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Asmat Tribe info |
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Tribes' people who live along the Southwest of Irian Jaya (Casuari-Coast,
Cannibal-Coast), still untouched by modern civilization. The swampy Asmat
area, as big as Belgium, consists only of dense jungle and thousands of
rivers.
The staple diet of the tribes is sago, mussels, snails and insects. Everyday
they have to collect their food along the rivers in vast mangrove, wild sago
and bamboo forests. A hard and dangerous job in a crocodile country, where
some creatures can grow up to 10 meters. Asmat is one of the most inaccessible
regions of Irian Jaya and many tribes have never seen any outsiders until
today. The tall and strong Asmat are world-renowned fantastic wood-carvers.
Some spectacular pieces of Asmat art are in the Museum of Primitive Art in New
York City. The Coastal Asmat are perfect canoe builders. Everybody, even
children, are going around on these long and narrow tree-canoes, which can be
up to 15 meters long. Some have magnificent boat decorations. The coastal
people live together in big villages, where wooden long houses, the Yeus, are
still the center of power and spirit. The lives of the Asmat are made from
long genuine bones from the giant Cassowary bird and sometimes even from
crocodile bones. Their necklaces and other body decorations are made from
white kauri-shells, pig and dogteeth, grass and free seeds and Cassowary
feathers. To join one of the many different Asmat cult-festivals is an
unforgettable highlight, even for very experienced traveler. Far away from the
coastline, many of the Asmat tribes build their houses on treetops, up to 15
meters from the ground. These are the Citak, Kuruwai, Kumbai, Korfon and
Uwakain as well as the people from Brazza and Kolff-River. Living deep in the
vast lowland jungles on the foot of the central mountain range, their
lifestyle remains still nomadic. To visit these lost stone-age hunters is one
of the last adventures on this planet.
Asmat is the most famous cannibalistic tribe on Papua. They would put human
skulls under their heads instead of a pillow. They would eat brains of their
animals mixed with sago worms straight from their halved skulls. They live on
small islands in mangrove vegetation nearby the sea, on the south side of the
western part of the New Guinea Island. The Asmat build long houses, where they
live together. Every family has its own reserved fireplace. In the long house
about six or even ten of the group members live.
Besides the fact that the Asmat were head-hunters, they also “hunted for
names”. Every person was named after someone deceased, or after a killed
enemy. A child was sometimes given a name only ten years after it was born,
and after its village set out to kill a man from an enemy village nearby. They
had to learn the name of the man they killed, and then bring his skull to
their village. Only in this way could a person get a name.
Asmat did not only hunt for skulls, they also worshipped them. The skulls
of the deceased were stripped of the brain and the eyes and nasal parts were
closed up in order to prevent evil spirits to enter or exit the body. Skulls
that were modified and decorated in this way, were displayed by the Asmat in a
honorable place in their long homes. Fortunately, the evil reputation of Asmat
has become history. The missionaries have done a lot of work in changing this.
Thanks to it, we can now go to the Asmats for a “visit”.
The members of the Asmat tribe believe that they arose out of wood.
Therefore, wood is sacred for them. Even in ancient times they carved
wonderful things from wood. Asmat are considered to be the best woodcarvers of
the stone-age.
Their small drums, statues, engraved boats are admirable. Many originals of
the woodcraft from the Asmat tribe are now shipped from Papua to Europe or
America, and decorate German or American museums, galleries, or households.
Asmat woodcraft became a wonderful exported good for worldwide exchange,
public sales, and auctions.
Contemporary and civilized Asmat use metal tools. They are visited by
salesmen, most of whom are German, who ask them to make large numbers of
statues so that they can trade them in Europe or America. Thanks to that, the
Asmat territory can now be considered safe, and tourists no longer have to be
afraid of cannibalism.
The territory of the Asmat tribe lies near the Brazza River, along which the
tree people, Korowai and Kombai, also live. Therefore, it is possible to link
the visit to the Asmat territory with an expedition to the tree people.
