KING Ampat in West Papua province, which fell like a small paradise on earth. Indeed such a stunning beauty who has always been touted in a number of promotions.
The sea is crystal clear with thousands of fish in coral reefs can easily be enjoyed from the top of the ship, a dream of many people to be able to cruise in one of the provinces in the farthest eastern tip of Indonesia.
Raja Ampat in West Papua province commonly called "bird's head" has an area of 46,108 square kilometers, and almost 80 percent of which are marine. Long beaches reach 4,860 kilometers. However, only about 60,000 inhabitants in 35 islands of which there are 610 islands. The population is spread over 98 villages and 17 districts. Local population consisted of 10 tribes that have primary livelihood as a fisherman.
Since the trip with a fast boat for 2 hours from the Port of Sorong to Raja Ampat Waisai, eyes have been spoiled with sea blue nan and labor. The scenery is more stunning once entered the Raja Ampat. Although the average air temperature of 45 degrees Celsius, no reason not to try out the local sights that surrounded this coral island chain.
The origin of the name of Raja Ampat by local myth comes from a woman who found seven eggs. Four grains of which hatch into four princes who separated and each became king ruling in Waigeo, Salawati, Misool Misool East and West. Meanwhile, three other eggs became a ghost, a woman, and a stone.
In the course of history, the Raja Ampat region has long been inhabited by the nobility and apply the customary system of Maluku. In this system, a set of human society. Each village is led by a king. Since its founding five Muslim sultanate in the Moluccas, Raja Ampat became part of the Sultanate of Tidore claims. After the defeat of the Dutch Empire Tidore, Raja Ampat Islands became part of the Dutch East Indies claim.
Raja Ampat Islands society generally traditional fishermen who resided in small villages are located far apart and different islands. They are a friendly community receive guests from outside, especially if we bring a souvenir for them in the form of nut or candy. This stuff becomes a sort of 'peace pipe indian' in Raja Ampat. The event chatting with nut eating also called "Para-para Pinang" often take turns throwing each other mob, the local term for funny stories.
They are Muslims and Christians and often within a family or clan members who are embracing one of the two religions. It makes the people of Raja Ampat remain in harmony despite different beliefs.
Raja Ampat Islands is a place that has the potential to serve as a tourist attraction, especially diving tour. Raja Ampat Islands waters according to various sources, is one of the 10 best waters for diving sites around the world. In fact, it may also be recognized as number one for the completeness of underwater flora and fauna at this time.
Dr. John Veron, coral experienced experts from Australia, for example, in a site it is revealed, the Raja Ampat Islands are located in the most western tip of New Guinea, about 50 miles northwest of Sorong, has the best reef areas in Indonesia. Approximately 450 species of coral had been identified during the two weeks of research in that area.
A team of experts from Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, and the National Institute of Oceanography (LON) Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) have done a quick assessment in 2001 and 2002. As a result, they are noted in these waters there are more than 540 types of hard coral (75% of the total species in the world), more than 1,000 species of reef fish, 700 species of mollusks, and the highest record for gonodactyloid stomatopod crustaceans. It makes 75% of the world's coral species in Raja Ampat is located. None of the places with the same area has a number of coral species as much as this.
There are several areas of coral reefs are still very good condition with the percentage of live coral cover by 90%, namely in the Dampier Strait (the strait between the island and the island Waigeo Batanta), Kofiau islands, archipelagic Southeast Misool and Wayag Islands. Types of coral reefs in Raja Ampat is generally fringing reef with gentle slope to steep contour. But it was also found atoll type and type of scorched or taka. In some places, such as village Saondarek, when the lowest tides, coral reefs can be seen without a dive and with his own adaptation, corals can still be alive despite being in the open air and direct sunlight.
Unique species that can be encountered when diving is some kind of dwarf seahorses, wobbegong, and Manta rays. There are also endemic fish Raja Ampat, namely Eviota king, which is a kind of fish gobbie. At Manta Point which is located in the Dampier Strait Arborek, you can dive in the company of some tail Manta Ray is benign like when you dive in Derawan Islands, East Kalimantan. If diving in Cape Kri or Chicken Reef, you could be surrounded by thousands of fish. Sometimes a collection of tuna, giant trevallies and snappers. But stressful if we are surrounded by a collection of barracuda fish, even though it is relatively harmless (which is dangerous if we see barracudas solitary or alone). Reef sharks are also frequently seen, and if you are lucky you can also see turtles were quietly eating sponge or swim around you. In some places, such as Salawati, Batanta and Waigeo also seen Dugong or sea cow.
Because the area is many islands and narrow straits, then most of the dive at any given time has a strong current. It is also possible to do a drift dive, dive while following the strong currents with very clear water while breaking through schools of fish.
Visiting these islands is not too difficult although it takes time and considerable cost. We can use the airlines from Jakarta to Sorong via Manado for 6 hours flight. From Sorong-town big enough and quite complete facilities for exploring the Raja Ampat-there are two choices, go on tour with a boat phinisi or stay in the resort of Papua Diving. Although most tourists who come to Raja Ampat right now is the diver, in fact this location also attracts many tourists due to non-divers also have white sandy beaches are very beautiful, a cluster of karst islands nan fascinating and unique endemic flora and fauna like paradise red, paradise Wilson, maleo Waigeo, various parrots and parrot, possum Waigeo, as well as various types of orchids.
There are a number of accommodation and facilities are quite complete in Misool Island, ranging from jasmine-class accommodation, homestay in people's houses, to stay in super luxury resort and holds the exclusive management rights over an uninhabited island and (seem) personal.
The most prominent and an icon of Misool Island and an area of approximately 2,034 km ² is the existence of Misool Eco Resort. This place is one resort that holds the right to manage the business of tourism in Raja Ampat. Not just run ecotourism, Misool Eco Resort also runs conservation programs that are committed to the preservation and utilization as ecotourism. This limits Resort guests only for 32 people.
Misool Eco Resort is managed by Andrew Miners together his wife, Marit, and a number of core staff consisting of local residents and foreigners who are committed to protect and revitalize not only the environment but also the surrounding communities. In business ecotourism on the island of Misool,
besides constructing supporting infrastructure and world-class accommodations for the convenience of tourists, Misool Eco Resort also runs the concept of nature conservation in various ways and in various fields. Among them is a region establishes No-Take Zone area of 1220 km ² of fishing activities especially using dangerous tools and other activities that are considered to threaten the ecosystem environment.
