The Other Side of Raja Ampat Islands

Raja Ampat is a county located in the province of West Papua. This area is very famous for its baharinya a very beautiful and amazing. Since 2005 the islands were called Waisai by society has definitively entered into expansion territory originally have its main office to the city of Sorong. Proliferation was better as regional development efforts that are too far away to take care of various administration to the city of Sorong travel time to get there can reach 4-5 hours if using a ferry, or 2-3 hours if you use a speedboat.

While to date there are only 2 ships that serve crossings Waisai - Sorong round. After a few years as a new district, Raja Ampat increasingly popular as a marine tourism. Not only among Indonesia but to foreign travelers. The natural beauty of the coast, islands and underwater world has attracted so many travelers there.

But apparently popularity Raja Ampat is not directly proportional to the well-being of its citizens. As I observed, to date facilities and infrastructure life in Raja Ampat is still very minimal. Electricity for lighting alone should be divided, rationed 3 days 2 days off and on. In fact, sometimes just turn one day and the rest dark. Today (March 15th 2012) I know that diesel power generators (diesel) damage has been 2 weeks. Only in government offices and some homes use generators themselves are lit.

Refueling / gas station was only one piece, located 400meter from the port and the city center. Distance proved still to be coupled with the fact that the gas station only operates intermittently, more often so shelter from rain or heat for those who happen to pass by. So do not be surprised to normal petrol can be sold at a price of 8000 rupiah / liter and rose to 30,000 thousand if it is hard to find. As a result, people have to be so clever to remain resilient in these circumstances.

Not to mention the newspaper (usually only local newspaper), the district government offices they used to receive the new edition of the paper one day late. Shipping from Sorong city is during the day but to Raja Ampat afternoon or evening, and finally distributed the next day.