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

Papua I
Papua II
Papua III

All photos are private collection.

We arrived in Canti at dawn. Too bad, the sky was cloudy. As we waited for the speedboat to arrive, we had breakfast and hoping that the sun would come up and shine. The next in the agenda was snorkeling at Sebuku, before hit the lodge in Sebesi. We were tired, body stiff, lack of sleep, but none of us was having any second thought about it. We changed our outfit, short, tshirt, bikini, prepare our mask and snorkel, applying sunscreen/tanning lotion and as soon as the boat arrived, we took our bag and hoped on. Minutes later, the sun was on our side, greeted us warmly. Oh how we love the sun that day!!

Sebuku Kecil or Little Sebuku, white sand with the green bluish (or blue greenish) sea. We spent an hour there, some went snorkeling, some taking pictures, some collecting shells. And then we went on to Sebesi, where we slept, ate, and cleaned up. Two huge rooms, each with 2 bathrooms, 1 for gals and 1 for guys. Single mattress for each person lying on the floor. We put our things, cleaned up a bit, and had lunch. Some of us resting and took nap, the others went out and explore the island.

The day went by, around 3pm, we continued on. Next destination Umang-Umang, small island, around 5 minutes from Sebesi. White sand with black rocks spreading, clear bluish sea. I can spend all day lying at the beach there!!

And the next day started early, 5pm!! To Krakatoa!! Around 8 gals wearing colorful dress to spark Anak Krakatoa (3 purple, yellow, pink, white, orange, blue). This is the first time i hiked up on a mountain wearing sassy dress with striking color. But you know what?? Rakata Island was sparkling… ) A tough scary volcano and there were us, small tiny colorful dots. The dots that jumped around when Anak Krakatoa released a silent “cough”.

Krakatoa is a volcanic island, located in Sunda Strait, between Java and Sumatra. It has its big moment in August 26-27, 1883, where it exploded and its eruption was equal 13,000 times nuclear yield of Hiroshima bomb, ejected pumice, ash and rocks – destroyed 2/3 of the island. Anak Krakatoa is a result of the eruption since 1927, still active and growing.

The day was getting very hot. Anak Krakatoa hasnt fully covered by forest, all black sand, and it really burns during the day. We couldnot get near the top as the volcano on ALERT 3 status, so went down when the sun started to rise up above.

After taking lots of photo-shots around the beach, we headed to Lagoon Cabe (Chilli Lagoon), just seconds away from Rakata for snorkeling. The day was still early and we didnt want to end it just yet. So we started the engine again and in minutes we were at Pulau Panjang (Long Island). This is the island where you would find a cave which were used by Japanese troops. At its beach, when turn around and look far to the ocean, you would find Krakatoa on the left and Anak Krakatoa on the right. Amazing..!!

The plan was to go around Krakatoa again at night, to watch the volcano splashing like fireworks. But it needed few hours more before dark and the wave wasnt very friendly. So we went back to Sebesi, closing our second day there.

Last day, Independence day. Woke up and the day was a bit dark and the sky was drizzling. We waited and waited for the rain to stop as we wanted to have a small celebration out in the open. Sebesi was red and white that day. We ended our trip with Independence day ceremony by the beach. It was indeed a great trip!!

14-17 Aug 2009
Thanks to all my friends, old and new!! You guys rocks!
Thanks for Eca, Ricka, and Didi for arranging the trip!!
Photos are private collection

There is one area that you might willing to check out when you are in Jakarta. Especially for those who love to see old historical buildings. The area called KOTA TUA or Old City. The area stretch out around 1,3 sq km of both North and West of Jakarta. There are several buildings which are from the old city of BATAVIA, the name that was given in 1619 by VOC,  Dutch East India Company. The city was originally called Jayakarta which was then destroyed and expanded by VOC. Batavia was later on changed to JAKARTA during Japanese occupation in 1942.

Most of the buildings are not well maintained. Too bad. The fact that the area can be a nice touristic spot,a nice commercial-historical area. Not really sure why as I am very confident with a lot of business brains in Indonesia, I wont be the only person who has several ideas crossing our minds when seeing it. It can simply be restructured without losing its original design, turn into commercial area with a regulation not to change the architecture like buildings in Boat Q Singapore, there is an alley between building that has European look which can be designed as outdoor coffee shop or restaurant. Or again, if afraid it would be too commercial then just simply maintain the original design and turn it into museum with some historical artifact. It is a question to the government.

