WHEN I FINALLY VISIT THE ICONIC WAYAG

Oke, ini pengakuan: saya sebelumnya sudah empat kali ke Raja Ampat tapi sama sekali belum menginjakkan kaki di tempat paling ikonik di Raja Ampat: pulau-pulau Wayag yang terkenal. WHY? Kenapa? Bukan karena tidak mau, tapi lebih ke nasib hehe. 

Okay, here's a confession: I have previously been to Raja Ampat four times but did not set foot in the most iconic place in Raja Ampat: the famous Wayag islands. WHY? Why? Not because I did not want to, but more to the fate haha.

Jadi, di trip pertama saya ke Raja Ampat, saat itu kami datang khusus untuk menyelam, dan Wayag memang sudah jadi agenda spot yang kami rencanakan untuk dikunjungi. Namun di tahun 2013 itu, rupanya sedang ada konflik di Wayag sehingga akses menuju Wayag masih tertutup sehingga kami mencari alternatif spot dengan pemandangan serupa: Pianemo.

So, on my first trip to Raja Ampat, then we came specifically for diving, and Wayag was already a spot we planned to visit in our agenda. But in 2013 there was apparently a conflict in Wayag so that access to Wayag still closed so we are looking for an alternative spot with a similar view: Pianemo.

Pianemo without stairs, circa 2013

Now we have comfy stairs and viewing platform (2016)

Meski tidak se-megah Wayag, Pianemo ini sangat cantik. Saat itu belum ada tangga sehingga kami harus mendaki bukit karang untuk sampai di puncak dan menikmati pemandangan pulau-pulau karang di sekeliling.

Although it is not as majestic Wayag, Pianemo is very pretty. At that time there were no stairs so we had to climb the cliff to get to the top and enjoy the view of the rock islands around.

One of three Harfat peak point in Misool

Trip-trip berikutnya ke Raja Ampat, saya dan teman-teman khusus pergi ke Misool, yaitu area di selatan Raja Ampat sehingga memasukkan Wayag dalam satu itinerary dengan Misool tidak memungkinkan. Puncak yang lebih sering saya daki adalah Puncak Harfat atau yang juga disebut Dapunlol di Misool.

The next trip to Raja Ampat, my friends and I specifically  went to Misool, which is the southern area of the Raja Ampat so putting Wayag in the list of our itinerary with Misool is not possible. The peak that I climb more often was Harfat Peak or also called Dapunlol in Misool.

Arborek

Nah, di tahun 2016 ini, saya ikut dua trip khusus Raja Ampat dengan Tukang Jalan, yaitu trip Wayag (area barat, kami menginap di Arborek), dan kemudian melanjutkan dengan trip Misool. 

Well, in 2016, I joined two specials trip to Raja Ampat with Tukang Jalan, which were the trip to Wayag (western area, we stayed at Arborek), and then continued with the trip to Misool.

Di trip Wayag inilah akhirnya (yes! Akhirnya) saya bisa ikut ke Wayag. Kami menggunakan speed boat kecil untuk menuju Wayag, dan memerlukan waktu 4 jam one way, jadi total 8 jam di kapal untuk PP dari Arborek menuju Wayag. Perjalanan memang lama, namun kemampuan saya untuk tidur cepat dan di mana saja (baca: pelor) sangat membantu membuat waktu cepat berlalu.

In this Wayag trip finally (yes! Finally) I could come to Wayag. We used a small speed boat to get to Wayag, and took 4 hours for one way trip, so a total of 8 hours in the boat for round trip from Arborek towards Wayag. The trip was long, but my ability to sleep quickly and anywhere helped making the time flies by.

Kami melewati lautan biru Raja Ampat dan mulai tiba di antara pulau-pulau karang. Finally we’re there!

We passed through the blue waters of Raja Ampat and began arriving in the islands of the rocks. Finally we're there!

Untuk naik ke puncak Wayag, kami harus mendaki bukit karang yang tajam. Tidak ada tangga ataupun pegangan untuk naik ke atas, namun tekstur karang yang tajam bagi saya justru memudahkan untuk naik karena tidak licin.

