Baliem Valley - Papua

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once you read or give it a deeper study to Danis way of life, dont be surprise that you may find your eye lifting or forehead wrinkling. Why? Because the Dani is uniquely amazing.

The Dani men and women sleep separately in different honai (Danis traditional house). The men sleep grouped in one honai, while the women and children slumber in another honai. As descended from their ancestor, sex is taboo for the women after giving birth, for 2 or 5 years, as the result the Dani generated healthier kids since the women focus on babysitting the kids during the most important phase of growth. This situation makes the men vulnerable to polygamy, its a true fact of life that the Dani men are allowed to have more than 1 wife or as many as he can afford. A man should give 4-5 pigs to the girls parent he wants to marry. For Dani men, his social status are initiated by the number of wives and pigs he has.

Another remarkable custom of Dani is that women will amputate their finger when their relatives die, hence doesnt be surprise when you see women with missing finger.

To enhance the quality of your experience in Baliem Valley, guide is essential since there are no clear maps or signage initiated for visitor. The guide will help to lead the track, communicate with the local people and in advance, the guide will inform the tourist about local dos and donts.

   

 

Flying might be the only way to access the Baliem Valley through Wamena. Here are some alternatives on carrier from Jayapura to Wamena: (For further info, ask the officers at Sentani Airport Information Center).

  • Trigana Air Services provide daily flights into and out of Wamena. Spot the Trigana Air Service Offices at Sentani Airport terminal and Wamena Airport terminal.

  • MAF
  • AMA
  • Yajasi
  • Manunggal Air
  • Hercules carrier provide by Indonesian army (TNI)

To access Baliem Valley, you can rent car or public bus from Wamena.

For those who are adventurer and cultural observer in heart, stay and mingle with the Baliem Valley people is possible, just make sure your guide booked it before your visit. Go Show? Affordable.

If the first alternative is way too extreme, you can stay at hotels at Wamena:

  • Wamena Hotel at Jl. Homhom 61
  • Srikandi Hotel at Jl. Irian 16
  • Pondok Wisata Putri Dani at Jl. Irian 40
  • Nayak Hotel at Jl. Gatot Subroto 63
  • Hotel Syah Rial Makmur at Jl. Gatot Subroto 45
  • Hotel Anggrek at Jalan Ambon 1
  • Baliem Pilamo Hotel at Jalan Trikora
  • Baliem Valley Resort (3 star resort), www.baliem-valley-resort.de

For those who are adventurer and cultural observer in heart, stay and mingle with the Baliem Valley people is possible, just make sure your guide booked it before your visit. Go Show? Affordable.

If the first alternative is way too extreme, you can stay at hotels at Wamena:

  • Wamena Hotel at Jl. Homhom 61
  • Srikandi Hotel at Jl. Irian 16
  • Pondok Wisata Putri Dani at Jl. Irian 40
  • Nayak Hotel at Jl. Gatot Subroto 63
  • Hotel Syah Rial Makmur at Jl. Gatot Subroto 45
  • Hotel Anggrek at Jalan Ambon 1
  • Baliem Pilamo Hotel at Jalan Trikora
  • Baliem Valley Resort (3 star resort), www.baliem-valley-resort.de

Would you mind if we say ON FOOT? Healthy foot and fit body? Absolutely. Through trekking, you can witness traditional ceremonies, traditional markets and the people of Dani.

There is no restaurant inside the Baliem- Valley, a guide could bargain the Dani people to provide simple meals. Its stoutly advised, that the visitor bring their own meals and snack during the trekking. Meals and snacks can be found in grocery store at Wamena

Souvenir can be easily found on the valley and buy the crafts directly from the Dani people.

  • Stone blade is a major favorite for the tourist
  • Sekan: rattan bracelate
  • Noken: made from trees bark
  • Head and arm necklace
  • Jogal: grass skirt
  • And other head decorations
  • The captivating Baliem Fiesta is held on August around 10 - 17 August every year. The festival performs traditional dances, pig races, ancestral fighting and races. Today, Baliem Fiesta is one of the main reasons why tourists visit Papua. Its a magical Fiesta says most of the tourist.
  • Join the large and busy local market at Sinatma.
  • Spotting mummies at Kurulu Village.
  • Guide is needed to explore the valley
  • Dont forget to bring the copy of your Surat Keterangan Jalan
  • Best time to visit is between March and August
  • If you travel during the rainy season, be prepared with cold weather equipment
  • Ask your guide about Dos and Donts in the Baliem Valley

Foreigner must obtain a travel permit letter or known as Surat Keterangan Jalan to get the access into the interior part of Papua. You can obtain the Surat Keterangan Jalan at main town police station such as Jayapura, Merauka, Timika, Biak, Nabire, Monokwari and other main city. The permit of lasts will depend on your request, from 1 week until 1 month or even longer. Please prepare copies of your passport, recent photograph and list of places you wish to visit. Its easy to get the Surat Keterangan Jalan, because the officers are friendly and helpful.

