Snorkeling and Watching Birds in Waigeo of Raja Ampat

The Waigeo island is a great place for visitors who are interested in seeing both the marine and rainforest environments. The coral reef is the habitat of anemonefish, parrotfish, butterflyfish, grouper, trevally, wobbegong and a lot more. Beautiful coral reef could be seen along the coastal area especially in the southern region where there are beach resorts and homestays. 

Raja Ampat has got beautiful marine and rainforest environments

The nearby islands such as Lesser Urai, Urai, Gam, Friwenbonda and Mioskon have got beautiful  coral reef that is rich of marine animals. Soft corals can be seen along the Friwenwall. The house reef at the homestay and beach resorts along the coast of South Waigeo and Gam Island is also in very good condition. 

Reef fish at southern coast of Waigeo island

Snorkeling Photo: Anemonefish in the waters of Waigeo island

For birdwatchers, birding activity could be seen almost everywhere. My favorite is still along the roads of Waigeo both near the beach and in the forest. There, we could watch Spice Imperial Pigeon, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Eclectus Parrot, Great-billed Parrot, Red-cheeked Parrot, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Beach Kingfisher, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Hook-billed Kingfisher, Red Bird of Paradise, Wilson's Bird of Paradise, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Torresian Crow, Helmetted Friarbird, Hooded Butcherbird, and etc. 

Extended Tour in Sorong City

After enjoying snorkeling and birdwatching in Raja Ampat, you could extend your tour in Sorong city by visiting interesting places such as Mangrove forest, Buddhist Temple, Doom island, traditional market and hill forest. This extended trip lasts for around 1 to 2 days. 

Sorong City Tour

For visitors who are interested in taking a few days trip in mainland West Papua, a trip to see wildlife in the forest of Tambrauw regency can be organized. 

Traveling to Raja Ampat

Those who want to go to Raja Ampat need to fly from their country to Sorong city. Here is the flight routes from major cities in Indonesia served by Garuda, Lion Air, and Batik Air. 

WALKING TOUR AND BIRDING IN THE HIGHLAND OF MINAHASA

Minahasa highland is a region in the Province of North Sulawesi. It is a great destination for visitors who love hiking and birdwatching. The forest, agricultural land, and paddy fields of Minahasa is the habitat of a lot of species of birds such as Warbling White-eye, Sulawesi Blue Flycatcher, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, White-faced Cuckoo Dove, Crimson Sunbird, Sulawesi Pygmy Woodpecker, Black-faced Munia, Collared Kingfisher, Sulawesi Hanging Parrot, Sahul Sunbird, Chestnut Munia, Scaly-breasted Munia, Sooty-headed Bulbul, Pale Blue Monarch, Eurasian Treesparrow, Slender-billed Crow, Cattle Egret, Little Egret, Gray-sided Flowerpecker, Yellow-sided Flowerpecker, Sahul Sunbird, Brown-throated Sunbird, White-browed Crake, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Purple Needletail, White-breasted Woodswallow, and a lot more. 

Zebra Dove, Black-naped Oriole, Black-crowned White-eye, Brown-throated Sunbird, Sahul Sunbird, Sulawesi Cuckoo-dove, White-breasted Woodswallow, Sooty-headed Bulbul

Birding tour in Minahasa highland could be done all year round. The town of Tomohon and subdistrict town of Sonder is a highly recommended destination. It is surrounded by mountains, hill, wetland (paddy fields) and water streams. Ecologically, Sonder is a highly recommended destination for birding, and butterflywatching. 

Blanchard's Ghost, Meyer's Jay, Blanchard's Wood Nymph, The Clipper, Lime Swallowtail, Gigon Swallowtail, Sacred Tabby butterflies

A visitor needs to bring a good pair of binoculars such as the ones with the size of 8×42 mm, 10× 42 mm or 10×50 mm. Usually birdwatchers buy the ones that are manufactured by Zeiss, Vortex, Swarovski, Nikon, Leica and etc. Nowadays more brands from Chinese manufacturers are available in the market with more affordable prices.

Farm Tour

While doing the walking tour through agricultural land of Minahasa to watch birds, visitors will be able to see various kinds of crops that farmers grow such as rice, corn, sweet potato, banana, taro, cassava, papaya, rambutan, durian, tomato, chilli, spring onion, aubergine, kangkung, cabbage, carrot, and etc. 

