Mengungkap Pesona Indah Kepulauan Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat, a breathtaking tourist destination located in the Papua region, is known worldwide for its mesmerizing natural beauty. One of the factors that elevate the reputation of Raja Ampat is the documentary film “Edis Paradise 3” created by Avant Premiere, showcasing the underwater beauty of Raja Ampat in Papua. The Raja Ampat region is now referred to as the “Amazon of the Ocean” due to its central location in the world’s coral triangle. Situated in the West Papua territorial region, the Raja Ampat archipelago consists of around 610 scattered islands, with only 35 inhabited by locals. In awe of its beauty, travelers from all over the world intentionally visit this destination to enjoy the beauty of the islands, explore the underwater wonders, and dive into the mesmerizing underwater walls. Here, tourists can also sail through the vast and small island clusters, mountain ranges, tropical rainforests, coral reefs, white sandy beaches, and the diverse wildlife living in the Raja Ampat region. It can be said that such natural wealth is extremely rare, and Indonesia is fortunate to have been blessed with this indescribable gift. Raja Ampat is an archipelagic region with access to maritime transportation. This form of transport is used to reach the capital city of Waisai or vice versa. With four main islands in the region, Batanta, Misool, Salawati, and Waigeo, visiting the Raja Ampat islands offers a unique experience. The name “Raja Ampat” itself is derived from local myths and legends, translated into Indonesian, meaning “Four Kings.” One of the legends surrounding Raja Ampat tells the story of a couple who lived a modest life as forest explorers in the Wawiyai Village of Teluk Kabui. During their journey through the forest, they came across the Waikeo River and decided to take a rest to relieve their fatigue. During their rest, they noticed five eggs not far from where they were sitting. It turned out that these eggs were believed to be dragon eggs. Amazed by their find, they wrapped the eggs in a traditional bag called “noken” and brought them home. Once they arrived home, they placed the eggs they found in their room. As time passed and night fell, the eggs began to emit a whispering sound. The couple became curious and tried to peep through the door of the room. To their astonishment, the couple witnessed the hatching of the five eggs, giving birth to four boys and one girl. These five children were dressed in fine clothes, signifying their royal heritage. However, the names of these children are still unknown. According to local knowledge, the four boys were named Betani, Dohar, Mohammad, and War, who respectively became the kings of Salawati, Lilinta (Misool), Waigama (Batanta), and Waigeo. As for the girl, Pintolee, after growing up, was found to be pregnant and gave birth to two eggs. The elder siblings found that one egg she laid was placed in a giant clam shell, called “Kulit Bia,” and drifted to an island named Numfor. The other egg, which did not hatch and turned into a stone, was named Kapatnai. The local people treated the stone as a king, providing a dedicated space for its resting place and placing two other stones as symbols of guardianship. To this day, the local community still respects the presence of this resting place and worships it as an object of worship. Generally, tourists travel to Raja Ampat by air, reaching the city of Sorong in West Papua (Domine Edward Osok). However, there are no direct international flights to Domine Edward Osok. Therefore, if you are coming from abroad, you must transit in Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, or Makasar. If you prefer the shortest route, you can transit in Ujung Pandang, which takes approximately 5 hours and 15 minutes to reach Sorong city. From Sorong, you can continue your journey by taxi to the local harbor, which will take you to the capital of Raja Ampat, Waisai. It is recommended to prepare supplies such as mineral water, instant food, and other necessities at the harbor since the cost of supplies in Waisai, the capital of Raja Ampat, is quite expensive. There are two ferry boats available at the harbor, departing every day at 2:00 PM local time, with another boat departing approximately 1-2 hours later. The journey will take around 4-5 hours to reach Waisai harbor. However, if you choose to rent a speedboat, it is best to depart before high tide, which usually occurs before 12:00 PM local time. This is done to avoid any unwanted incidents, as speedboats are more susceptible to waves compared to larger boats. It is important to follow the captain’s instructions and delay the journey to Waisai if the weather is unfavorable, there is a high tide, or any other issues arise. The route to Raja Ampat may be complicated, but the local government has promised to develop an airport in Waisai named Marinda Airport to facilitate easier access to Raja Ampat. Once you arrive at Waisai harbor, you can easily find accommodations in the city. However, before doing so, you must visit the local tourism office to pay the conservation fee required for every tourist visiting the Raja Ampat region. After that, you can start looking for accommodations. The Raja Ampat archipelago offers a diverse range of biodiversity, with approximately 540 coral species and 1,511 fish species, making it one of the richest in the world. 75% of coral species found worldwide can be found here, which is about ten times the number of coral species found in the entire Caribbean region. You can also find 27 rare fish species unique to Raja Ampat, along with five rare sea