Happy Birthday, Indonesia

Last year, I celebrated independece day in Mulia, Puncak Jaya regency, Papua. There were competitions, and it was a jolly moment where everybody seemed to have a good time. For me it was fascinating, because once and for all, no matter what skin color you have and no matter what ethnicity that runs through your veins, we're all Indonesian, and proud to be ones.

Happy birthday, Indonesia.

Mulia part 4 (Photos)

I guess one thing that should be grateful about being back home is the internet connection. 

It's fast and stable. And it's relatively cheap.

I can stream youtube whenever I want; I can download podcast and music album without having to wait till the midnight comes (because in Jayapura the speed is only reliable during midnight & dawn); I can enjoy vimeo (previously, I'm not a big fan of it because it streams damn slow in there); I can skype using video-call function without having a 'still' picture of your skype partner appears on the screen for minutes; I can torrent films which before was impossible, and I can upload photos swiftly without having to wait THAT long. 

Thus, being blessed with the abundant connection, I would feel rather crappy if I didn't start to upload photos from the recent months.

So here I present you, the photos of Mulia taken at my last trip there on November 2011. 

Relatives of my office's house owner from another village came to work and fix the foot path around the house. The man would smack large stones using hammer, then the women and kids would help to fetch the pieces and dispose them to the uncovered soils.

The Bridge (Video)

It was one cold November day when the colleagues and I took a walk around Mulia and passed this bridge.

For me, it was a challenging experience: to keep myself balance, while carefully watching my steps on those missing planks and gaps, and holding a camera trying to document it all.

All of us walked slowly yet painstakingly, while the local kids in front of me -who probably have known the bridge as the back of their hands- walked calmly eventhough he was carrying water jugs. 

Bravo kids!

Hello Mr. Parker, It's Me (Photos)

Momento

Happiness only real when shared -Into The Wild-

Only three months left in Papua, and I miss every inches of this land and its people already. 

The Neighbours (Photos)

Inside honai.

Mulia part 3 (Photos)

Forget Nintendo DS and PSP, Pipo Is Way Cooler! (Photos)

Another I thing I notice when I was in Mulia, is how often I see kids (mostly boys) carrying water hose attached together into round shape and a stick.

I asked to my friend and he didn't know the name of it. I've asked several others and they didn't have the answer neither. But then I met one kid and he said it's called Pipo. I don't know whether it's the real name for the game, or he just said whatever that came into his mind.

Pipo is played by rolling the hose and then the stick is used to move it to whatever directions.
If I may say, it's probably, the most popular game for kids in Mulia 😃

Visiting The Neighbour (Video)

The neighbour's honai used to be located in our office's lawn. But several months ago, they decided to move out to a bigger yard next to the office.

During one weekend, I went to visit them and they invited me to come inside their house.

FYI, honai is a traditional house of Papua. Specifically, it’s the typical house of highland community.

It’s made of wood and the roof is covered by sago palm leaves. There’s no tile whatsoever, you can only find earth or dried grass covering the floor. A fireplace is built in the middle of honai for cooking and also to keep the occupants warm at night.

Each honai is usually inhabited by several people, probably around 6 – 12. Men and women live in separate honai, eventhough generally little boys sleep with their mom.

Bakar Batu (Photos)

Sea of people

Spotted Again! (Photos)

Now I'm getting convinced that this is definitely a must-have item for women in Puncak Jaya!

Pleated skirt pleated skirt pleated skirt!

Bakar Batu (Video)

I was so grateful being able to witness the ceremony of Bakar Batu (Stone Burnt Party) when I was in Mulia.

As I told you on the previous post, the week I visited Mulia was the week of Yamo District’s GIDI Klasis meeting. The 4 days meeting went thoroughly, and to express gratitude, a Bakar Batu ceremony was set on the closing day (Oct 21).

It was a big scale Bakar Batu, and was attended by thousands of people from different villages. 
People have come to Mulia the previous day bringing crops. They stay at their relative’s honai to participate in the Bakar Batu.

Bakiak Competition (Photos)

Happy little feet

 The excited spectators

Now let the competition began!

At The Klasis Meeting (Photos)

I Woof You My Pink Fella

Summer Is Here (Photos)

The sun was burning that day, some kiddos decided to chill............. at the culvert.

Going for Bakar Batu (Video)

I planned to go home to Jayapura on Friday (21/10), but things went longer than predicted, therefore I stayed for couple more days. 

Lucky me, because I had the chance to see Bakar Batu or Stone Burnt Party. The Bakar Batu was held on Friday, to commemorate the closing of Klasis Meeting. 

The day before, I met a group of villagers in Wandenggobak. They were carrying noken containing vegetables, hipere (sweet potatoes), leaves, and gourds. They said they have walked tens of kilos to reach Mulia and attend the event.

Ugurage Boy & Kiron (Video)

Two boys I met after my visit to Wandenggobak.
On my way, I also met a group of villagers who were heading to the city.

The Sermon and Gospel (Audio)

My recent trip to Mulia fell on the same week when GIDI (Gereja Injili Di Indonesia/The Evangelical Church of Indonesia) of Yamo district held an annual Klasis Meeting.

The 4 days meeting was attended by hundreds (or maybe thousands) of church representatives from different villages. 

GIDI gives sermon in traditional Lani language. The gospel hymns are also in Lani, considering most of the congregations are Dani and Lani tribe. 

Priest Preaching by petitedevotchka
People singing by petitedevotchka

Little Missy and The Piglet (Photos)