The Lake Sentani festival is the 'Disney tour' option to experience West Papua. Overall it's a slightly sterile version of life in the region however it is an effective way of experiencing cultures you might never otherwise see. As part of the festival a crocodile is captured and slaughtered - if this offends you then don't attend. The festival itself is in its infancy and if you're visiting Papua around the time then it's well worth it but I can only give it 3* on the grounds that it's simulated rather than completely authentic.
A more authentic festival is the Baliem Valley festival which is reviewed elsewhere. From 2009 the Lake Sentani festival will be timed to support the Baliem Valley event and in combination is possibly the easiest way of experiencing tribal life in West Papua. The two festivals + visiting a Dani village (from Wamena) or two would be the most 'complete' way of seeing West Papua in a limited time period.
West Papua is also known as Irian Jaya although the name Papua or West Papua is more accepted by the locals and transmigrants are more likely to use either name. The main landing points for travel from elsewhere in Indonesia are Timika, Biak or the capital Jayapura. Jayapura is the hub for travel by land to Papua New Guinea or the short turbo-prop flight to the tribal area of Wamena. Wamena is the most famous area of Papua and is one of the few accessible traditional tribal areas. Tourists around here tend to be of the more 'hardy' type as it's not easy or cheap to get there and the quality of accommodation tends to be lower than average with hotel, food and certainly travel prices being significantly higher. Views around the Baliem valley and the island as a whole are spectacular. Internet access is difficult beyond Wamena; Jayapura has three Internet cafes although they have their problems and not all are always open or working. Power cuts can be very frequent as the area needs to import fuel to power a city-wide electricity generator (no power stations) and the supply is by boat so can be easily disrupted. There are also sometimes disruption to the supply of natural gas refills that can restrict the food available.
The locals can seem less friendly than Indonesians but that's simply because they aren't culturally Indonesians so it's essentially an unfair comparison. They may just stare at you and not talk, this is not being rude it's just their way of being curious; others may ask what feels like a thousand questions. It does seem that some people don't have a perspective of what's rude and what isn't so keep this in mind if someone is seemingly impolite.
Overall a great place unless you're on a tight budget or expect luxury on a budget.
One warning, some people drink far too much and can get very friendly. It's considered losing face to be overly friendly with drunk people and the drinks they have are often very toxic, often illegal and could make you very ill. Generally don't mention where you live or where you're staying unless you can welcome guests.
The rope bridge is one of the longest remaining rope bridges in the world. It's wobbly to walk across and it certainly feels like an achievement to get to the other side. Even locals can get a little nervous at times although it's reasonably safe. There's a museum at one end and fields at the other. Very photogenic area. Ask locally to check the museum opening hours.
You haven't seen Asia until you've been to Wamena. Wamena is the focal town of central West Papua and the hub for visiting villages in the region where you can see and meet traditional Papuans. Unless you're a tribal junkie this is likely to be a very unique experience.
Similar to London Eye the Singapore flyer provides spectacular views over urban Singapore. Bereft with problems following a few technical difficulties and a minor fire but worth a visit. Charge your camera!
A crowded area full of people going to and from Singapore. Quite a high crime area. People go here from Singapore for shopping and cheaper alcohol. Remember you can't legally bring alcohol from Malaysia to Singapore.
Spectacular ancient caves/temples cut into the cliff surrounding a scenic valley. More than just a few caves, the artwork is amazing and captivating. It's a whole day trip and is best seen AFTER the Ellora caves as the trip is much more relaxing.
'The moat' is a local nickname for a castle that sits in the Little Wenham village just outside of Capel St. Mary. The castle itself is well preserved but is privately owned and is not accessible. It's a great place for a short ramble through some country tracks. You will need to ask locals how to get there as it's not that obvious and isn't publicised. Very pretty and a great place for a romantic walk but not much else.
Legian beach is most famous for the Kuta sunset and for amateur surfing. The sunset is spectacular and the beach is simply the only place to see it. The best time is when there are a few broken clouds on the horizon. Remember to negotiate the price as much as you can. If something starts around 200.000 then the final price is probably about 30-40.000 for stubborn people and 80-120.000 for those less patient. Minuses are the amount of pollution in the (mostly plastics and used drinks cans and packets) and the incessant heckling of people trying to sell you things. The beach area around the Hard Rock Hotel is busier than further up the beach towards McDonalds, so if you want a bit more peace then go that way. Don't take more money with you than you need.
The Kailash temple forms part of the Ellora caves and is the main reason for visiting the area. It's a spectacular temple that has been painstaking carved out of a cliff over generations. It was only recently discovered and is among the most amazing and least known wonders of the ancient world. To give you an idea of its size think of the Parthenon in Athens and double the size, it's huge.
One of my favourite parts of Bali. The monkey forest is a must see but make sure you're not wearing anything loose and keep your camera safe! Mostly docile monkeys but some like to grab what they can - for this reason I advise that girls wear trousers!
I love this place. The most relaxed corner of London, from goths through to the excellent mulled wine. A great place to shop or to relax. Most of the shops sell goth/party wear, not so good for irregular sized clothing.
Connaught Place, Delhi & Surrounding Region, India
Added Oct 8, 2008
Typical chain restaurant. Helped me takea break from my trip around India. Cricket was on TV, proplr glued to the screens and a crowd outside the window. Matched international standards for TGI.
