Feature: Indonesia's West Papua regency offers pristine natural wonders, tribal culture to explore

by Abu Hanifah

MANOKWARI, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Pristine jungles and nature in remote Indonesia's West Papua province are now opened for those who love adventure, trekking and outdoor activities in the wild, combined with local Papua tribes who are still practicing ancient traditional rites they passed on in generations.

Completing the award-winning diving spot in neighboring Raja Ampat, Tambrauw regency in the province offers compelling natural wonders in its less-traveled jungles and beaches, the sanctuary to rare birds, exotic animals and turtles for centuries.

All of those nature spectacles can be accessed to by scheduled flights from the province's capital of Manokwari and port city of Sorong to an airstrip in Tambrauw's district of Sausapor.

The Tambrauw forest in early morning is like a concert hall for myriads of birds inhabiting in the pristine forests around Sausapor and Miyah districts in the regency.

Numerous species of birds chirp in the early morning to start a day of their life, breaking the silence after the jungle's dark night with their beautiful natural sound.

This attraction can be reached in an hour drive from Sausapor with double-cabin SUV, the only vehicle capable to transport in the rough paths to the bird watch spot.

The rough trip to the spots is also an attraction for adventurous travelers. The SUV passes through extreme routes marred with fresh water rivers and mud.

The journey is not that tiresome as visitors can always see incredible mountain views at the backdrop of tall trees along the way to get there.

The one that attracts the most is the Paradise Bird which exclusively lives on the Papua Island whose shape happens to be like the bird itself.

Bird watchers are required to sit under the trees, wear dark clothes, stay silent to enjoy seeing the paradise birds doing their natural activities and hearing their beautiful chirping sounds in the wild.

Nico Johannes Nao, a guide in the Sausapor bird watch spot told Xinhua that Papua has 776 bird species, including the adorable paradise birds. Most of the paradise bird species are inhabiting in the pristine forest in Tambrauw regency, he added.

Other bigger birds like cockatoos, hornbills and a local bird called "cassowary" can occasionally be seen in the forest located in the lower ground in the afternoon. Inside Tambrauw's tropical rainforest, visitors can also see deers wandering in the wood.

Besides the paradise bird watch attraction, the West Papua's remote regency also offers another natural wonder as its Pacific Ocean-facing beaches are frequented by endangered leatherback turtles to hatch their eggs.

The regency claimed that the Jeen Womom beach in Tambrauw is the world's third largest place for the turtle species to hatch their eggs, after the ones in Papua New Guinea and Costa Rica.

"They came here in their annual migration, crossing the Pacific Ocean from California in the United States to find feeding ground in waters around Maluku's Kei Island. That water is the source of big jellyfish which is the leatherback turtle's favorite dietary," Head of Tourism Desk in Tambrauw regency Abraham Daniels Elias Mayor told Xinhua.

Each year, Tambrauw received at least 300 leatherback turtles which set their eggs in Jeen Womom beach that would hatch within six months.

Geographical terrain in Tambrauw also offers spectacular views that are rarely seen in other parts of Indonesia's vast territory.

Savannah hills and its distinctive waterfall have highlighted Tambrauw's exclusive attractions to be explored.

The Sontiri hill in Tambrauw's Kebar district has a high peak that can be accessed by SUV cars to the top. The hill has a perfect vantage point to view the picturesque mountainous terrain around the regency, the best place to watch sunset at dusk and stars at night.

Sits near the Sontiri hill is War Aremi hot spring site whose existence remains a mystery as there is no volcano in Papua. While research in the site continues, the place is frequented by domestic visitors to bath in mineral-contained warm water.

Traveling West to Tambrauw's Miyah district jungle, the beautifully standing tall Anenderat waterfall awaits to get the awe from visitors for its extraordinary appearance.

The natural 200-meter tall waterfall has seven stages, giving a jaw-dropping view for its visitors.

Locals around the waterfall built cabins for visitors, mostly foreign ones, to stay and blend with indigenous Papua tribes in their daily lives and learn ancient Papua traditions still being practiced today.

"We run the cabins for tourists, performing traditional Kafuk dance for tourist attraction. This tour business gives us a significant amount of additional money to finance our daily life here," Agustinus Mumu, a 32-year-old man who leads a tribal community in Anenderat waterfall told Xinhua.

Apart from those nature spectacles, Tambrauw also keeps remnants of tanks, fortress, warplanes, ships and heavy artilleries belonged to the Allied Forces used during the World War II.

Tambrauw is now carrying out massive infrastructure projects to develop the tourism sector, highly expected to quickly vibrate the economy in the province's third-largest regency populated by around 32,000 residents which used to rely on plantation and farming for a living.

Intense road works to ensure easier access to the remote regency have been conducted in the last few years as plans to develop electricity, telecommunication system and cottages have also been in place to facilitate the promising tourism sector there.