Jayawijaya Mountains

Jayawijaya Mountains

The Jayawijaya Mountains are the centre part of the Western Central Mountain Range in New Guinea. It is enclosed by the Sudirman Mountains (Snow Mountains) in the west and by the Star Mountains in the east. In the north and south it is enclosed between two giant lowland areas. Some mountains have imaginable names like Mount Goliath (Peak Yamin, 4595 meter), Mount David (4581 meter). The highest peak of Jayawijaya is Mount Trikora (Peak Wilhelmina, in the former Oranje Mountains), with 4730 meter the second largest peak of New Guinea and snow covered. North from this mountain is Lake Habbema, the largest lake in this area. In the centre of the area, east from Mount Trikora, is an important area for the region: the Baliem Valley. It was rather recently discovered (1936) by coincidence by a mail aircraft and appeared to have a self supporting agricultural system of high standard, without having contact with the civilized world. Now many modern western technics are introduced as well as many new vegetables and crops. The Baliem Valley is a wide flat valley at an altitude of 1500 meter. In the valley itself is no primary vegetation left, most of it is cultivated or are small secundary forests and bushes. The most important town is Wamena which is growing fast with all consequences of a civilized city, like polution, noise and busy traffic.

Another disadvantage of the modernization of the Baliem Valley is the decrease of traditional habits and culture. The koteka, the traditional penis covers, and the wear of the males and females, as well as the traditional housing, are disappearing fast in the Baliem Valley. Somewhat further from Wamena they can be found almost unchanged in the mountain villages of the Dani and Yali, the local tribes in the Baliem Valley. In Wamena some souvenir sellers force themselves in overdone and fake "traditional" wear, selling products and souvenirs which they never used or had originally. It is of course all part of the process of civilization, but it is a pity that this is happening.

WEEKEND

A TOUR ON SATURDAY

On Saturday, we students of wta class from IALF in Bali paid a visit to some tourist attractions at the weekend.

Before ten o’clock, we gatuered in front of the IALF and a small bus was already in there. We started from IALF at ten o’clock. We went to Taman Ayun Temple in Mengwi and arrived there at about 10.45. There we took some pictures then went around to see the sight.

At about eleven o’clock we continued the trip to a mountain village in Bedugul. Before arriving in Bedugul we stopped by for lunch at Saras Restaurant. All along the road in Bedugul we saw very beautiful landscape.

When we arrived at the area at lake Bratan in Bedugul, we took photos again and on the way to Singaraja, we saw many monkeys and also we saw two lakes. After that we went to Tanah Lot in Tabanan. Before arriving in Tabanan we stopped at rice terraces. There was very beautiful panorama.

We arrived at Tanah Lot at four o’clock p.m. We took pictures and we saw a holy snake and holy water in Tanah Lot Temple. Our stay on the beach was delightful. There we stayed to look at the sunset while we were drinking coke and eating snack. After that we returned by bus to Denpasar.

Written by R. tammubua

MY FRIEND

DARMAJI, THE EDUCATOR

His name is Darmaji. You just call him “Pak Darmaji”. He’s a Mathematics teacher. He was born in July, 1966 in a town from East Java Sidoarjo. He has a brother and a sister.

He has been appointeday a teacher at SMA Negeri 1 Serui since 1990. He got married in 1998 to his wife Faridah. He has two daughters. His hobbies are listening to music and sport. He loves playing computer and playing badminton.

He always goes to school at a seven o’clock and finishes working at about two o’clock. He always works hard and he’s a responsible person.

There’s a programme of “Dinas Pendidikan dan Pengajaran Provinsi Papua”, Darmaji was selected to be a student teacher of SBI. Now, he is studying English for six months at IALF Denpasar Bali before goig to Australia for training.

Written by R. Tammubua

Harapan

bahwa sesungguhnya kemerdekaan itu ilah hak segala bangsa.