Raja Ampat, a district in Papua – Indonesia gives serious attention for its tourism. It has strength in the maritime and is supported by  natural richness, cultural interest, and the unique of its art.  For its 7th anniversary, the local government via tourism information center announces the Maritime Festival (Festival Bahari) on May 2 to 9, 2010. Waisai is the town chosen to carry out the festival.

In this event, some activities performed such as underwater photo contest, paddle boat race, diving, beach volley ball tournament, and cultural attraction from the local people and participants from other regency like Wakatobi.
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Raja Ampat Tourist Information Center explains that the local people will perform its traditional boat which is used to sail the ocean. Furthermore, they will show their custom to consume mangrove fruits. Many attraction that had not been performed will be shown for the first time to surprise the tourists.

Raja Ampat photo from www.gorajaampat.com

Waisai, that is about 3 hours boating from Sorong, has no accommodation for tourists yet. But, the government will provide live aboard as floating hotels to accommodate the visitors.

Raja Ampat photo from www.gorajaampat.com

Raja Ampat Maritime Festival is planned to be annual event to increase visitors. Currently,there are some festivals in Papua such as Festival Lembah Baliem in Wamena – Jayawijaya, Festival Asmat, Festival Kamoro in Timika, and Festival Danau Sentani (Sentani Lake Festival) in Jayapura.

Nias island on the western side of Sumatra is not an easy to reach destination. To come there, the difficulty level is high enough. However, there many ways to Nias. From Medan, there are two airlines – Merpati Airlines and Riau Airlines – which fly over this route every day. From Padang, Riau Airlines also are scheduled to fly to Gunungsitoli. The attractions to see in Nias are on the subject of cultural heritage like Lompat Batu, the traditional houses and one worthy place, the Museum.

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Under the BPPI (Indonesian Heritage Preservation Board), the Museum Pusaka Nias (MPN) has completely accurate collection to study the life of previous civilization in the area. Incredible! MPN is special not only because of the complete collection, a lot, and valuable, but also its setting in a good way. This museum is not like a warehouse  storing old items that are not managed well with damp room.

Museum Pusaka Nias has a collection of valuable heritage that is very complete. Everything is displayed in a systematic and considered beautiful. The most valuable collections in the MPN was higher buildings models of traditional houses from various regions of the island.

Nias Heritage Museum pioneered by Johannes Hammerle, a priest of the Capuchin Order from Germany, who had served 35 years and residing in Nias. Father Johannes had already written several books about theethnological of  Tano Niha  (Land Nias) and Ono Niha (the Nias).

The picture on above is a tiger figure that is used in the ancient believe of  Maenamölö people in Southern Nias. “n ancient time, according to Nias belief in Maenamölö region Southern Nias, sort of this statue was marched by many people and constituted a sacred rite once every seven or fourteen years. It’s thrown away in the river. They believed that all sins and violence they committed during the previous years would wash away together with tiger figure.”
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On another day, I was also able to visit in the South of Bawomataluo. Bawomataluo means the Sun City . This is an important tourist destination in Nias and is quite popular. The main tourist destination here is to see the king’s house that is very large in size, with “legs” from the large sized intact logs.

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To achieve this stone yard of the King’s house, we had to climb about 80 stairs of stone – as if we are going to the sun up there. The yard area was “fenced in” dozens of traditional houses.Kings House is the largest and highest. In front of the house there are two large pieces of stone, polished and carved on the edge – once used by the king as a seat to watch the show.

One of the most famous attractions is stone jump. Piles of stones about two-meters high is where a young man dressed in customary will jump over. There are some trained people who are and always ready to show these attractions. Paid, of course. If you’re smart enough to bargain, you can see it for just a hundred thousand Rupiahs or about ten US dollars for one jump. If your camera is not ready, then you must pay for another hundreds thousands Rupiahs. Typically, the jumper will always wanted to see your shots. Their standard comment: “Wow, this is less beautiful. You should shoot when I’m exactly on the rock. Yup, it’s just a persuasion so that they will get more money.

Nias House photo by vetanent

Not far from Bawomataluo, in Teluk Dalam district there is a known Sorake Beach. In the Lonely Planet it is stated as the surfers’ beach. This beach is beautiful, and the waves fulfill the qualification for surfing . Around the beach is available lodging facilities for the surfers who came from abroad.

Do not miss to visit the Hiliamaetaniha village in the this Teluk Dalam district. With funding from Muslim Aid that is channeled through BPPI, the houses in this village have been rehabilitated under the supervision of Father Johannes.
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Djarum Super Jakarta International Blues Festival 2009 will be held at Istora Senayan Jakarta on Saturday, September 7, 2009. The theme taken for this year is “Back To The Roots of All Music”.

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The Indonesian musicians that will perform are Gugun & Blues Shelter, Blues Train, Kiboud Maulana, Gigi, The Dance Company, The Changchuters. special performance from senior blues artist Yopie Item and two of his children Audy and Stevie Item, Bondan Prakoso and his father who is also a musician, Sisco, Abdee Slank, John Paul Ivan, and Rif’s vocalist, Andi.

International Stars from UK, USA, Australia, Dutch, Ireland, Thailand and Singapura are invited to perform on stages. Artists loke Jan Akkerman and Mike Wilgar will surely give great atmosphere on the show.

There will be four stages on the festival. The ticket costs IDR 100.000 or about US$10. It’s an affordable price to witness the world class blues festival in Indonesia.
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