The several hundred kilometers long sail against the current is also
interesting. You don’t need to be afraid of crocodiles, since nowadays they
hunt mainly at night, and are very timid. It is difficult to catch a glimpse
of them, and in the upper part of the stream the crocodiles are small. So far
we haven’t seen a living crocodile in the Asmat territory, and neither in the
Korowai and Kombai territory. |
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Asmat Travel |
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DAY 01: TIMIKA ARRIVAL Upon your arrival
at Timika Airport, our guide meets you then check into a hotel for your
accommodation (L,D).
DAY 02: TIMIKA - AGATS Drive to the harbour and take a full day
motorized canoe journey along the south coast line to Agats in Asmat area.
Stop en route at villages for lunch and refreshment. Overnight at local
guesthouse in Agats (B,L,D).
DAY 03: AGATS – ASMAT VILLAGES After breakfast, boarding on
motorized canoe then upriver via the Flamingo Bay to Asmat region. En route,
you can observe the traditional daily life of the Asmat Tribes along the
riverside with lunch box provided en route. Dinner and overnight at a local
villager’s house with basic facilities. In the evening, the Asmat people will
welcome you with their traditional drums performance (B,L,D).
DAY 04 - 05: FULL DAY ASMAT TRIBE EXPLORATION We continue our river
trip by canoes along with the Asmat people to join and spend whole day with
local people at different Asmat villages to see & observe their simple way of
life and culture and enjoying their ceremonies. Overnight at simple local
house (B,L,D).
DAY 06: ASMAT VILLAGE – AGATS We sail back to Agats. In the
afternoon walking around Agats to see the local people life and also visit Art
Museum of the asmat Tribes. Overnight at Asmat Inn (B,L,D).
DAY 07: AGATS – TIMIKA Full day sail back on motorized canoe to
Timika along the coast line with stops en route at villages for lunch and
refreshment. Overnight hotel in Timika (B,L,D). DAY
08: TIMIKA DEPARTURE Morning we transfer you to Timika Airport for
your flight to Jakarta or next destination |
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KOROWAI - TREE HOUSE PEOPLE
and ASMAT TOUR |
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18 Days itinerary
Day 1 We will fly from Bali to Jayapura.
Get our surat jalan and spend the night at a hotel in Sentani
(close to the airport).
Day 2 We will fly on Merpati airlines to Merauke.
This city is in the southeast corner of Papua. Along the Papua New Guinea border.
We'll over night in a hotel.
Day 3 We will fly on Merpati airlines to Senggo.
Senggo is a settlement on a large river.
We will get our necessary supplies there and overnight in Senggo.
Day 4 We will travel by boat with a motor up river.
We will have to travel upstream for one full day. This is the same river that
if you continue north will take you to Yanirumah.
But, we will not travel up that far.
Instead we will stop at a small village on the river and spend the night
there.
Day 5 We will get our porters and set out for the
jungle.
There are several villages in the interior that have not been contacted by the
outside.
No tourists have ever visited these Korowai people. And their body decoration
is slightly different from the Korowai people to the north. We will camp at
one of their villages.
Days 6,7,8,9,10,11,12
We will spend these 7 days trekking is some of the most pristine lowland
rain-forest in the world. Along the way we will stay with the various Korowai
that inhabit the region. We will try and make camp each day by a tree house
and sometimes we will spend 2 nights at one tree house. The Korowai usually
live in isolated tree houses. Sometimes 2-3 families will live in one tree
house. These tree houses are usually 2-6 hours of walking apart. And the tree
houses range in height from 8-12 meters high.
And some even higher.
The area within the Korowai that we will visit are still living a stone age
existence. They still use only stone and bone tools. And they still do
practice cannibalism in the Korowai area. Don't worry they won't kill and eat
us. It is ritual cannibalism among themselves and we are outsiders, so there
is nothing to worry about.
We will make camp by their tree houses and also be able to witness them in
their everyday lives. They will look for sago trees to fell and get the pith
out of to eat. We will experience this with them. They will gather sago grubs
(which they are crazy about) and eat them. And we can watch as they build fish
traps and try and catch small fish from the streams. And the amazing thing
about all of this is that they use nothing from the outside world. Everything
is made of plants, vines and tree bark.
Really, these are some of the only real "stone age" people left in the world.
And I have to tell you that every time I go into the Kombai and Korowai area,
I am deeply touched.
I have high quality rain proof North Face and Kelty tents to sleep in and
Therma-Rest ground pads that are very comfortable to sleep on.
