| karolinasyp06:32 UTC19 Feb 2010 | If anyone has any recent information about the border crossing from Vanimo to Jayapura please let me know. I am leaving Australia in less then a month (Brisbane-POM) from Port Moresby flying to Goroka after Madang, Sepik and Vanimo. I am supposed to cross the border at the end of March and travel in Indonesia. My flight to Europe is booked from Jakarta.
Indonesian embassy declined my visa application saying that the border crossing has been closed for the last 3 weeks and that they were not planning to reopen it soon. I won’t get PNG visa without having my Indonesian visa (as I don’t have a return flight from PNG). My travel plan didn’t consider going back to Australia (flights now are around 450AUD one way). Not sure what to do now. Any ideas/advice/help- VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!THANK YOU!
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| Laszlo00:17 UTC20 Feb 2010 | Replied here
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| donbrisbane10:38 UTC20 Feb 2010 | as of today the border is open!the last time it was "closed"was over xmas/new year after a murder right at the border gates.when people say its closed it means that traditional border crossers(locals without a passport)cannot travel across into indonesia,as long as you have a passport you can still travel through.the indonesian consulate in vanimo issue visa's within 12 hours of application.see previous posts on how this all works.drop me a pm if you want more details/
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| karolinasyp02:38 UTC22 Feb 2010 | Laszlo and Don and others:)- Thank you so much for your advice.
After crossing the border I will have one month to explore Papua, Maluku and Timor.
Still on a budget I will have to get to Jakarta from where my flight leaves to Europe.
Any ideas for routes or not-to-be-missed places around there?
I was thinking to do a trekk around Beliem valley. Should I make any bookings beforehand? I will be there at the beginning of April.
Thank you for any help!
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| Laszlo00:06 UTC23 Feb 2010 | LOTS of info on places to visit in Papua and especially Maluku on my website, linked in my signo line.
Timor will be hard to add to that itinerary though - most ships and flights from Papua and Maluku go on to Sulawesi and Java, not Timor!
Absolutely no need to prebook treks in the Baliem - easy tp arrange on the spot, but be careful with local guides. More on that on my site, too.
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| lcgraham_200013:42 UTC22 Mar 2010 | Hi
We went to Wamena, and had an unforgettable few days with Justinius Darby, a very experieced guide, who employs locals, so money goes to Papuans, not some tour company in Java! He wasn't feeling so well when we were there but it didn't affect our trip. You can find him near the airport. Turn left when coming out of the airport, and walk a short way, not beyond the end of the runway. His house is on the right, at the end of a drive with a clump of bamboo marking it. if you can't find him, go to the internet cafe run by a helpful Japanese guy, who will contact him for you.All this info is in LP.
Justinius will take you on whatever kind of trek you want, and do listten to him about the porter/cook you will need. They literally carried me over a swollen river(the bridge was down) on their back.They cook you edible food, and carry all they heavy stuff like water and fruit.If you go with a local, you may be invited into homes and find yourself included in some very personal and emotional moments.We wish we'd gone on a longer trip with him, and will certainly go back!! Mention us to him if you meet him!
Linda and Robin
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