Papua Barat – Irian Jaya

Papua Barat – Irian Jaya – Indonesia 1998

Here are a few tattered pictures of Irian Jaya that might be of interest to someone.

The first one is of a village in the Wamana Valley. This place could get a “Better Homes and Gardens Award”

This one is of a Dutch fighter plane that was shot down during the WW2 era.

Wamana Valley

The people and their pigs live in the same house with a divider across the middle. They cook on one side and throw the leftovers over the wall to the pigs on the other side.

Dewi was one of the Camat’s daughters.

Bird of Paradise – Cenderwasi

When the new Camat, or administrative chief of the district, arrived he was given a dead and dried cenderwasi as a ceremonial gift of respect.

This is his eldest son inspecting the bird.

The locals are not supposed to kill the birds of paradise but the Camat overlooked it because it was a gift and they were trying to show him respect.

Cruising along the north coast of Irian Jaya. We camped out on the beaches and caught fish with a long gill net and roasted corn over an open fire.

Arriving at the port in Manokwari by Pelni ship from Ambon in the Molukos. We had just come from Sorong where the people were throwing water bottles and other stuff at the ship.

It was the night after the big riots in Ambon when 5000 homes, 15 churches and 15 mosques were burnt to the ground.

These guys are my traveling mates. Talk about having a good time! I really loved these people.

I hope to see these people again some day!

The bus crosses a small river on the way back to Manokwari.

A beautiful view of Irian Jaya from the air.

Irian Jaya