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Travel Attractions in Manokwari Papua
In the previous article, I said that Manokwari is a
great tourist destination in Papua. Why is that? What can travelers see
when visiting this town? Of course my statement has good reasons. That's
why I am brave enough to promote Manokwari in this website. Okay, in the
following paragraphs, I am going to explain several interesting places
in this region which I have divided into three main areas, i.e. the
forest and the mountain; the city and its people; and the beach, the
island and its corals and shipwrecks diving site. Each of this travel
destination is explained as follows
The Forest and the Mountain
At the foot of Table Mountain (Gunung Meja) of Manokwari, there
is a cheap hotel. Its name is
Penginapan Kagum (click the link to find more information about it).
Foreign tourists like to stay there because besides it is comfortable
and affordable, it is located near the forest which they want to
explore. The tropical rainforest plays important role in the livelihood
of the Papuan people, it is the location where the indigenous people
find food, wood and art inspiration. It is also important because it
absorbs CO2 which is emitted by world citizens through their every day
activities.
Tall trees in the Table Mountain that is located near the city have been
the homes for rare and endemic Papuan birds such as the white kakatoe,
king kakatoe, hornbill, kingfisher, and etc. Various species of orchids
also thrive in the green trees. The forest of the Table Mountain that is
near the coastal areas are still full of wild animals such as soa-soa,
snakes, kuskus, and various other small birds. We can see a lof of
species of tropical plants living in this Table Mountain. There are many
plants that have medicinal properties that can cure diseases. The trees
and smaller plants also bear fruits that become the source of food for
all animals that live in the forest. If we walk through the jungle of
Table Mountain during the rainy season, we will be able to see various
colors and forms of
mushrooms. Wild flowers decorate the nature and
provide nectar to butterflies and small birds. Small streams leading to
the sea are good places where we can see fresh water fish, eels and
crabs. The trip inside the Table Mountain is an interesting and also
surprising journey because in several places we can see remains of
ancient giant clams and coral reef fragments that lived in the area
thousands or even millions of years ago. Because of the tectonic
pressure, the place that used to be at the bottom of the sea has been
pushed to emerge out of sea surface forming what is now called the Table
Mountain.
Therefore, the forest of the Table Mountain that is rich of plants and
animals is not only a perfect place for eco-tourism activities but also
for education purposes. There are several places in this area that has
natural caves. The caves are located in isolated places with only a few
local people know their existence. Inside the caves, we can see small
bats, lizards, and other small insects.
Manokwari Town and Its People
Manokwari stretches along the Dorey bay- the place where a British
naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace did his research in 1858. The town which
in the past was only a small village, has now turned into the capital of
West Papua Province and is experiencing rapid development. Here,
tourists can meet high talented artists. They manually weave clothes,
carve wood and make paintings or drawings about the natural scenery and
Papuan endemic animals and plants. Papua is rich of traditional dances.
Dancers are often called to perform in certain events in other cities
both in Indonesia and abroad.
Traditional music can be heard in public
transportation, and FM radios. If you want to buy VCDs of Papua music,
you can go to traditional market in Sanggeng, there you can buy all
kinds of Papuan, Indonesian and Western music as well. There are two
traditional markets in Manokwari town. They are Pasar Sanggeng and Pasar
Wosi. Here, tourists like to enjoy tropical fruits produced by local
farmers. Sometimes, hunted animals such as bats, boars, ground mouse,
and deer meat are sold by the indigenous Papuan in this markets. Fish
market is located some 100 meters away from the main market. At night,
eating places that provide all kinds of Indonesian food can be seen a
long the streets. Restaurants in the downtown provide various kinds of
food from Papuan to Javanese cuisines. Spicy Minahasan and Chinese foods
are also served. Seafood is available in most of the restaurants in this
coastal town.
The Beach, The Islands and The Coral Reef
Town dwellers like to go swimming at Pasir Putih Beach. Pasir Putih
means White Sand. It takes ten minutes ride to reach the beach from the
town center. Besides the Pasir Putih beach, there is also Amban beach
which is directly facing the Pacific Ocean. The waves are big enough for
surfing. Its sound can be heard at top of the Table Mountain area. In
the middle of the Dorey bay, there are three islands, Mansinam, Lemon
and Raimuti. Coral reef thrive around these islands. On 5 February 1855,
two European evangelists landed on this island to preach the Gospel to
the indigenous Papuan people. To honor these evangelists, a big cross
was erected there. The Dorey Bay is a great diving site. Its shipwreck
diving is popular in Indonesia and abroad. Some sunken ships can be seen
at the seabed around Mansinam and Lemond islands as well as the Pasir
Putih Beach. by
Charles Roring