To reach the top of Wayag, we had to climb a sharp cliff. No stairs or handrail to climb to the top, but the sharp texture of the rocks makes myself easier to go to the top because it is not slippery.

Setelah sekitar 40 menit mendaki, kami tiba di Puncak Wayag 2. Pemandangan spektakuler pulau-pulau karang yang selama ini hanya saya lihat di foto kini ada persis di depan saya. Sambil duduk dan menyeka keringat di siang yang sangat panas itu, kami menikmati warna biru-turquoise yang berpadu dengan kehijauan karang, so so so beautiful!

After about 40 minutes of climbing, we arrived at the summit of Wayag 2. The view is spectacular of rock islands which I had only seen in photos are now right in front of me. As I sat down and wiped the sweat off in a very hot afternoon, we enjoyed the blueish turquoise combined with the greenish coral, so so so beautiful!

I honestly love Harfat Peak more than Wayag but trekking to feel this iconic peak is a must list in Raja Ampat for sure! Mungkin, mungkin saya “dibuat” tertunda datang ke Wayag agar saya jatuh cinta lebih dahulu dengan Misool ;)

I honestly love Harfat Peak more than Wayag but doing trekking to feel this iconic peak is a must list in Raja Ampat for sure! Maybe, maybe I was "made" to pending my visit to Wayag so that I could fall in love with Misool first ;)

@marischkaprue – a journey to the top is not to make her higher, but so that she know where she came from

NOTES

WAYAG

Raja Ampat
Papua Barat

Untuk menuju ke Wayag kita mesti menggunakan speedboat, dengan biaya sewa yang cukup tinggi, opsi terbaik adalah trip bersama group agar dapat sharing cost

To go to Wayag we must use a speedboat, with quite high rental costs, the best option is to go on trip along with the group in order to share costs

Untuk Open Trip ke Raja Ampat, cek penyedia trip seperti Tukang Jalan. Budget untuk trip 5D/4N Wayag trip sekitar Rp. 4,2 juta (exclude tiket pesawat, ps: tiket pp Jakarta – Sorong sekitar Rp. 4 – 4,5 juta)

For Open Trip to Raja Ampat, check the trip providers like Tukang Jalan. Budget for the trip 5D/4N trip Wayag around Rp. 4.2 million (exclude air tickets, ps: pp tickets Jakarta - Sorong approximately Rp. 4 - 4.5 million)

Contact Tukang Jalan di 081315890191 / 087888002004, atau Whatsapp/ Line di 08180689303/ 085810697553.
Contact Tukang Jalan at +6281315890191 / +6287888002004, or WhatsApp / Line on +628180689303/ +6285810697553.

***

Read Full Story...

Pianemo, the "mini" Wayag in Raja Ampat

"I don't have to die to go to heaven, I just have to spend my money for the right reason, travel"

Trip ke Raja Ampat, Papua Barat selalu identik dengan mahal. Harga tiket pesawat ke Sorong memang seringkali lebih mahal dibanding harga tiket ke Hong Kong, begitu pula dengan transportasi dengan kapal di wilayah Raja Ampat karena mahalnya bahan bakar minyak disana, untuk ke Raja Ampat kita memang harus merogoh kocek lebih.

Most Indonesian people imagine Raja Ampat as an expensive destination. Flights to Sorong is often more expensive than the price of a ticket to Hong Kong, the same thing goes for the boat transportation in Raja Ampat due to the high price of the fuel there. Simply saying, to get to Raja Ampat, we gotta spend more money.

The beautiful sea in Raja Ampat

Namun terkadang harga dan perjuangan sebanding dengan hasil. Raja Ampat memiliki landscape yang luar biasa, indahnya laut, gugusan pulau dan pemandangan yang membuat kita terbelalak, mengagumi ciptaan yang kuasa.

But sometimes the price and struggle are so worth. Raja Ampat have incredible landscape, the beauty of the sea, islands and scenery that make us stunned, admiring the power of creation.

