Traveling around the traditional market of Manokwari

Planning a trip to Papua? What tourist destinations will you visit? What flight will bring you to this tropical island? It's easy to answer these questions. Just go to Google and type such keywords as travel deals in Papua, or tour package and hotels in Papua, the search engine will give many links that will be useful for you to arrange your trip to this second largest island in the world after Greenland.

At Wosi market of Manokwari, a Papuan lady was selling flowers from Anggi of Arfak mountains

In my today's travelogue journal, I am going to tell you my story about the traditional market of Manokwari. It is just an ordinary market, similar to other traditional market which you've ever visited before.

I visit this market at least once a month to have my hair cut. This is actually not a tourist attraction but it is an interesting place to visit due to its vital function for the economy of the whole town. Experienced travelers will definitely visit the market.

A fish seller was talking with a Dutch girl in traditional market of Sanggeng in Manokwari city

I just visited the market a few hours ago. At the entrance of the market, I saw some barbershops. Most of the barbers came from Madura island of East Java. They charged Rp. 25,000 per person no matter how long or how short my hair was. This kind of business was very profitable for migrant workers who had come to Papua to realize their Papuan dream, a similar term for American dream.

After having my hair cut, I continued my tour to the inner part of the market. The second row of the building was kiosks of clothing. Here, I could see migrant, mostly Buginese and Makassarese sell T-shirts, jeans and many kinds of men's and women's clothing. Although I liked the style of jeans and T-shirts that they were selling, I didn't buy any. I didn't bring enough money at the time.

Then, I walked down the stairs to the vegetable vendors. It was located right in the middle of the market. Here, most of the vendors were local Papuan, and the Javanese transmigrants. Many kinds of vegetables and tropical fruits are sold here in prices that were very cheap. This was the place where I took some pictures. Bananas, mangoes, avocado, sugarcane, jackfruit and various kinds of tropical fruits were sold. Foreign travelers should bargain before buying anything at the traditional market.

The terminal of the public transportation was located next to the vegetables and fruit stalls. Actually, there were many other stalls which I had not visited. There were kitchen equipment kiosks and food court and fish market. The weather was hot and the market was very crowded. I decided to return home. by Charles Roring

Also read: 

• Birding Tour in Tangkoko, Lake Tondano, Tomohon, Mount Mahawu, Sonder's Forest and Tincep's Waterfall
• Birding in Farmland of Minahasa Highland
• Birding in Sonder of Minahasa Regency
• Birding in Sonder's Forest and Farmland
• Minahasa Highland Tour: Hiking, Birding and Sightseeing
• Sightseeing Tour from Manado City
• Birding and Butterfly watching Tour from Manado city

Traveling Across the villages of Sonder in Minahasa Highland

Minahasa Highland is a highly recommended destination for nature lovers. Visitors could travel to Tomohon town to see various colourful flowers or go hiking to the top Mount Mahawu to see its crater and enjoy birdwatching along its slopes. 

Butterfly and flower garden in Tincep village

Another interesting destination is Subdistrict Sonder. It is a small subdistrict town of Minahasa regency in the Republic of Indonesia. It is surrounded by farmland, and forest.  It is a highly recommended destination fo visitors who are interested in nature, and culture. 

Most of local villagers work as farmers. They grow food crops such as rice, corn, sweet potatoes, red beans, carrots, peanuts, and etc.

Farmland and rice field in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa regency

People in Tincep village grow beautiful flowers in front of their houses. The flowers are sold to Manado city and other towns in North Sulawesi.

There are two or three waterfalls near Tincep village. I recommend that tourists visit Tincep to see those beautiful flowers, rice fields and waterfalls, travelers can enjoy white water rafting in Timbukar village. Don't forget to wear life jacket when you get into the boat.

Manado city - the capital of North Sulawesi Province in Indonesia. It is the flight destination for tourists who want to explore Minahasa highland. 

Minahasan people are full of smile and laughs. They like singing folk songs, playing music as well as drinking saguer. For this drink, many tourists who travel to this region say that the refined one is strong enough to make you hang over the next day before continuing your trip. When saguer has been fermented and distilled, the end product is called Cap Tikus. Its alcohol content is probably higher than whiskey. 

So, don't drink too much if you plant to leave the village early in the morning. If you still have time, you can take a short trip to Leilem to see how the local craftsmen make furniture. 