Some of the agricultural produce from Minahasa highland of North Sulawesi

Visitors can buy some of the agricultural produce directly from the farmers or local market and try cooking local cuisines at the homestay or lodge where they stay.

Paddy fields in Subdistrict Sonder of Minahasa regency

Minahasan farmers sell their agricultural produce to towns and cities in the Province of North Sulawesi, to eastern region of Indonesia such as Manado, Bitung, Ternate, Sorong, Manokwari, Jayapura, Ambon, Balikpapan. 

Visitors who are interested in taking this hiking and birding tour in Minahasa needs to fly from their country to Manado city. There are daily flights between Manado and major cities in Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, Makassar, Balikpapan, and Sorong served by Garuda, Citilink, TransNusa, Lion Air, Batik Air. 

There are also direct flights between Manado city and Singapore served by Scoot Air; and between Manado and Guangzhou served by China Southern Airlines.

Flight routes to Manado city

Arriving in Manado city, the trip to Subdistrict town of Sonder could be done by car. There are homestay in Sonder. Visitors could find accommodation in Tomohon town by using booking.com or traveloka.com.

Land Route from Manado city to the town of Tomohon and Subdistrict town of Sonder

Visitors could combine the trip to the highland of Minahasa with snorkeling and scuba diving tour in Bunaken, Siladen, Mantehage, and Lembeh Strait of the same North Sulawesi region. 

Booking

If you are interested in taking hiking and birding tour in Minahasa highland of Indonesia and want me to organize your tour, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Also read:

• Birding in North Sulawesi
• Exploring the Natural Beauty of North Sulawesi
• Nature Tour in North Sulawesi

• Sonder town
• Lake Tondano
• Birding in Minahasa

Coconut Crab in Raja Ampat

Around 2 weeks ago, I guided a Russian tourist on a 2-week birdwatching and wildlife watching trip to Raja Ampat, Klasow valley of Sorong and Arfak mountains. While in Sorong, we went hiking in southern forest of Waigeo to see birds.

We also took an opportunity to nearby islands to enjoy snorkeling and seeing coconut crab. There was an islet where coconut crab lived. Its name was Nyetreiram. We went there by a small speedboat after taking a snorkeling tour in Friwen. We arrived at the islet at around sunset time. The crabs had not come out of their hiding places. The owner of the islet cut open a dried coconut into pieces and spread then on several places on the islet. When it was getting dark, the crabs began to come out. We were invited to see them. 

Coconut Crab in Raja Ampat

They had not reach full sizes but were already bigger than other crab in nature. We took the opportunity to photographs them. 

We were not long at the island. Soon the weather changed. The wind blew fast and the sea surface became rough. We got into the boat and returned quickly to the beach resort where we stayed. Fortunately, we already reach the resort when sea storm hit the beach. 

It was a nice experience to see the Coconut Crab (Birgus largo) in Raja Ampat.

Wildlife Watching in Raja Ampat Archipelago

Most of the islands in Raja Ampat are surrounded by coral reef, they are the natural habitat of marine animals from small Christmas Tree Worm to large humphead wrasse fish. Visitors can enjoy snorkeling over the coral reef to see various kinds of marine creatures or do scubadiving to see more in deeper waters. 

Along the coastal area of Raja Ampat, sea birds can be observed. They include Radjah Shelduck, Eastern Osprey, Beach Kingfisher, White-bellied Sea Eagle, Eclectus Parrot, Great-billed Parrot, and etc.

Marine Life in Raja Ampat

In certain months, turtles land on the beach to lay eggs. The northern coast of Waigeo is a great place for visitors to watch leatherback, green, olive ridley and hawksbill turtles. 

Wobbegong reef shark

The rainforest of Raja Ampat is th destination for visitors who are interested in watching Red Bird of Paradise, Wilson's Bird of Paradise and a lot more.

Wilson's Bird of Paradise

There are karsts in Raja Ampat, visitors who go there can see beautiful marine landscapes that are covered by green vegetation and turquoise blue sea water. With more than 1,500 tropical reef fish living in the waters of Raja Ampat, visitors will have plenty of marine life to see when they travel to the islands. 

