eunike's posts with tag: lampu suar
|  | August 15-19, 2007
Starting by unexpected invitation of a hunting trip to Merauke with unreasonable reasonable price *LOL*, finally I put my first step on Papua!! Wuhuuy! It was happened because of Mr. Johanes Gluba Gebze, Merauke Government Head. He invited us by Platinum Photography (thx, Roy-Ferry-Niki-Jak-Anton) to see Indonesia Independence Day celebration and to enjoy Merauke nature and hospitality.
I "knew" Merauke since was a kid as I sang “dari Sabang sampai Merauke” the national song, but I didn’t know Merauke as well as I sang that song *pede suara merdu.com*. I just knew Merauke as the easternmost district of Indonesia, bordering Indonesia and Papua New Guinea (PNG). That was all! But these days I got a special chance to experience my self this remote land; to see the culture, the nature, the people and the spirit they have.
Being edge of Indonesia doesn’t mean Merauke isolated. Many ethnic lives here, from 17 papua ethnics with their own languages and cultures to new comer from Java, Sulawesi, Molucca, etc. Instead 65% of Merauke populace was the comers! Marind Animha is the native ethnic; this name means manusia sejati/ the true people.
I felt not easy to fly to Merauke in a late night. I imagined Fokker or any small plane I would be in half of this 10 hours flight! But I was mistaken. Boeing 737 with about 240 seats brought us from Jakarta to Merauke comfortably. We were leaving Jakarta at 21.45 WIB and arriving in Merauke at 09.35 WIT in the next morning. 2 hours time difference between these places made the flight seem longer.
We stayed in Asmat Hotel, one best hotel Merauke has. We went around by 2 comfy-always cool buses, guided by friendly-helpful-knowledgeable local officers, also good served 3 times meals plus snacks a day. What I could expect more for a trip? ^^ it was luxurious trip I ever had in Indonesia according my backpack standard. *LOL. Indeed those all accommodation and expensive flights was treated and arranged by Pak John. How lucky we were!! ^^
From Jakarta, I and my friends intentionally prepared a lot cash and small changes to anticipate “unavailable” ATM or credit card service and to give tip for anyone we took picture of; but in fact... we almost didn’t use the money at all. Everything already provided. The people were friendly and didn’t ask money to get them photographed (not as people said before we left Jakarta). Just show the shots, they’ll smile.
Most of the time, the sky was cloudy, flat, thick or just white. But even the weather wasn’t finest to take pictures, I had very good time and enjoyed any places I visited; from Lampu Suar beach, where the south Sulawesi fishermen and Marind people live, Maro Bridge – the strategic point to get sunset and sunrise, Nasai beach with bunch of very tall coconut trees or Kumbe beach that showed us the muddy characteristic of Merauke seashore.. to witnessing the merry 17 Agustus-an celebration by the folks! Friendly people, cheerful children with big grin were easy to take pictures of.
Saturday was the best day! A lil but frequent rain poured us, the sky swiftly changed from bright to dull (but while bright it was really good one!). It was when we were in Wasur National Park; an interesting place to visit (better to stay longer to experience animal watching and enjoying the vast savannah). Wild animals live here; kangaroo, many kind of birds includes paradise birds, fresh water and salt water crocodile, deer to python. Arowana fishes are common and cheap, not as a pet but meals :D same as deers and kangaroos. We met the kangaroo not in the savannah but in dining table in a warung in Sota.
Sota is a border area before Papua New Guinea. Many people lives here; from Indonesian soldiers, Javanese transmigrators to PNG people that come for buying or exchanging foods and goods. Some PNG guys that were already cycling 13 kilometers for 2 days surprisingly passed us; like how a tourist act, we were very soon taking a lot pictures of them or together with us, greeting, smiling, asking much, trying to make a contact; what a silly! *katrok! katrok!*.
Moving to Pak John’s livestock, the sky was getting better! Dark blue with beautiful pattern of clouds; love the moment! Next as we were hunting sunset in Maro bridge, unexpected news came! Our tomorrow flight would be delayed to the next day since a big delegation had to head to Jakarta and meet the DPR with aspiration to have the South Papua a province. Some participants still asked to fly back to Jakarta as schedule, other left for no urgent requirement. I was ok for both :p but at night I decided to join the requesting go back on Sunday group. Until Sunday morning, there was no confirmation whether we would get the seats or won’t; 18 participants were waiting in the airport for an hour and half, wishing to send back to Jakarta soon ^^. Then finally Pak John was coming and in several minutes, Roy said we got the seats!! Wuhuuy!! Lucky we were!! Another surprise was a souvenir he gave to each of us before the plane took off. Ummm… I won’t tell here since you’ll envy and wish you were me! :D hehehe…
Ok, just enjoy the shots! And expect this unexpected trip will come once again…
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Summary
Jakarta – Merauke - Jakarta flight
by Merpati airlines
Boeing 737 – 200/300:
5,500,000 IDR/ return flight daily
Jakarta – Makassar
2 hour 10 mins
(transit for 40 mins in Hasanuddin airport, Makassar)
Makassar – Biak
3 hours
(transit for 30 mins in Frans Kaisiepo airport)
Biak – Jayapura
1 hour
(transit for 30 mins in Sentani airport)
Jayapura – Merauke
1 hour 15 mins
(arriving ini Mopah airport)
Merauke – Jakarta flight (should be same route as the first flight, but it was changed but faster)
Merauke – Timika
1 hour
(transit for 30 mins in Moses Kilangin airport)
Timika – Makassar
2 hours 30 mins
(transit for 30 mins in Hasanuddin airport)
Makassar – Jakarta
2 hours
(arriving in Soekarno Hatta airport)
Asmat Hotel
Jl. Trikora 3, Merauke
p. +62 971 321065
Nirmala Hotel
Jl. Raya Mandala 66, Merauke
p. +62 971 321849
Megaria Hotel
Jl. Raya Mandala 166, Merauke
p. +62 971 321932
Nasai and Kumbe Beach
1.5 hours from Merauke city by bus
Wasur National Park
13 km from Merauke city
1-2 hour by 4 wheel vehicle
Office:
Jl. Raya Mandala, Gang Spadem No. 2
Merauke 99611, Papua
p. +62 971 322495, 325406, 325408
f. +62 971 325407
For further information:
www.merauke.go.id
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