Tepian

Tepian is a certain spot in the Segah River bank which is filled with beverages vendors. The crowd is started in the evening.

It is nice to sit along the river, feel the river breeze, chatting with friends while enjoying some beverages. The beverages available are, of course, non alcoholic ones. Hot drinks like coffee, tea, hot chocolate as well as fresh juices are available. Some simple snacks like friend banana can also be found here.

Tepian is the most famous spot to hang out in Tanjung Redeb. You never have been to Tanjung Redeb if you haven’t visit Tepian.

Cendana City Park

Near the office of the Head of the Berau District, there is a city park named Cendana.

A water fountain is located in the middle of it, and some animal statues are spreading out around the park.

The park is clean; and unlike other city parks in Indonesia, there are no street vendors inside. I hope this situation will stay forever.

Time Zone

Berau is included into the central time zone of Indonesia or WITA. It has one hour difference to Jakarta. If Jakarta is GMT + 7 hours, then Berau is GMT + 8 hours.

Weather

The weather in Berau is the same as the rest of Indonesia: it’s hot and humid. But since it’s a small unpopulated city, the air is pretty clear.

Going by bike or on foot is still possible here; things that almost impossible to do in Jakarta due to the high level of pollution. Although it’s hot and humid but walking around in the city for an hour doesn’t make my face feels ‘thick’ or my hair feels ‘itchy’. And since every place is walking distance, I think I’ll enjoy my life here.

The streets of Berau are relatively 'empty'.

The Rivers

I never have been to Kalimantan before so I have no idea about the city or the river size. And I was amazed in seeing the river size; it is the biggest river that I’ve seen in my life! It is so incomparable with rivers in Java, Bali, Sulawesi (Celebes), or even in Europe!

So far I only have seen two rivers which crossing around Tanjung Redeb. I can’t imagine other rivers as Berau has 21 rivers!

Small boats called ‘Katinting’ are common to see as public transportation.

Tanjung Redeb

Tanjung Redeb is the capital city of Berau District. Its total area is 23.76 km² and it has 55,000 inhabitants. While Berau itself is 34,127 km² in total area and has 164,501 inhabitants.

Since Tanjung Redeb is a very small city, to Indonesian standard, sometimes people just say ‘Berau’ to refer Tanjung Redeb.

Tanjung means ‘cape’ or ‘peninsula’. Tanjung Redeb is a cape where at the tip of it, two rivers meet into one which goes toward the sea. The two rivers are called ‘Segah’ and ‘Kelai’; while the united one is called Berau River.Although it's not clear on this picture, but this is the tip of the cape where the two rivers meet.

Tanjung Redeb is a growing city due to coal mining companies that increase in number. Immigrants like me are increasing lately, so it is difficult to notice any local dialect. In fact, most of the food vendors are Javanese; which makes me have to practice my poor Javanese language skill.

Although the city is growing but the city planning is still messy. Garbage is everywhere which make the city looks slum. The good thing is, the air is still unpolluted.

Also, although the city still has much available lands, but people and houses are concentrated in certain area. They live densely in a rumah panggung on a peat land. The houses are somehow pretty, made on wood and have flowers around, but as I mentioned before, it surrounded by garbage.