Travel Answers

Hello everyone! I am going to Sorong for few days and wondering if you could recommend where i can have a good and relaxing body treatment as a massages, facial, hair cut etc. And also good hotels plus night life!!I am working on busy motor yacht and do not have any time to spoil my self and no social life either if anyone can help me with any suggestion i would appreciate it! Many thanks and happy days!!!

Hello VTers My wife and I are considering making a two week trip to Sulawesi and Papua. Could you let me know your thoughts on the itinerary below...don't hold back...you always have great insight and ideas... Thanks. Day 01 Arrival at Hasanuddin Airport Makassar. Set out for a drive to Tanjung Bira. On the way visit Bissappu waterfall in Bantaeng. At Tana Beru see Traditional Perahu construction. Day 02 Island trip (Liukang Island or Ara Island) depends to the weather, using local boat. Then back to Bira. Day 03 Transfer to Sengkang. Visit the museum of Andi Mapasissi then go to catch the sunset over the Lake Tempe. Cross the lake by motorized canoe and visit the fisherman families who do live on the floating villages. Day 04 Visit silk factory, then transfer to Tana Toraja via Palopo. In the afternoon arrival in Rantepao. Day 05 Exploring Toraja. Visit Lemo to see rows of Tau Tau statues and the hanging graves. Onwards to Suaya to discover the secret of the Baby Tree. Also visiting today Londa, to see an ancient grave where the deceased are entombed. At Kete Kesu one of the oldest Torajan villages see Tongkonan, and old rice barns. Day 06 Trip to Batutumonga enjoying views over Rantepao and surrounding valleys. Walk along the rice fields and the daily Torajan live. Also visiting Pallawa, Sa’dan. Day 07 Transfer back to Makassar. A coffee-stop at Puncak Lakawan to enjoy the view. Lunch at a seafood restaurant in Pare-Pare. Go to hotel. Day 08 City Tour of Makassar, visiting the Old Dutch Fortress Rotterdam and Paotere Anchorage the Buginese boat harbor. Onwards transfer directly to Hasanuddin Airport Makassar to catch flight. DAY 09 : JAYAPURA ARRIVAL CONNECT TO WAMENA Arrival at Jayapura airport, then to Wamena. After arrival explore the area and Napua Hills with its panoramic view of the valley, Wesaput village and its traditional hanging bridge, some Dani villages and a traditional market. DAY 10 : WAMENA - SOGOKMO - KURIMA - WAMENA Drive in 35 minutes to Sogokmo village and start to have a day trek for about 4-5 hours through Dani sweet potatoes gardens until we get to Kurima the sub-district. Then heading back to Sogokmo where the cars pick us up to Wamena. DAY 11 : WAMENA - KIMBIM/PYRAMID - WAMENA Drive to Western part of Baliem Valley to exploring the way of life of Lani people. Before we do a short trekking to Lani villages, see local market first at Kimbim. Then proceed to Pyramid. Then drive back. DAY 12 : WAMENA - JIWIKA (Pig Feast and Dance) - WAMENA Drive 30 minutes to Jiwika in the Northern part of Baliem valley to see the 250 years old Mummy. Then walk 10 minutes to village of Anemoigi to view the Dani Mock battle and Pig feast. Then visit the Mili Mountain to see how the Dani women make a salt in the traditional way. DAY 13 : WAMENA - JAYAPURA Flight back to Jayapura. Sightseeing tour including Mac Arthur 2nd World War monument, Sentani lake by long boat to visit Assey and Ayapo villages how the Sentani tribe make the bark painting. Visit he Anthropology museum then Hamadi market & Jayapura city. DAY 14 : JAYAPURA - Home Any opinions? Is it ok? We are missing the Koroway tree people cause my wife is not a mosquito bug person and the trip is a bit too adventurous. Is this itinerary advisable...any good???

Hello, I' m going to Sorong for dive-safari. And for my international flights and dates of safari fits only flights by Express airline company. Has anyone flown with this company? How I can get in touch with them (ask,because they do not have an online-booking system or even e-mail address on their site)??? If you know any other good airline company, which flies from Manado to Sorong, please, tell about them. Thanks in advance! =)) Lyolya

Is there a "Seasonal" time to travel to Pulau Empat & Sorong ie floods weather wise etc We want to travel this April - 15 - 22nd 2011

Hi, I live in Jakarta and speak some Indonesian. I have some questions about the best way to book flights in Papua. Regarding charter flights from Wamena to other airstrips in Papua province via AMA (or other airlines that do charters). a) I think the most reliable way is to charter an entire plane. But I've also heard that if there are extra seats that no Papuan person is taking, then a tourist/foreigner can "charter" those individual seats. Is this true? If it is, I assume that it is very unreliable to do so, because I would guess that such available seats are rare and unpredictable, and it is unclear to me whether they can even be booked in advance or if it would always be like a "standby". b) How do you actually book a charter with AMA, etc? Can I do it myself? Or do people recommend using a guide/agent/broker to do it? Can it be done over the phone or only in person? c) Is it possible to pay AMA via bank transfer, or only cash? d) How far in advance can/should this be booked? e) Can anyone share the prices that they paid for specific routes? Thanks

Hi to all! The security situation in Sulawesi and Papua according to various governmental travel advice offices, is terrible and almost make you not want to go, while travellers have reported a better situation. If anybody has a good idea about how things are going this period, I would be greatfull to know My plan is to travel around about a week in each island, solo and budget, so with public transport as much as possible (hoping it is possible), and stay at simple places, which might expose a backpacker to some more possible danger, instead of staying in expensive hotels with security, private transport etc, which is not my case. I'm thinking also to enter overland from Indonesian Papua to P. New Guinea, but governmental advice from western countries, try to keep travellers away, too! Many thanks guys Nik

Hi all, I am planning a 5 day trip to western papua from 14-19th August, realised all package tours are very expensive. Could anyone guide me on how do it on the cheap, want to see the tribes in baliem valley? Thanks.