Birding in Sorong and Raja Ampat of Indonesia

Kingfisher

I offer birding tours for visitors who are interested in watching tropical birds both in the forests of Raja Ampat and Sorong. The duration of the tour can be customized into a few days up to more than one week.

Birds that can be watched during the tour include Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Olive-backed Sunbird, Rainbow Bee-eater, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, Amboyna Cuckoo-Dove, Wompoo Fruit-Dove, Beautiful Fruit-Dove, Pink-spotted Fruit-Dove, Western Black-capped Lory, Rainbow Lorikeet, Eclectus Parrot, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Red-cheeked Parrot and Palm Cockatoo, Large Fig Parrot, Black Parrot, Dollarbird, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Magnificent Riflebird, King Bird of Paradise, Glossy-mantled Manucode, Lesser Birds of Paradise, Red Bird of Paradise, Wilson's Bird of Paradise, Hooded Butcherbird, Spangled Drongo, Beach Kingfisher, Torresian Crow, Hook-billed Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Crested-Tern, Papuan Hornbill, Willie Wagtail, etc.

Things to prepare:

• Binoculars such as Swarovski EL 8.5× 42 or any binoculars that are good enough to produce clear images og birds in distant trees.
• Camera with telephoto lens. A bridge camera such such Canon SX60HS, and Nikon P900 are very powerful photographic device for taking picture of birds. If you have got spotting scope, you could bring it too.
• Watershoes or hiking boots, t-shirts and pants that are suitable for hiking and watching birds in the forest.

How to get to Sorong?

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo

• For international flights, you can fly from your country to Jakarta - the capital of Indonesia. 
• For domestic flights, you can continue your trip by flying to Sorong city. Daily regular flights are provided by such airlines as Garuda, Sriwijaya, Batik, Nam, and Lion Air.

Booking

Please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or use whatsapp: +6281332245180

Bali Tropical Lifestyle

Bali is perhaps the most famous tropical island in the world. It is a tourist hub of Indonesia. Every year millions of visitors come to Bali. They want to enjoy swimming and sunbathing at Kuta and Legian beach or explore the beauty of terraces of rice fields in the inland areas. Although agriculture still provides the the largest employment, tourism is the driving power of the economy. Bali is also the center of art. Art lovers will feel that Ubud town is more suitable for them. Art galleries and museums present the superior craftsmanship of Balinese woodcarvers and painters.

Some businessmen make Bali as their trading hub. They import carvings, furniture, or even wooden houses for their clients in Europe, South America or Australia. Balinese carpenters can build timber frame houses that are decorated with artistic reliefs on the walls and carvings on the pillars. For Balinese, art is an integral part of their daily life.

In Bali - the island of the gods, everyday is a holiday. There are plenty of attractions which travelers can see, and enjoy. From hiking the mount Batur to watching dolphins at Lovina, travelers may choose activities and adventure packages which they want to experience in this tropical island. Lovers come to Bali to enjoy their honeymoon too. Feeling stressed with office works? Don't worry, Bali has got endless rows of tropical beach resorts and spas where you can stay to book for massage service or taking some yoga classes.

I have visited Bali several times. My last visit this year lasted for 3 months. I stayed in a nice tropical house in Ubud on Jalan Sukma. I ate Balinese nasi campur, I rode a mountain bike to explore the slopes of Ubud. I visited Neka and Anthony Blanco art galleries and Museum Puri Lukisan to see traditional and modern paintings. Drawing is my hobby. When I was on the second floor or Neka art gallery, I saw pastel paintings of Gerard Hofker. Such fantastic artworks from Western painters depict the traditional Balinese lifestyle that are slowly being mixed with cultures from all corners of the world.

Balinese are a religious society. Hinduism is the main religion here. However, the Balinese are tolerant to other cultures and religions. Temples are every where even in business centers such as Ubud market or the shopping center at Kuta main street. Yet, the Balinese culture will not be eliminated. It continues to exist side by side with other cultures that have entered this beautiful tropical island. So, culturally Bali does not belong to Indonesia anymore. It belongs to the world. It is a cosmopolitan. Come to Bali and you will feel as if you are at home. by Charles Roring