At first, I didn’t really have a big expectation towards Biak.

It looks very small on the map and in my mind, it’s going to be one of those remote places where things are going to be either extremely expensive and very difficult to navigate. When it comes to the people, I’d expect minimal hospitality.

The day before we left for Biak, we wrapped up some jobs in Jayapura and were happy that some of our tasks and reports were done. It was Sunday when we flew to Biak. We also thought we’re going to ride on a smaller plane but apparently, we were flying on a Boeing which was pretty big and did long haul flights.

Never in my wildest dream that I’d have the chance to visit a place where the sea is not brown but turquoise.

We left early from the city center in Jayapura to go to Sentani airport. We got some morning coffee and some bread from the airport. I wasn’t exactly awake yet so before I was mingling with the rest of the team, I found myself in a corner where I can work quietly on my laptop.

Sentani airport in Jayapura hums of life. It connects this easternmost part of the country to many other islands surrounding it and also other major islands in Indonesia. While it is small, it has everything a traveler would need. Once we boarded the flight, I fell asleep right away, awaiting for my next adventure.

Landed in Biak and quite surprised.

Frank Kaisiepo airport is a little chaotic. It’s almost like you’re really entering another realm or something I’d seen in movies where they travel to remote and exotic islands. But we survived the wait for our baggage.

We got a local guide and as usual in every place we go, especially in Papua, we need to have a local guide to accompany us not only for safety but also guiding us to navigate the area a lot easier.

In Biak, after landed, we meet our local guide called Mr. John who not only is a pastor but active contributors of his local community. He owned a diving hut as well as a public library for his community who lives on the coast. He greeted us with his hospitality that instantly made us feel more welcome and accepted.

When we cruise through Biak’s main road, all of us are amazed how clean the streets are. It was something that we rarely get to see in Java and in many major islands. There’s almost no traffic and interestingly, the streets are quiet but still hums to life. Being there, across our eyes we can see glistening sea sparkles under the sun.

I finally tried areca nut & it’s pretty bloody!

Since we landed during lunch time, Mr John was taking us to get some lunch and there was this small hut selling “pinang” or areca nut. I got extremely curious and really wanted to try it. So, he encouraged me to get some and I tried to chew it following the instructions.

“ Oh look, it’s red!” I said enthusiastically
“ Congrats! You just tried pinang but don’t forget to spit or that’ll make you dizzy”

So I did as instructed and was happy that I finally did it.

Mr John was also listing a lot of places we could check out while we’re on the island. So, stay tuned to all the places I’ve checked out.

A small cultural note and impression

As I am writing this, I’ve spent quite a bit of hours here and so far, everyone has been very friendly and open. There’s that strong sense of community and warmth around its people. Perhaps it’s the island life that shapes and molds its people. Given their history that they used to be a Japanese and American territory and one of the battle grounds during WWII, the people seem to be more welcoming to foreigners.

If I were to really recommend where to check out for people in the easternmost place of Indonesia, it’s got to be Biak. It’s reachable from Jakarta to Makassar then to Biak. For those who like diving, this is one of those paradise on earth where you can also see an underwater museum and the actual “nemo” from the movie “Nemo” .

Its underwater beauty is unmatched. Not that I tried diving here but the turquoise water is one of a kind. So, maybe if my work finished quickly and our team managed to wrap it up nicely, we could sneak in some extra dive or snorkel.

Anyway, see you in my next adventure on this island where not only it shows you beauty but also a remembrance of things that happened in the past which should not be repeated.

Read more of my Eastbound adventure here :

Eastbound & Drifting Toward the East
Eastbound | Cultural Tidbits from the Far Side of Indonesia