Melawai Beach.

Tankers and barges transporting coal are a common sight off Melawai Beach.
Melawai beach is located only about 15 minutes from downtown. I went to this beach ride public transportation, public transportation Balikpapan.Large buses and minivans only operated for more distant. The cost of public transportation between Rp2-5 thousand depending on the distance.
One typical scene in Melawai Beach (and beaches in other Balikpapan) is the presence of oil tankers and barges of coal in the distance.
The main attraction Melawai Beach, I think, it is not located on the coast itself, as it has no sand beach to play. Between land and sea was fenced so that visitors are difficult to approach the sea.
Melawai beach became one of the favorite tourist attraction because of the local community in the afternoon there were plenty of food vendors.Meatballs, pecel catfish, grilled fish, fried rice and so sold, diners enjoy their food by sitting cross-legged. And it turns out most of these traders from East Java and Madura.
The next beach that I visited was Kemala beach. The beach is much nicer than the beach Melawai because it has a fine beach sand. On the edges there are palm trees. At that time the beach was crowded. The waves were small also makes the beach is quite safe for children's play area.

Kemala beach at dusk.
Unfortunately, you are not allowed to bring their own food and drinks because it has no cafes and restaurants on the beach. In fact, there is a large notice board stating that if you consume foods that bring their own drinks will incur a fine of 500 thousand!
Because reluctant when required to buy a drink in the cafes, I do not want to linger at the beach Kemala. I continued my trip to the beach Monpera, which stands Struggle Monument. Again I ride public transportation to get to Monpera of Kemala, even though the distance between the three beaches can be reached on foot.
It turns out small Monpera Beach, and also does not have a sand beach.When the water was murky brown. The beach is so similar Melawai beach in a smaller version. Most visitors do not come to play on the beach but for a snack from traders at the beach. I do not want to miss, and ordered a plate of fruit salad.
This beach is named Monpera, because it is near People's Monument, in front of the headquarters of the Regional Commander of Tanjung Pura. The monument is surrounded by a garden big enough. Some chairs provided to seat the visitors. Fair to unwind, I thought.
The next trip to the beach manggar. In contrast to the three previous beach, manggar beach is a bit far from the city center. Public transportation travel time by about one hour. From the city center, I was also passed Sepinggan Airport, as well as two famous crab restaurant in London, the Canary and Dandito.

Seascape of beach manggar.
Public transportation stop on the way to the beach so I still have to walk a few tens of meters to get to the gate. It turns manggar beach is very long.On the edges lined cypress trees shrimp. The sand is brown, finely textured so comfortable so the playground.
On the beach there is a rental tire, buoy, and banana boat. When the stomach was rumbling, at the beach location is also lots of food stalls serving a variety of seafood menu.

On the beach there are several operators manggar water games like banana boat.
Manggar beach is indeed suitable for the location of play because the sand is smooth, sloping beaches, and the waves are small. Unfortunately, visitors here are still less educated and litter.
Perhaps because come on weekdays, manggar tend deserted beach atmosphere. There are only a few groups of tourists who were busy playing. Because lonely, so I just take pictures more freely. At the time, the rain had just stopped, the sky was very blue Balikpapan - sights that are rarely found in big cities in Indonesia. Be my husband and children to take pictures with various poses to perpetuate our tour here.
In addition to the beach, some attractions in New York City and surrounding areas, among others Bukit Bangkirai and trinkets market called Market Garden Vegetables.