Articles (3)

 Melawai is a Favourite Place to Relax

Melawai beach is one of tourism destination in Balikpapan that its location is not far from down town. Melawai is the coastal zone along the road of Jend. Sudirman street,  this area is near from the harbour of Semayang and if you go to here from Monpera, the distance is not too far. Melawai beach is also famous to be visited by teenager for hangout. Having togetherness moment with family and friends in melawai beach is awesome because you can enjoy the evening atmosphere by seeing sunset so that it will become unforgettable nice holiday for you. In the evening many traders start to trade a variety of food and they will put some long tables for visitors. This area become the center of food and drink because of many cafes will serve the visitors, the typical menu in this place is grilled corn, sekoteng, and pisang gapit served with the sauce of brown sugar and cheese. So the visitors not only enjoy the view of beautiful beach and sunset, but they also can satisfy their stomach by trying culinary of Balikpapan. Not far from Melawai beach, there is a small island which is called Tukung island, this island is almost similar with Tanah Lot in Bali. If the sea water is receding, you can walk to go to there,  then you can see many starfish stuck in the back of coral, but if the sea water is tide, you cannot go there. To enjoy the charm of Melawai beach, you don’t have to pay any charge because the location is in the edge of the road so that all vehicles can go through the road and see the beauty of Melawai beach. Melawai beach is usually crowded to be visited by many people start from 19.00 pm-24.00am. To visit Melawai beach you can use your own vehicle or you can use public transportation (angkutan kota) no.6 from down town. So don’t forget to visit this place if you are visiting Balikpapan city.

The Unforgettable Taste of Seafood from Balikpapan City

The location of Balikpapan city is near the beach has made this city becoming famous for the taste of seafood, especially crab meat. It is like the necessities to taste this food if you are visiting Balikpapan, crab meat is prepared with the variety of ingredients which create the delicacy and will make you satisfied in enjoying the seafood. Many people will feel comfortable to spend their time in enjoying the amazing crab. 

Black Pepper Crab (Kepiting Lada Hitam) is one of delicious seafood from Balikpapan city. The first time when you see the appearance of this food, it will make you really not patient to taste it. Kepiting Lada Hitam has become the favourite food for tourists in visiting Balikpapan. The black pepper sauce is hot spicy but it’s so yummy, you also can feel the crab meat is so savory. Hmmm,, try it guys.. !!

The other recipe of Crab meat is Kepiting Asam Manis, this is an alternative if you do not like spicy taste. This menu is also special and has the great taste , the delicacy is same as the Black Pepper crab, but still have its charm in different serving. One big crab will be cut into small parts, they will be cooked together with the sweet sour sauce that is very viscous. The taste it’s really yummy and it will make you cannot stop to suck the crab meat with sauce, slurrrppppp... 

 

Bonting (Abon Kepiting) as the typical gift from Balikpapan

 Abon is usually made from beef or chicken meat, but this one is different and unique because it is made from crab meat, that is called Abon Kepiting. The taste is savory and delicious eaten with warm rice, all fans of crab meat must be curious to feel the taste of Abon Kepiting. Do you wanna try it?

Solo is famous with beef abon, but Balikpapan city is famous with crab abon (Abon Kepiting). This food has become one of the typical food from Balikpapan because crab derived from the resources of the sea in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.

Abon Kepiting is actually began to appear in Balikpapan at 2005, but many people know about this food and it becomes famous in 2006. It began from home industry, one of the brand pioneer which famous till now is “Bonting” (Abon Kepiting). As not as usual, beef abon has big shredded meat, crab abon is otherwise has small and smooth shredded meat with pale brown.

The way of making Abon Kepiting is rather difficult because the process of separating crab meat from its shell need more time and shrewdness. After the separating its meat, the crab meat must be crushed to make it smoother than before, then it will be given the spices such as, garlic, onion, and coconut milk to add the savory taste of the food. The next step is crab abon is ready to be fried till it become crispy and look brown.

Abon Kepiting is packed in transparent plastic packaging (50 grams – 200 grams), then it will be wrapped in a small cardboard. This food does not use preservative so the condition of this food is not durable, the duration of the food is 4-5 months. The price of Abon Kepiting is more expensive, start from Rp 25.000, 00 – Rp 70.000, 00 per pack. There are two flavors of Abon Kepiting, original taste and spice taste.

Many people or tourists are visiting Balikpapan buy this food as present from Balikpapan for their family and friends. For all fans of crab meat who is lazy to separate crab meat from its shell when they are eating, this Abon Kepiting can be an alternative for you to enjoy crab meat !

(Bonting: Translated by Dwi Suny Wardhany from article in http://food.detik.com/read/2011/05/25/154534/1646921/482/unik-gurih-abon-kepiting-khas-balikpapan


(the source of images: www.wisatamelayu.com/id/tour/985-pantai-melawai/navcat , www.pelauts.com , genuardis.net )