boarding house that only cost IDR 50,000/night in front of RRI office. That place have small and large room, outside bedroom and no curfew. 

Meals

I think for meals it different between people. For you who like to eat no matter the cost is, maybe it's not a problem. But for low travel budget but like to eat like me, this matter is important. Place is the improtant ting to know the meals price. Avoiding hotel restaurant and shooping center restaurant is helpful to press your meal budget. Asking local people for meals recommendation and knowing what you really want to eat also important. 

At my trip, I tried coto makasar in every city and it cost IDR 15,000 to 20,000. If you want to tried famous restaurant food, you must make sure that you have enough friend to share the bill. 

Notes:

1. Bring map where ever you go is important thing. Tourist map usually have a lot of   

    information about transportation, tourist destination, restaurant, and public office. 

2. Planning your day tour so that you can bring enough (not less and not to much) cash.

3. Try to shared responsibility to be a bookie so that you don't often open your pocket to avoid pickpocket.

4. Meals in tourist object is more expensive and usually have a flat taste.