Marine Tour in Bunaken Islands

Visitors could combine the trip to Minahasa highland with marine tour to Bunaken islands where they could enjoy sightseeing, swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving to see various species of tropical fish and other marine creatures.

If you are interested in visiting Minahasa land to see its villages and people as well as enjoy its beautiful landscape, please, contact me by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180.

Also read: 

• Wildlife Trip in Tangkoko and Minahasa highland
• Birding in Sonder of Minahasa regency
• Birding and Butterflywatching in Sonder of Minahasa highland

Traveling to Mansinam island of West Papua Province

My today's travelogue story is about Mansinam island. In my previous post, I mentioned a little about it. If you are interested in visiting it, you can fly from Jakarta, Manado, or Bali or Makassar to Manokwari. Contact your nearest travel agency if they have travel deals or tour package to Papua and Indonesia.

Mansinam island

Mansinam is famous for its status as the island of Papuan Christian civilization. This was where European evangelists landed for the first time in Papua or formerly known as the Netherlands Nieuw Guinea to preach Gospel to the indigenous people. They were Otto (and his wife Wilhelmine Auguste Ottow (Letz)) and Geisler. They landed on the island on 5 February 1855. Two years later, a famous British naturalist, Alfred Russel Wallace, visited them during his expedition to the Netherlands New Guinea in search of paradise birds or burung Cendrawasih. Every tens of thousands of Christians come to this island to celebrate the Gospel Preaching Day. Pilgrims from every corner of Papua and other islands in Indonesia, as well as from Europe and the Pacific gather in Mansinam island  and Manokwari city for a week long celebration.

Mansinam is only a small island located in the middle of Manokwari bay. It is a very calm island and suitable for tourists who like to relax and stay away for a while from the hectic life of big cities. There are no motorcycles or cars. Most of the inhabitants of Mansinam island come from Numfor island. The surrounding scenery from Mansinam is very beautiful. From the island you can see Arfak mountain, the town of Manokwari and another nearby island called Lemon which is only several hundred meters away from Mansinam.

The natural beauty of the island is balanced by the natural beauty of the underwater coral reef environment. Eastward or at the back of the island there is colorful coral reef inhabited by hundreds of marine species.

During World War II, Papua was the battlefield between the Japanese and the US forces.  Japanese troops built bomb shelters along the island trying to defend Manokwari against the allied forces led by the United States, the UK, Australia and the Netherlands. Many ships were attacked or sunk by both parties. Therefore, scuba divers who like to explore shipwrecks can dive around the island to explore them. 

by Charles Roring 

Also read: 

• Minahasa Highland Tour: Hiking, Birding and Sightseeing
• Birding and Butterflywatching from Manado city
• Birding and butterfly watching in Sonder of Minahasa Highland

Traveling around the farmland of Minahasa

My travel story today is about going around the farmland of Minahasa. After arriving at Sam Ratulangie international airport and staying for one day in one of the hotels in Manado city, the next day, you will want to begin your tour around Minahasa highland. What place will you visit first? I will suggest that you go to Tomohon. It is not far from Manado, the capital of the Province of North Sulawesi.

Tomohon municipality is a small town located around 45 minutes drive from Manado. It is also called as Kota Pelajar or Town of Students. There are a lot of schools in this town. Here, tourists can enjoy the fresh cool air of the town and visit the traditional gardens the local farmers are working on. They grow vegetables such as cabbage, carrot, onion, cauliflower, and read beans. Many farmers also grow flowers. After taking pictures and talking with the farmers, you might become hungry. There are many restaurants along the Jalan Raya Tomohon serving local, Chinese and Western cuisines. Or you might want to go to all you can eat restaurants in Kasuang. It is not far from Tomohon. If you take bendi, you need around fifteen to twenty minutes to reach Kasuang. The price of food per one package of lunch is around 25,000 rupiahs. While you eat, local singers will sing songs. Sometimes they ask you to sing with together. For the drinks, there is a palm sap called saguer. When drunk cool, you will not only need one glass but at least three glasses.

