The World’s second largest island, New Guinea is shared by two countries: Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. The Indonesia half of the large island forming a bird, which only became an integral part of the country in 1969 after being a Dutch colony, is called West Papua.
Although the area occupies has almost a quarter of the archipelago, there less than one percent of the population of Indonesia. Looking at the map you quickly get an explanation for this contradiction. West Papua is the land of dense jungles with many kinds of wild animals, inhabited with different isolated tribes of which some never met outsiders.
The Centipede House
The Rumah Kaki Seribu (Centipede house), is a traditional house type that is a built by the Arfa ethnic group of West Papua. It has a rare and unique form and it is lying on piles. The walls are made by bark of the tops and are covered with thick grass. In secluded places like Kebar and Anggi can still be seen in large numbers.
Rock Drawings
The ancient palm representation is one of the cultural attractions of West Papua and can be seen on the rocks next to the city of Kokas at 10-13 meters above the ground. The red-colored rock drawings depict palms, weapons and animals.
The Japan Fortress
The Japan is the fortress and is located in the town of Kokas and it was built in 1944-1945. This served as a protection and hiding place of the Japanese forces during the Second World War. It takes 4 hours with boat to get there from Fak-Fak.
Memorials in West Papua
The Papera memorial was erected in 1969 in the city center of Manokwari in West Papua. It commemorates the struggle of Indonesia to reclaim the areas of West Papua.
The Second World War Memorial is located in the center of Manokwari and it was set by the Dutch in 1948 in the memory of the executed Japanese military police officers and government officials.
The Meja Mountain from distance has the form of a table (the word Meja meaning table) is a strictly protected area. It is a popular tourist destination in West Papua because of its untouched forest and the magical and beautiful panorama. The Monumen Jepang or the Japanese Memorial was erected on mountain in the memory of the arrival of the 221 and 222 divisions of the Japanese Army. It is at just 2km from Manokwari, so it is easily accessible by car, motorcycle or bus.
The Tubir Seram Island is situated in front of the town of Fak-Fak in West Papua and it has a wonderful and attractive view. Its park has a wide variety of brightly colored flowers and other plants for those interested. Here is the Perjuangan Merah Putih Monument (Monument of Independence) and a small museum, which has a collection of objects of historical significance. It can be reached by a 5 minute boat trip from Fak-Fak.
Sorong
There is a lot to discover and far much more to do in Sorong. You just have to know the ideal time of day to engage in different activities in order to get the most out of the island.
What to Do in Sorong
Early Morning
If you want a taste of the local life, start with an early morning visit to the local market, Pesar Jimbutan Puri. You will get to see the local fishing boats come in with their catch from a night of fishing. The action begins before 5:30 when the fish are unloaded from the boats and hauled to the market. The scene at the market is frenetic as traders and fishermen haggle for the best prices and the best catch. Take a stroll back to the hotel at 7:30 for breakfast after things quiet down.
Mid-morning
This is the perfect time to visit the local markets and get a few souvenirs. There are several batik shops offering a wide variety of traditional Indonesian cloth. There are also various art and craft shops that feature traditional artifacts such as tribal masks. Your shopping experience is a great opportunity to learn more about Papuanese culture and history.
Late afternoon
Being out and about at high noon is not advisable in Papua. This intense heat keeps even the locals inside. Late afternoon is the perfect time to take another visit to the local markets, especially Pasar Boswesen.
This market is unique as it is set on stilts above the ocean water. It is mainly a fish market but also has vegetables and fruits like other Indonesian markets.
Early evening
Get in touch with the spiritual side of the island by taking a hike to the Buddhist Temple perched on a hill overlooking the town. The temple was built by the Chinese community that makes up part of Sorong. This beautiful pagoda is the perfect place to end the day. You don’t have to spend the whole evening in prayer. The serene landscape of the temple offers a perfect point from which you can truly appreciate the sunset over the horizon.
