PLACES OF INTEREST

Jayapura :
Jayapura is the capital city of Irian jaya Province was known as Hollandaise from 1910 to 1962 as the capital of Nederland New Guinea. After the integration to Indonesia it was rename Kotabaru then Sukarnopura and finally Jayapura up till now. The bustling city of almost 250.000 spreads in back of what used to be known as Humboldt Bay (Now Yos Sudarso Bay). Here you can find some remain of the World War II, Sentani lake with unique lake and arts. Beside it you may also see Museum with fascinating collection including Asmat arts.

The Baliem Valley :
The Baliem valley it’s like an island in the sky. It was one of the most remarkable finds of this century in 1938 with American explorer flew his seaplane over the snow of Mountain Range. Today it’s known as the Baliem valley, a verdant and fertile upland valley set at, an altitude of over 1554 meters above sea level, about 60 km long and 16 km of wide and all encircled by mountain peaks. The Baliem river flows into the valley from the north with two source e.g. east and west of Baliem. The waters join the north Baliem and then drop to the floor of the Grand Valley, where they become a slow brown river. From the Grand valley the rivers continues south through the massive Baliem Gorge-in which it drops 1500 meters in less than 50 km, forming spectacular series of cataracts and on down to the Arafura Sea on the south-west coast. The tribes of the Baliem Valley are usually ground together under the name “Dani”. The Dani farmers, skillfully working their fertile land, digging long ditches for irrigation and drainage and leaving the land fallow between crops. The clearing the land and the tilling the soil for the first crop is traditionally men’s work and the planting, weeding and harvesting will be done by women. Wamena is the administration and communications hub of the Baliem Valley, boasts decent accommodation, restaurant, shops, banks. But to really get the experience of the Grand Valley and Dani life, you must leave the town of Wamena to visit several Dani compounds just off the main trail, which start at the upper end of the landing field, where you may overnight at local house of Dani with very simple accommodation. How to reach Baliem Valley? There is daily flight from Jayapura by Merpati and Trigana Cargo plane.

The Yali Tribe of the Central Highland :
Great distance and rugged terrain separate the Yali area from Dani in the Baliem valley. The Yali people live in the virgin forest, glistening waterfall and rocky mountain terrain. The Yali people have a different language and dress than the Dani. They are shorter than Dani people and also different social structure. The men use “Koteka” or penis gourds with gyratory rattan their waist while women wear short skirts of grasses. The Yali people were cannibalism and closed to outsider before opened by Missionary in 1970’s. The local missionary introduced them to Christianity and taught Indonesia language. The missionary aircraft can charter to this area from Baliem valley with available from Monday to Friday or trek across the mountain tops for several days from Baliem valley.

KOROWAI & KOMBAI TRIBES :
Yaniruma is a home to Korowai people, the people who live in the Tree House. They live in cleared land deep in the rain forest with traditional way, some of them still holding the old beliefs and used to practice until Missionary arrived and built new settlement to get the Korowai and Kombai (the neighbor tribe) more developed. The missionary arrived in 1970’s brought Christian religion there. Yaniruma was opened to tourist early in 1980’s but till now the place is still the most remote tribe and desired by most of adventurous tourists all at once anthropology expeditions. It is unique cultures and environments make adventure interested to come. Korowai & Kombai people always moves from one place to another in order to be close to the foods and hunted animals provided by nature. Korowai is hunter and gatherer who move and build a new tree house once every 2 or 3 years. They built the houses around 20 meters-50 meters from the ground. The traditional wear of Korowai tribe is very simple, men wear a piece of leave or small penis gourd to cover their penis and women wear the skirt made of woven sago leaves, while the Kombai tribe same with Korowai but some of Kombai men wear the hornbill head instead of the gourd during the feast time. The Korowai area neighbors of Citak Mitak & Asmat Tribe and near Dairam rivers.

Asmat Tribe :
The tidal swamplands of Irian jaya’s south coast are one of the best-known, but also least accessible parts of the island. This is the land of the Asmat with world famous for their spectacular wood carvings and previously notorious as head hunters and cannibals. The Asmat area is divided into four major zones based on art style: Northwest Asmat, Central Asmat (Citak Mitak tribe to the East), Braza river in the Northeast and around Senggo & Dairam rivers.
The Asmat woodcarvings are considered to be among the World’s finest. Asmat carving was inextricably connected with the spirit world. Woodcarving always produced in a ritual context and served as powerful materializations of ancestral and other spirit. Carvings were often named for them who recently died for serving to remind their owners that vengeance was still not served. The carving can not be principally considered aesthetic object.
Recently there are some carvers do not know or understand all the hidden meaning in their work. Their skill is directed as much by tradition as by a quest for beauty. For Asmat arts are the outward expression of ancient beliefs and custom. Every Asmat male is a carver in his own right, but the prestigious title of “wow ipit” is bestowed on only the greatest among them. These master carvers are commissioned by the villagers to undertake special carving such as ancestral poles.

Biak :
Biak is the best-known of the former scouted island and the most populated. A town was built on the coral of the island of cenderawasih bay. The island rich in history and natural beauty such as Japanese solider cave, and museum full of relics. Further out from the town, one encounters beautiful waterfalls and reefs. There are some good beaches on Biak Island, the most popular of which are Bosnik on the east coast, good for swimming and skin-diving, and Korem on the north coast, where one can watch young men dive for pearls. Supiori Island, just north of Biak, has a recreation forest and villages where visitors are welcome.

Manokwari :
The city of Manokwari becomes the capital of West New Guinea since Dutch colonization. Located at the northern part of the Irian mainland, Manokwari lays on the beautiful surrounding gorges, the main interest around Manokwari includes Gunung Meja Park, from where you can view the scenery of Manokwari town, Amban beach, Anggi Lake and Arfak Reserve.

SORONG :
Sorong is definitely not a tourist town. The town of Sorong is a fading oil center, with rusting tin roofs that stretch along eight km of seashore at the westernmost tip of the Bird’s head. We can say that the town is fully with disco nightlife while for daylight activities are strict business. There are some good beaches and islands to visit. In Sorong, you may also found the Japanese monument who died here in the World War II and casuarinas trees which grow in the area.