teradesa.com The mind wanders and a beautiful picture comes to mind. The open sea with neatly arranged coral islands welcomes several dolphins that jump cheerfully. The blue sky combined with the beautiful ripples of the waves combing every white sand on the beach. The fresh air blowing in low tones guarantees the natural coolness of the green tropical forests. The sound of seagulls was beautiful as if singing and grateful for this amazing sight. From the water, a variety of beautiful colored fishes adorn the vibrant corals that dance gracefully. This is a real-life paradise on earth.
The descriptions of the beautiful places above are not dreams, they are real and they really exist. The Raja Ampat Islands, West Papua, Indonesia are the place. This archipelago on the northwestern tip of the island of Papua is widely known as a ‘gold mine’ for adventure enthusiasts. For divers inside and outside Indonesia, Raja Ampat is considered a paradise beyond words. The only way to prove these opinions is to come and experience this ‘pearl’ at the tip of Papua.
Raja Ampat is a regency and is part of the West Papua Province. To reach the Islands, one must first set foot in the city of Sorong. Usually, many tourists use flights to get to this city. After reaching Sorong city, we can use a kind of fast boat that usually sails twice a day to Waisai, the capital of Raja Ampat district. The trip will only take about 2-3 hours from the port of Sorong, until arriving at the port of Waisai Raja Ampat.
In general, Raja Ampat is an archipelago that consists of many coral islands and is widely spread throughout its territory. However, Raja Ampat has 4 main islands that are the largest, namely Waigeo Island, Batanta Island, Salawati Island, and Misool Island. These four large islands are the starting point for the entire population of Raja Ampat, most of whom work as fishermen. The water area is the main attraction of Raja Ampat, considering that Raja Ampat’s waters are one of the 10 best waters in the entire world. This is based on various studies on the richness of flora and fauna and the sustainability of Raja Ampat’s marine nature.
A report by an international conservation agency once stated that Raja Ampat’s waters contain around 75% of the world’s marine species. In fact, Raja Ampat’s 4.6 million hectares of sea and land are home to 540 species of coral, 1,511 species of fish and thousands of other marine life. Therefore, with these various advantages, it is no wonder that Raja Ampat is currently considered the most beautiful underwater paradise in the world.
Not only the richness of its underwater nature, Raja Ampat also has many interesting things on the surface of the sea. There are so many beautiful beaches scattered throughout the Raja Ampat archipelago. Generally, these beaches are white sandy and have a smoothness close to flour. In addition, there are many islands that form a series of high cliffs in Raja Ampat. In fact, some places such as Piaynemo, Kabui Bay, and Wayag have been famous all over the world before being known domestically. Tropical forests are no less interesting, and there are even some places like Sawinggrai village or Saporkrein village that offer an unforgettable experience of seeing birds of paradise up close. As we know, Cenderawasih is a rare and beautiful Papuan bird that is often referred to as the bird of paradise.
Raja Ampat is not finished with its natural wealth, but it also has a variety of cultures and arts that are very unique and interesting. Several villages in Raja Ampat have already established themselves as tourist villages, one of which is Arborek Village. The village, located on a small island, has a lot of arts, from traditional dances, Sinole food made from sago, to Arborek’s signature pandan leaf weaving crafts that have been passed down from generation to generation. Arborek Village is just one of many villages with its own uniqueness.
Many historical relics are also found in this archipelago that has ties to the sultanate of Tidore, Maluku. From some of its inhabitants who have the blood of the Tidore Maluku kingdom, relics of World War II, to caves with ancient human hand paintings are widespread in Raja Ampat. Learning about the uniqueness of Raja Ampat is endless, which is what makes this archipelago so successful today.
The natural, historical and cultural richness of the Raja Ampat Islands has amazed the world. Now Raja Ampat has become one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world, but due to limited access, it takes a lot of money to get there. However, there is no need to worry, Raja Ampat is increasingly improving itself by providing various facilities for all groups. Lodging in the form of resorts with expensive prices to small and cheap motels will be easily found in Raja Ampat. Travelers just need to be wiser in maintaining this beautiful archipelago so that its beauty can continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.
To conclude, the beautiful nature of Raja Ampat is inseparable from the legendary stories that have been believed for generations by all the indigenous people of Raja Ampat. It is said that the name Raja Ampat was taken from seven eggs found by an ancestral woman. Four of them hatched into four princes who would later become kings of the four large islands of Waigeo, Salawati, Batanta and Misool. The other four became ghosts, a woman and a stone. This story is traditionally believed by the local community to be the beginning of Raja Ampat. It is still hard to believe in common sense, but if we examine the meaning again, the nature of Raja Ampat is a sacred place like a kingdom that must be preserved from damage and destruction.