Porters will carry all of your equipment.
All you will need to carry (if you want) is your day pack with camera and
water bottle.
Day 13 We will trek back to the village by the river.
We will overnight there and in the morning we will head down river
to Senggo.
Day 14 We will travel by motorized canoe down to
Senggo.
We will overnight in Senggo.
Day 15 We will travel down river in a motorized canoe
to a village
and spend the night at an Asmat village. We will visit with the men in the Jeu
(mens house). And we'll spend the evening enjoying the men singing, drumming
and dancing inside the Jeu.
Day 16 We will continue traveling down river in a
motorized canoe
and spend the night in Agats. This is the biggest town in the Asmat area. We
will overnight in a guest house in Agats.
Day 17 We will travel by motorized canoe to the
airport in Ewer
It is about 1 hour from Agats. From Ewer we will catch a Merpati plane to
Timika.
We will spend the night at a hotel in Timika.
Day 18 We will catch a flight back to Bali on Garuda
airlines.
And we will arrive in Bali at 2:10pm. This will conclude the tour.
THE PRICE FOR THIS 18 DAYS TOUR
2 persons: $US 6700 per person .
3 persons: $US 4950 per person .
4 persons: $US 4200 per person .
5 persons: $US 3750 per person .
6 persons: $US 3500 per person . |
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Asmat Korowai Adventures
12D/11N |
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Tour Itenary :
Day 01 Timika Arrival.
Arrive Timika airport, transfer to Pomako to get boat departure to Puriri
fishing island, overnight stay at fishermen house in Puriri. (will take
3,5hours).
Day 02 Puruiri-Agats.
Early get on motorized boat to Agats-Asmat district. Arrive Agats transfer to
Padaelo hotel for overnight stay. Rest of day visiting Asmat museum and Agats
surroundings. (trip will be 8-9hours)Day 03
Agats-Senggo.
Early transfer by motorized boat to Senggo, a short stop will be made in Asmat
village for having lunch then continue your boat trip to Senggo. Arrive Senggo
check in at simple accommodation in Senggo for overnight stay. (trip will be
8-9hours).
Day 04 Senggo-Basman.
Morning transfer by motorized boat to Basman on the way passing through
Citak-mitak area. Trip today will take about 7-8hours arrive at Basman-the
boarder place for Koroway and Citak-mitak tribes. Overnight stay at local
house.
Day 05 Senggo-Basman.
Morning transfer by motorized boat to Basman on the way passing through
Citak-mitak area. Trip today will take about 7-8hours arrive at Basman-the
boarder place for Koroway and Citak-mitak tribes. Overnight stay at local
house.
Day 06 Basman – Koroway.
By trekking all together with porters will expend 4-5hours to reach Koroway
clan. Arrive Koroway you will learn how life style of the native and join them
to make animal trap such wild pig, kasowari and hunting. Overnight stay at
tree house or camp.
Day 07 Koroway-Basman-Citak.
Today you will join them to collect food from sago grab by traditional process
and join the woman how they catching fish from the stream by using weaved
basket from sago leaf then trek back to Basman. Arrive Basman directly get on
boat departure to Binerbis-citak village for overnight stay at chief house.
Trip today will be 3-4hours.
Day 08 Citak-Senggo.
Early transfer by motorized boat departure to Senggo. Arrive Senggo overnight
stay at Simple accommodation. Trip today will be 4-5hours.
Day 09 Senggo-Asmat village.
Departure to Asmat village to learn Asmat life style, one night stay in the
village. Trip today will be 5 hours.
Day 10 Asmat ceremony
Today you will enjoy the Asmat ceremony and dancing on paddling boat, to see
men on Asmat craft, a temporary market will also be held in the village to
sell kind of artifact and ornamentations for necessary home gift.
Day 11 Asmat village-Agats.
Transfer by motorized boat to Agats, overnight stay at Padaelo hotel. Trip
will take 5h.
Day 12 Agats-Timika
Early transfer by boat to Ewer strip for catching flight by Twin departure to
Timika. Arrive Timika direct transfer by car to hotel for overnight stay.
Day 13 Timika – departure.
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight to the next destination. End
of services, ……………… |
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