Long Read
Sustainability in Samarinda: How Green is This Urban Space?
okay, so here's the deal with Samarinda. i landed here thinking it'd be just another dusty indonesian city, but turns out there's more going on under the surface. i'm channeling my inner disillusioned consultant vibe here-because let's be real, sustainability in a place built on coal exports is a messy conversation.
first off, the weather? it's hot. like, "i regret wearing jeans" hot. and humid enough to make your shirt stick to you before you even step outside. but that's not the point. the point is: how green is this place really?
the green spaces (or lack thereof)
so, there are parks. like, a few. taman alun-alun is decent-some trees, a fountain, locals hanging out at sunset. but it's not exactly central park. more like a postage stamp of green in a sea of concrete. and don't even get me started on the river. the mahakam looks beautiful from afar, but up close? it's got that "i wouldn't swim here" vibe.
the data (because we're consultants now)
rent here is surprisingly cheap. you can snag a decent one-bedroom for around 2-3 million rupiah a month. but here's the kicker: the air quality? not great. samarinda's been flagged for high pollution levels, thanks to the coal industry. so yeah, cheap rent, but maybe invest in an air purifier.
and jobs? if you're not in mining or timber, good luck. the city's economy is basically built on digging stuff out of the ground and shipping it away. not exactly a sustainability poster child.
overheard at a warung
"you think samarinda's green? bro, the only green here is the money from coal. and maybe the algae in the river." - local dude, probably a fisherman, definitely drunk on sopi.
what's nearby?
if you need a break from the urban sprawl, balikpapan is just a few hours away. it's got better beaches and slightly cleaner air. or head to the interior-there are some legit rainforests, but they're disappearing fast. so maybe go see them before they're gone?
the verdict
samarinda's not winning any green city awards anytime soon. but it's got potential. the people are friendly, the food is great (nasi bekepor, anyone?), and there's a slow but growing awareness about sustainability. just don't expect it to be a eco-paradise.
*check out these links if you're curious:*
- TripAdvisor on Samarinda
- Local Reddit thread on Samarinda's pollution
- Yelp for Samarinda restaurants
- Samarinda's air quality index
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