Trip to Jayapura-Vanimo

It's been a long time since my last entry. I don't know why I've been so lazy to write. Too busy playing PC game :p. Anyway, my latest journey I've done was visit Jayapura and Vanimo, Papua New Guinea! Most people said it was a though trip for a girl like me. Was it? NOOOOT...! I really excited! I mean, hey! When else I could visit this place, the easternmost part of Indonesia?

Well, actually it was a service trip in order to monitor the cross-border transportation of Jayapura-Vanimo. The plan has been delayed twice because of this and that. I went with my bosses, Mr. K and Mr. B, so I have to do all coordination by myself. Indonesian representative in Vanimo is General Consulate, that's where we are going. It was quite trouble. The phone and fax connection were not good and with all bureaucracy to do, visa and other documents, the time I need wasn't short. Thanks God all was well by the time.

We took an 8 hours flight to Jayapura, Papua with two transit times (Makasar and Biak). It was very looong flight, I'm tired of sitting, moreover, I cannot sleep well (we took a night flight). But finally we safely landed in Sentani Airport in Jayapura. Oh yeah, if you go to Jayapura, remember to look outside the windows when you already above it. The view was so cool; very enormous land filled with forest and trees just like a soft green rug. Land of Virgin. Also, there's a giant beauuutiful mountain (Mr. Pilot told us the name, but I really forgot). By the way, Mr. Pilot, which named Lucky Lukmansyah, flying the aircraft smoothly and his voice are so gentle. With no doubt I declared him as my favorite pilot :p.

Beautiful, isn't it?

From Jakarta, my boss asked a favor from our colleague from Damri, Mr. M, to accompany us down to Vanimo. Mr. M's family roots came from Vanimo, therefore he often go to Vanimo and able to speak pidgin (national language of Papua New Guinea) also know the habits of local resident. The trip from Sentani to the border took about 3 hours drive or 1,5 hours from Jayapura City. I found out that Jayapura is like cities in Sumatra. The building, the road, the scenery, the dust,, and I can tell you the weather is hot with high humidity although Jayapura is surrounded by mountain. We can see restaurant or something like that everywhere, especially Padang food. After we leave the city, the scenery turned to forest because the road was dividing the mountain around the bay. Actually we can go to the border with boat too. Right now, the government is building a bridge to connect Jayapura and the border easily but somehow the construction is stagnant.

We arrived at the border by noon. We checked in the military post that secure the border. We also saw the famous Market Point of Skouw where many villagers of Wutung and Vanimo were bought things and goods. After we exchange our money at market (IDR 3.000 = 1 Kina) and stamps the passport at immigration post, we leave our car and walk through the neutral area (about 500 meters) and entered the land of Papua New Guinea (Wutung village). First thing I noticed was red spitting everywhere from the habit of people who chewed pinang and spit it in any place. Uuughh, gross... Then we took a car and drive to Vanimo for about 1,5 hours. If the scenery in Jayapura was forest and mountain, in Vanimo we'll see coastal and sea. It's so beautiful. We arrived in Vanimo by afternoon. Do not imagine that Vanimo is a big and cheerful city, in fact it's a small, poor, and silent city. There is nothing. No more than a village in Indonesia. Actually, Vanimo is a provincial capital of Sandaun (Sandaun = Sun Down, a place where the sun last sets). High unemployment rates leads to high crimes. Recently, the consulate officer told us, a week before we arrived there was an attack against a villager who is one of the city elder. The incident sparked a horrific act; arson house of attackers by the victim's families. Previously, one of consulate officer was robbed, he was beaten to near death. Scary, huh? No wonder they were surprised that there was me, a young girl, in this team. But still, I don't feel worry :p. People of Vanimo are friendly, but it all may change once they drunk, which it was their pleasure.

Border Post. Actually this photo was taken in day 2, not soon when we arrived

By consulate officer, Mr. D, we were taken into the best hotel in there (well, there are only two hotels in Vanimo), Vanimo Beach Hotel. It's property of Malaysian and well build. There's only bungalow type left and I'm not allowed to stay alone, so I have to share the place with my bosses and Mr. M. Lady sleep on bed, and gentlemen sleep on sofa, hehehe. Then we were invited to dinner with the consulate, so at 7pm we picked up using Land Rover, even though the consulate is right beside the hotel. The consulate office is so modest but still bold with Garuda emblem at the gate. We were greeting with Mr. S, the acting consular, and few officers of consular. Then we had a dinner of Gado-gado in super portion! *buurrppp...

Transportation Corps and Foreign Affair Corps

Meeting

The next morning, we were meeting to discuss matters about cross-border transportation to further report to our Minister.

At front of Consulate office. Modest, huh?

Then we were going to border again to review the market situation, the mobilization, taking photos, etc. People of consulate seems like knows every single body. They incessantly greet and be greeted by the title "boro" which mean is "friend". Hmm,,, maybe we need to stay outside of our country to realize how much we love it. For example, one of the officers puts Indonesia national anthem as cellphone ringtone :D. I too, realized how beautiful my country is and how lucky I am for became Indonesian ♥ ♥

The border gate and the consulate's car

Market visitors, ready to go home with their goods...

... with these.

The market

Souvenirs from Papua New Guinea, expensive.. T.T

With locals

Large banner to prevent AIDS

Can you see that? Someone's stand Merah Putih on the mountain!

My bosses

As the name, our hotel is located near the beach which name is Philippine Beach (Don't ask me why, I don't know..). On the afternoon, we swam with Mr. D. The beach is very clean and pure like never been touched by human and also calm. Sooo relax... We swam until the sun sets. Normally, DO NOT swim or do activities outside the hotel on the afternoon, especially for a girl, it's vulnerable. We can swim safely because we accompanied by consulate officer. If not, the locals might come to you and ask for money or cigarette. We were invited to dinner again (how nice..) at restaurant hotel on the second floor. The food was delicious but quite expensive (35 K per portion), fortunately, it comes in super portion again :D. I chatted with Mr. D who tells how he wants to switch work place. He has been here for 9 years! He is already 40 years old (I was surprised, I thought he's around 30) and never sees his daughters grow. Well, be patient Mr. D! When we had finished eating and want to go back, suddenly it's noisy outside. People yelled angrily. Drunk people. Whew, people from Consulate had a tough life :).

Somewhere in our way to border

Philippine Beach, verrrrrryyy niceeeeeee.....

How to get there:
Jakarta to Jayapura by plane (Garuda Airlines, Merpati Airlines, or Lion Air)
Jayapura to border by car rental (Rp. 300.000 - Rp. 600.000, depends on distance)
Border to Vanimo by local transport (150 K - 250 K, depends on car type)