You can ask your travel agent to arrange the Surat Keterangan Jalan.
Further Reading:
www.papua-adventures.com

Related Article :

 

Riau

Riau, which includes a large part of East Sumatra, is homeland to Malays and the source of Indonesia’s Malay-based national language. The first book of Malay grammar, called Bustanul Katibin, was written and published here in 1857...read more

 

Museum of The Asian-African Conference

The Asian-African Conference which was held on 18th to 24th April 1955 in Bandung gained a big success both in formulating common concerns and in preparing operational guidance for cooperation among Asian African Nation as well as in creating world order and world peace......  more.

 

The Famous Indonesian Artistic House "Rumah Gadang" From West Sumatera

Rumah Gadang is one Minangkabau's symbol, the most common housing forms have traditionally been wooden and raised on piles, built of locally gathered materials, with steeply pitched, roofs. ...... read more

 

Padang, West Sumatera, Indonesia

Since the 16th century Padang has been a trade centre. During the 16th and 17th centuries pepper was cultivated and traded with India, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. In 1663 the city came under the authority of the . ...... read

Refreshing Maninjau Lake

Maninjau Lake West Sumatra, is one of the most splendid lakes in Indonesia. This volcanic lake is situated more or less 461 meters above sea level. This lake, 100 m2 in size with the maximum depth of 500 meters, is associated with a legend. ...... read more

Mentawai Island : the Ultimate Diversity of th Hidden Paradise

 Located in the middle of Indian Ocean, 150 km and takes 9 hours trip from Padang, West Sumatra-Mentawai glowing with all the nature spirits and make it an extraordinary escaping spot from a hectic life.  ...... read more

 

The Mystery of Roman Figure “iiii” on Gadang Big Ben, West Sumatera

Icon Big Ben not only exist in England, but Indonesia also have it. While in England called Big Ben, in Indonesia, placed in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, well known with Jam Gadang. It was constructed on 1926 by architect named Yazin and Sutan Gigi Ameh,..... read more

 

Bukittinggi, West Sumatera

The town of Bukittinggi (lit: “High Hill”) lies at the centre of the Agam valley-one of three valleys which together form the Minang heartland. While Padang is the modern commercial, educational and administrative centre of the province,.........read more

 

Indonesia Diving, Raja Ampat Island "The incradible reef and fish"

Raja Ampat Island is the most western district of the Indonesian province of Papua. Raja Ampat consists of an area surrounding four major island off the western coast of Birds Head Paninsula of New Guinea Island..........read more

 

Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi-Land of The Heavenly Kings

The road from Makassar or Ujung Pandand to Toraja runs along the coast for about 130 km's and then hits the mountains. After the entrance to Tana Toraja you enter a majestic landscape with giant gray, granites and stones and blue  ..........read more

 

Back to Basic in Baduy

Imagine a peaceful place, surrounded by verdant atmosphere. Sound of nature the rustle of the wind amidst the bamboo leaves, the chirping of the birds, the faint rush of the river. Baduy village, located in the hills of Kendeng mountain, about 75 kilometers southward from Rangkasbitung, West Java,  ..........read more

 

Jakarta, Indonesia

Jakarta, also Djakarta, formerly Batavia, capital and largest city of the Republic of Indonesia, centrally located within the country on the northwest coast of Java Island at the mouth of the Liwung River. Batavia, as the city was called by the Dutch, was the capital of the Netherlands Indies for most of ..........read more

 

East Kalimantan

East Kalimantan is at present the most industrially advanced province of the island and the second largest province in Indonesia. It is also the home of the original inhabitants of Kalimantan, the Orang Gunung or Mountain People.......read more

 

 

Copyright @ 2008 hacquet

Contact us | Sitemap | Disclaimer

Website : www.visit2indonesia.com