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West Papua
 There
are places that you can visit around Jayapura - capital city
of West Papua. The Museum Loka Budaya is at the Cendrawasih
University. Abepura (between Jayapura and Sentani) is the
best place for ethnographic pieces and Asmat arts from the
Rockefeller Foundation. Danau Sentani is one of the biggest
lakes and you can cross to the Apayo island, where local people
make bark paintings. For wood carvings and rock paintings,
you can stop by at Doyo Lama Village. The Baliem Valley is
the home of the Dani, Lani and Yali tribesmen, it takes a
45 minute flight from Jayapura. Dani and Lani are very close
to each other. They have the same laguage, but different dialects.
The Yali tribesmen live far from the two tribes
in the rugged terrain. They have their own language, which
is very different with the Danis or Lanis. It takes a five
day trek from Wamena, the one and only town in Baliem valley.
The famous Asmat tribesmen live in the harsh environtment
on the south coast of West Papua. This etchnic group are fishermen
and carvers. Asmat means street or wood people. Every year
they conduct the Sago Larva feast. Recently the local government
of West Papua, together the tourist office, started the yearly
art and culture festival in the fisrt week of October, to
support and maintain Asmat art and culture. Beside traditional
dancing during the festival Asmat woodcarvings are sold.
Photo by : Ministry of Culture and Tourism
of Indonesia |