This area is busy during weekends. Some buildings are often became a spot for photo-shooting (i.e. pre-wed shots, commercial shots), music video setting, etc. Local people surrounding the area or outside (like me) would come to have breakfast from the local jajanan pasar (foodcarts), kids would running around at the center of the area, group of tourists with their guides may be seen once in a while. And if you are lucky, a performance from some local community. Surrounding the area, you may find some museums and Stasiun Kota (Train station “Kota”), and further a bit, old harbour called Sunda Kelapa where wooden ships anchored.

Sources : wikipedia.org
Photos from private collection (Sunda Kelapa’s photos by Ricco Surya)

Entrance to the Cave

Around 3-4 weeks ago, on vacation to Cirebon, my friends and I went to Sunyaragi, amongst any other places that we visited there. Cirebon is part of West Java, takes around 3 hours by train from Jakarta. Sunyaragi is a culture reserve located in Kesambi area at the side of Jalan Brigjen Dharsono (Brigjen Dharsono Road). It was built around year 1703 as per written source/evidence. Sunya is from the word Sunyi or Silent, and Ragi is from Raga or Body, both words are Sanskrit. Sunyaragi is a place, a temple-look-alike, some part of it is a cave, for the royalties, Cirebon Sultan and the families, to meditate and rest. A getaway palace to relax ..

From outside, I didnt find the place to be interesting. When we got inside, I can see that a huge area which was well planned-constructed, cozy place, built with a natural air conditioning i.e. water and a well-thought air circulation. And it got our attention. It was said that a long time ago the place was surrounded by Danau Jati (Jati Lake) which is no longer exist replaced by road and housings. That’s why it was also known as Waterpark, with decorations such as stone-carved Elephant and Garuda and artificial waterfall where the sultan would seat behind it.

When we got out a bit from the site, there was a tomb where the guide said it was believed as Admiral Cheng Ho’s (Zheng He). A well known Hui Chinese mariner, explorer, diplomat, and fleet admiral,  a Chinese moslem, who sailed across Asia. The truth or not, we didn’t question about it. However, the history was told, that the Admiral visited Cirebon. Other history was also told that his body was buried at sea off the Malabar coast, near Calicut, Western India.

This place is less known to tourist, I would not know that there’s such place like this in Cirebon before. It is way less popular then Borobudur and Prambanan in Yogyakarta and Centre Java. However, it is worth to visit for those who loves ancient buildings.

NOTE:
History source: wikipedia and guide at site
Photos : private collection
Entrance fee: IDR 2000 per person (local)
Guide fee: IDR 15000-30000 (local)

Being Indonesian my whole life and attending Indonesian school, just as early as I entered elementary school, it was a mandatory to attend “Monday National Ceremony”. A ceremony where some selected senior students being the ceremony “official”, consists of:

• mc
• a leader/chief in command
• 3 flag hangers (not sure if this is what we called the officials who carry and hang the flag onto the mast – please correct me if im wrong)
• Pancasila (Indonesian Principle) text carrier – to be handed to the teacher/headmaster (as the highest chief of ceremony)
• UUD’45 Preambule (1945 Indonesian Constitution Preamble) reader
• choir, singing Indonesian anthem when the flag is being pulled up at the mast
• at Independence day, additional official for Proklamasi (Independence Pledge) reader

This is a ceremony which students, up until their senior high, HAVE to attend every Monday. It usually lasts an hour. I don’t know for sure what is its goal, it is most likely to bring out the nationalism in us. Although, must admit, being a kid or teenager or young adult, the fact that we have to stand up for one hour at the school court below the sun, was not something to look forward to….. and it’s Monday!!

Last Monday was different, we were all WILLING to do the ceremony. We are united by our common interest in traveling. Living in Indonesia, which happened to be the biggest archipelago in the world with lots of beautiful islands and places to explore, makes me, if not us in this group, love Indonesia for its diversity.

I was the Proklamasi (Independence Pledge) reader, although I know and memorize the text in the back of my head, but I was nervous and chocked a bit. I felt really proud of the group for making the plan and made it happened. As far as I am concerned, we were all happy and not to mention having fun with a taste of nationalism in our heart. If it is not pride, Im sure the idea can easily be turned down the minute it was mentioned, knowing how boring it could be when we were students.

Is the Monday mandatory National ceremony a waste? I guess it was not. We wouldn’t be doing it if we never experienced it. Does it take a full responsibility of our nationalism? Probably not entirely. Considering some people still has doubt in our governance, still has doubt on the young professionals, still has doubt that the terrorist wouldn’t attack anymore and many other doubts are still hanging in my beloved country. Nationalism has different meaning to each person, some express it through songs and poetry, some debate in national television, some formed #indonesiaunite, as for me, I’m planning to see more of Indonesia and I am planning to share it …

Photos taken from Yeyen Nursjid collection

You can call me Di, as that’s how I preferred to be called