This is not Wayag

Sebagian besar orang mengingat Raja Ampat dari foto Wayag, gugusan pulau karang yang tersebar indah dan terlihat jelas dari atas bukit. Rupanya Raja Ampat tidak hanya punya satu daerah gugusan pulau karang, di area barat dari Pulau Gam, sekitar 2 jam dengan speed boat dari Waisai, anda dapat menemukan "mini Wayag."

Most people remember Raja Ampat from Wayag photos, islands made of coral rocks scattered beautifully and clearly visible from the top of the hill. Apparently Raja Ampat don't just have one area of those coral islands, in the western area of the Gam island, about 2 hours speed boat trip from Waisai, you can find a "mini Wayag."

Pianemo, the mini Wayag. Taken using Sony Xperia Z1

turquoise lagoon between the islands

Pianemo nama lokasi dengan kontur yang sangat mirip dengan Wayag, hanya dengan gugusan pulau pulau karang yang lebih kecil. Selebihnya sangat mirip dan dengan sensasi visual yang serupa.

Pianemo is the name of the place that is very similar with Wayag, but apparently smaller. At a glance, this area is indeed giving you a similar visual sensation.

Pretty combination of colors

Masuk ke area Pianemo saya menikmati menyusuri pulau pulau karang yang timbul di laut berwarna warni, sebagian biru tua, sebagian turquoise karena dangkal dengan pasir putih di dasarnya, sangat indah.

Coming into Pianemo area, I enjoyed the feeling at the moving boat through the small islands which arise in different colors sea, some blue and some turquoise due to the shallow water with white sands at the bottom, really beautiful.

Climbs up up up!

Namun untuk mendapat sensasi utama anda harus mendaki ke atas bukit, hanya sekitar 15 menit untuk sampai di atas bukit namun karang keras dan tajam membuat kami mesti berhati hati saat melangkah naik. Namun tanpa sadar anda akan sampai di titik semua gugusan pulau karang ini terlihat jelas, membentuk panorama yang indah dan mempesona.

But to get a major sensation you have to climb up the hill, only about 15 minutes to get on top of the hill but you have to get through the sharp and hard coral rocks so it will slow you down. Even though it will be a little hard to climb, without you notice you'll find yourself at the point where the islands is visible clearly, forming a beautiful and enchanting panorama.

It might be a mini Wayag but I got the excitement as big when I see this. Taken using Sony Xperia Z1

Standing at one of the best spot to see Pianemo. Taken using Sony Xperia Z1

Saat kami datang matahari bersinar terang, sangat terik namun membuat warna Pianemo semakin jelas. I think this heaven is welcoming us greatly, then I know I spent my money for the right reason.

When we came the sun shining so bright, makes the colors more vivid. I think this heaven is welcoming us greatly, then I know I spent my money for the right reason.

@marischkaprue - always searching for new heaven

NOTES:

• Pianemo terletak di bagian barat Pulau Gam, Raja Ampat, Papua Barat.
• Pianemo located at the western side of Gam Island, Raja Ampat, West Papua.
• Cara menuju ke lokasi yaitu dengan penerbangan menuju Sorong, Papua Barat dan dilanjut dengan naik kapal ferry (harga tiket VIP sekitar Rp. 220.000,-) menuju Waisai. Dari Waisai menggunakan kapal kecil menuju Pianemo dengan waktu tempuh sekitar 2 jam
• To get there you will have to take a flight to Sorong, West Papua, then took a ferry boat (VIP ticket Rp. 220.000,-) to Waisai. From Waisai take a boat to Pianemo, its about 2 hours boat trip 
• Bawa sepatu trekking atau sendal yang nyaman untuk menaiki bukit karena kontur karang yang keras dan tajam
• Bring your shoes or comfy slippers to trek into the top of the hills, the coral rocks are quite sharp so prepare your footwear.
• Untuk pilihan penginapan di Raja Ampat lihat disini
• For option of home stay in Raja Ampat, see here

RELATED STORIES:

• Modest Homestay With Million Dollar View in Raja Ampat

Read Full Story...