Job Discussion Forums

[derya]

Hi

Has anyone been to jayapura?

If so can u plese give me some advice how it is like there? Where is the best place to be? Costs? Safety?

There is Baliem Valley festival held annually around mid-august, has anyone experienced this?

Any info., ideas, suggestions appreciated .

Thankx for ur time.

[guruengerish]

Hi. I flew over to Jayapura for my holidays from PNG some years back. It was a welcome relief to be able to go out at night and do some shopping in the pasar malam.

However, there is a huge problem with Javanese and other transmigrants who are looking for a quick buck, and they are not too subtle about how they get it. Even high school kids try to pick you up, and get a big surprise if they discover you speak Indonesian.

Spiking drinks was common, and one PNG friend of mine was drugged and lost everything. Be very wary.

As a foreigner, I was followed most days by plain clothes cops who looked like they came out of a Peter Sellars film. Old work clothes and brightly polished boots. I wasn't being paranoid - the locals warned me.

It's not the cultural centre of Indonesia by any means, but maybe getting out of town and following the beaten route to the Asmat tribes might be better.