Farmland in the slope of Mount Mahawu

After having lunch in Kasuang, you will have many options of places to visit. You can continue your trip to Tondano or travel to Sonder. In Tondano, you will be welcomed with vast area of paddy field scattered along the bank of Tondano lake. If you go to Sonder, you will be able to visit fish ponds along the river heading to Tincep village. Sonder is famous for its Terapung restaurant. The local farmers there grow clove, the raw material for Indonesian kretek cigarette. The clove blooms every one or two years depending on the occurrence of long dry season. Different from Tondano which is mostly of flat plain, Sonder lies on hilly region. There is a small inn in Sonder which you can stay for one or two nights before continuing your travel to other villages of Minahasa.

My recommendation to you will be Kawangkoan. It is located further south of Minahasa. Farmers here grow peanuts, corn and coffee. At the entrance gate of the village, you will be welcomed with a large statue of peanut.

If you continue your trip to Langowan, you will see farmers plowing their farmland with cow or buffalo. Many Langowanese migrate to the US. So, don't be surprised if you see American flag decorating many big houses there. Well, I think I should stop my story right now. I will continue it next time. 

Plan your next travel to Surabaya city

I don't travel very often. But when I have time I usually fly to Surabaya, the second largest city in Indonesia. Surabaya is famous for its malls, traditional markets and restaurants. Surabaya is the trading hub for East Indonesia region. It is also a transit city for travelers who want to go to Bali or Yogyakarta and Jakarta.

Traveling in Surabaya is easy because all places can be assessed by car. Most of the problems that are related to city life are the crowds and traffic jam. Usually traffic jam occurs early in the morning at around six to eight and in the evening at around five to seven.

So if you intend to travel around the city, choose the right time. Your travel guide or tour agency can set the most suitable hour and places to visit.

In my experienced when I traveled to Surabaya early this year, Singapore of Surabaya was the recommended place to eating out at night. It is located not far from Pakuwon mall. There travelers can enjoy the romantic night live of Surabaya. There are restaurants along the street which offer Indonesian, Chinese and Western cuisines.

Travelers can also enjoy shopping in Tunjungan Plaza, Delta Plaza or Galaxi and Pakuwon Mall. Personally I like to visit Tunjungan that is located in the city center. Most foreign travelers like to go to Galaxi mall. You can choose whatever shopping centers you are interested in.

After traveling around Surabaya, you can continue your trip to Malang and Batu where you can see the beautiful scenery of Mount Bromo. I will write about it later.

The best urban forest in Indonesia
Surabaya had got huge areas of green trees. Trees grow on both sides of the streets creating fresh and cool air. The mayor of the city has received award from the UN for her works in creating an environmentally friendly city in Indonesia. This was written by Charles Roring

Travel Story from Rambunan Village

My tour in Sonder villages was considered complete if I had traveled to Rambunan village. Many travel agency haven't provided tour package to this region. It is around one hour traveling by car from Manado, the capital city of North Sulawesi Province of Indonesia. After two days staying in Sonder, I continued my trip to that village. It is a special village that produce sugar from palm trees. Palm sugar is an important ingredients in South East Asian cuisines. Palm sugar is made by heating the sweet sap that has been taken from Aren palm trees usually in early the morning and at around 5.00 p.m. in the afternoon.

If you plan to travel Rambunan village, ask your tour and travel agency to arrange for a special trip to that village. The best time to visit it is during full moon period. At the time the Aren trees produce a lot of sap. The sap is sometimes fermented and distilled by farmers to make CapTikus. Cap Tikus or Sopi contains high percentage of alcohol. So, if you travel by riding motorcycle or driving a rented car, don't drink too much or you won't be able to return to your hotel.

Palm sugar from Rambunan is sold to local traditional markets in Minahasan towns such as Sonder, Kawangkoan and Tomohon. Some inter-island traders export it to West Papua, Maluku and even Eas Kalimantan. The quality of palm sugar from Rambunan village is the best in the world. The Minahasan people living in Rambunan have been making palm sugar from generations to generations. Although the process is done manually, the sugar they produce is always consistent with it taste. In addition, palm sugar from Rambunan village contains pure brown crystal. I recommend any travelers to buy some so that they use it later when drinking coffee or tea with dodol cake whose main ingredients are rice and palm sugar.

Similar to many other Minahasan villages, Rambunan village depends on agricultural commodities such as rice, clove, fruits, vanilla and corn. I like traveling to the villagers gardens and have parties with them there. Budget travelers can even arrange two or three days staying in such village to experience more about the village life and customs of the local people. This was written by Charles Roring.