Is it possible to rent a boat to explore Raja Ampat islands independly and if so what would it cost? Thanks for any help

Hi, I am planning to stay on a liveaboard from Nov 9th on, cruising around Raja Ampat for diving, leaving from Sorong. The week before I would like to travel around Papua, focus on native tribes, local markets and trecking; no focus on bird watching ;o) Bookable trips are mostly private tours starting from 2 PAX, thus I am looking for somebody to join. Anybody interested? I am 38 years, female and German. email: alex@redhardt.de Cheers!

! Baliem in West Papua, anyone to travel together? I am planing to trek about 10 days in Baliem Valley in the highland of West Papua. Would anyone wanna join me? I am reaching there on 27th April. email me at: stephen.x.zhang at gmail.com

I am trying to arrange a trekking trip to the Yali area of West Papua in October/November 2009 for about 14 days. Most of the sites I have looked at require a minimum or 2 or 4 travellers and as I am on my own I'm looking for anyone else who might be interested to get in touch. Aiming to meet up in Jakarta/Jayapura. Chris Wiper, male, Scotland

I am planning a trip to Papua (and Toraja, because the flight from Jakarta makes a stop in Makassar anyway). I have heard that it's not the safest place for a solo-female traveler, so I am looking for travel partner(s). Since I only have a week to spend in Papua, my main destination is Baliem Valley. Helpful information are highly appreciated! Ellin

The mother of all Nickel Mines is being developed here. Has anyone been to the island or near the area and can tell me anything about the environment, infrastructure, wildlife? Anything would be appreciated.

Hi, Does anybody have experience or advise about travelling in Papua as a woman, alone... Is this safe? thanx

Hello! I am hoping to spend two and half weeks in the Baliem Valley area starting July 13 or so, would anyone like to join me on a trek? Also, do you have any suggestions on specific guides, locations to visit, and safety for solo women travelers? Thanks so much! Jenny

I am really setting my goals to visit Irian Jaya (landing in Jayapura and exploring scenery round Wamena) but I would appreciate your help. First I wonder does anybody has a contact of good guide? I would love to do 4-5 day trek into the mysterious area of Papua province. Antimalaric pills are strongly recommended but there I wonder again which one are the strongest and best (I would really like to avoid health problems during my stay there). If you have any addition information about this area please let me know. I am planning of going there round 15th on June this year for few weeks. Truly hope to experience something new, friendly and most adventure. Beside trekking round Wamena I will do scubadiving round Manado and then return home. Thanks for any help. Enjoy, Glorija

Maybe going to this area in Sept 2008. Has anybody good tips on the Arfak Mountain area or the Cendrawasih Marine Park? And Nusi Island, off Nabire? Remote obviously but are they worth the time and cost to get there?

Hi, does anybody know if it is possible to fly from Brisbane or Cairns to Jayapura? I am wanting to do this trip soon. Thanks.

Anyone know how long it takes to get from Wamena to Dekai in Papua or vice versa?

I arrive in Jakarta on June 16th and need to fly to Jayapura on the same day or early the next morning. I know Garuda, Merpati and Batavia all fly to Jayapura, but will it be possible to buy my ticket as soon as I arrive in Jakarta or should I book it in advance? Thanks

Another question - I have heard rumours of fairly regular flights between Senggo and Merauke - does anyone know whether this is correct, and if so how much it costs and when it departs?

Yet another - does anyone know where I can get hold of a copy of the most recent Periplus guide to West Papua/Irian Jaya? or does anyone have one they want to sell? Thanks again

Does anyone know exactly what the process is for getting the surat jalan for Papua? what is required, where does one have to go, how long does it take and how much does it cost? thanks!

Papuans that speak Indonesian, do they usually speak Javanese or Bahasa? Am learning Bahasa for my upcoming visit to Papua but suddenly realised it may well not be what people actually speak!

Hello, In a couple of weeks a friend and me will be travelling through Indonesia and possibly Irian Jaya. We were thinking about taking a boat to go to Cape Horn Australia and preferably to Weipa. Our destination afterwards is Cairns. Has anybody has experiences with it? We don't mind working on a boat/cargo. Is it maybe a better plan to cross the border with Papua New Guinea and take a boat from there to Cairns? We're not looking for expensive flight tickets. In general, anybody worked before for shipping compagnies going from Indonesia to Cairns? I'm sure some travellers already did it before and I want to know about there experiences. Thanks a lot!

I'm looking for information on hospitals and medical care in Irian Jaya/West Papua. Any info about any medical care facilities available in the region would be of help. Also, any info on the availability of car hire in this region would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

I would have thought that the risk decreases with increasing altitude. And that most of the treks out of Wamena do reach high altitudes..Can you advise? What altitudes would we typically be expected to sleep overnight at, if trekking out of Wamena? As a side question, how much do these treks typically cost per person per day?

Has anyone been to Sorong and stayed there in a hotel or guesthouse. it needs to have western toilets and hot/cold shower. If the hotel also has a restaurant that would be cool, but is not necessary. I'd love to hear from you. Greetings from Cairns,Australia

Hello everyone Want to go to Jayapura but as far as I can see there is no flight to Wamena from Jayapura where finally I want to reach to the Bailem valley. Anyone have any idea please? Or any other way to reach there rather than flying? Thank you very much Emrah

A group of five people want to trek in southern Baliem to visit Dani. We want to organize trek by ourself (agencies very expensive). We have about 11 days in West Papua. Do anybody have experience on it? How did you feel about guides and porters in Wamena? Thanks very much, Mila and Asier mila_asier@yahoo.es