Papua – Land of Adventure
It has been quite awhile since my trip to Papua, March 2009. A place where I have never thought I would actually visit. Pulau Biak, Jayapura and Wamena – 10 days trip to the very eastern of Indonesia, my beloved country. Despite of several “turbulance” happened few months after, I still think that Papua is a rich and beautiful land, worth to visit if you love adventure and nature. Mountains are spread across with lakes around them. I wonder if God created it the way my nieces playing miniatures land, randomly “throws” soil and “splashes” water, resulted a scattered hills and oceans .. it’s amazing ..
Warsa Waterfall
Pulau Biak is a small island, it has its own uniqueness with pure ocean and white sands with beautiful shells. There is this amazing waterfall called Warsa, around 2-3 hours drive from the airport. The water wasnt clear, but it’s clean, it’s like blue greenish milky water. You rent a wooden boat and go around the islands around it. Most of the beaches are untouched by modern life.
Sentani to Jayapura
Jayapura is the capital of Papua and as expected, everything is busier there. Cars, market, banks, hotels. If you like to collect souvenir, you should buy them here, it’s cheaper and more variety.
Go to Pasar Hamadi and Museum Loka Budaya (at University of Cendrawasih), bargain, and get the shields, sculpture, arrows from various tribes. At the museum, a guide would tell you the stories of tribe wars, ritual, all the way to New Guinea, they share the land after all. Being the busiest town in the land, Jayapura has several spot to see, Pantai Hamadi, black soft sand beach, you might find what (believed) is left from World War II (I found an empty bullet!!) ; Depapre, Pantai Amai, another soft sand beach and Gunung Ifar, known to be the place where General MacArthur sat and contemplated his World War II strategies.
Balliem River
to Balliem Valley
Wamena, this is where the famous Balliem Valley lies. A 30-minute flight from Jayapura. If you are a hardcore adventurer, find a guide who will take you deep inside the mountain. He’ll take you around 10-12 days to explore. I experienced the mountain trek, but only at the outside, far enough to experience sleeping in the hut and looking at the Balliem River.
As for the people, they may look rough and unfriendly, do smile, they will show their white teeth and great you warmly. However, taking picture with some of them cost you money or cigarettes, not much though, only less then usd 1 or 1 cigarette. You will find kids running around carrying firewoods or just playing soccer, bring candies, they’ll love them.
Wamena - Local
Wamena Kids
Find my journal day to day in Papua at
All photos are private collection.
