N: Papua Timor Kalimantan Advice

I'd say you're wasting your time trying to go to all 3 in one week. I've only been to Papua of those 3 places, and I can assure you that in "a day or two" you would not be able to see anything at all. Why not get to know just one place a little better?

This is actually a business trip. I specialize in importing distinctive works from Indonesia to the US.

My journeys are usually limited to 4 days in country. The 11 day window I have this time lends to some exciting opportunities which I am not sure to enjoy again. This being the reason for the "tease".

The same reason why I am kicking myself for not enjoying Greenland two years ago while in Iceland. If I don't take the chance as it is presented, no guarantees I will ever get the chance.

Your reason for posting on this site seems to be more of a commercial than a traveller's interest, and as such is not permitted by the rules of this website. And what exactly do you mean by "native artifacts" and "distinctive works"? I trust you are aware that Indonesia has controls on the export of "artifacts" and for good reason. Indonesia has seen too much of its cultural/historical heritage plundered by bules over the centuries...

Mike,

I think what #1 is trying to say is (and correct me if I'm wrong):

In Indonesia, particularly the places you mention, it takes time to travel between places. You're dealing with delays and cancellations of ships, buses & planes. When you do manage to get from one place to another, you are generally going between hubs, which are normally not interesting. To even get a tease, you'd have to get there, THEN go somewhere a bit further on, then get back to the hub to continue to the "next" place to get a tease.

People who have weeks would normally not be advised to attempt to go as many places as you wish, but with 7 days, are you even serious? I'd imagine the only "tease" you'd get is the main cities or hubs, which would not be what you're going for.

It is almost physically impossible to merely hit, let alone actually see, all of those three places in a week.
They are not even linked to each other by direct flights.

If not for kids, I would fall off of the grid and take a year to work my way arcross the entire archipelago.

To clarify my earlier note. I import from Bali and operate the only US Gallery to display works of art exclusively from Indonesia. In doing this, I enounter many works from well outside of Bali. My curiosity and need to experience the origin provinces is also a means for me to expand my knowledge as well as provide a better impact on the origin artisit, creator and/or owner.

I would like to visit two destinations outside of Bali. Which would be recommended: Jayapura, Kupang, Balikpapan or Flores. Time permitting it would have been nice to start in Kupang and sali to Bali making frequent stops.

I appreciate the insight and agree with the thoughts. I am just looking at this being a something or nothing opportunity. I land in Bali (can be changed) 9/1 and depart 9/11 or 9/12 from Bali (can't be changed). I can change to any SQ serviced destination.

In Papua the really great area for traditional art is in the south, and considering the unreliability of flights to and from the area I'd say you'd need to allow a few weeks for a trip there. However, there are also some woodcarving areas in the north which its possible you might be able to visit if you had 2 - 3 days there, although I would still seriously recommend just choosing one of the destinations you mentioned and spending the entire week there.

I would recommemnd Sentani (where Jayapura's airport actually is) and Banjarmasin (not Balikpapan).

Sentani is actually one of Papua's major centers for traditional art, and has an impressive, huge lake.

Banjarmasin is just about the only city in Kalimantan that is worth visiting for its own sake, and has a great river life with Asia's best floating market. It also produces lots of fake (!) Dayak art.

In Kupang, the only thing worth seeing is the excellent provincial museum, displaying crafts from all over East Nusa Tenggara, and maybe artshops in town. Skip this, you can see artshops with siimilar items in Bali, where all the best stuff gets taken.

Thanks everyone . . . well looks like Timor (easy/west) is out and Jayapura along with Bangarmasin are still hanging around. I think itineray may be to head direct to Jayapura after landing in Singapore for 3 days. Followed by a few days in Bali and the Bangarmasin enroute to Singapore for 2 days before heading home.

Some further info on the southern areas of Papua for traditional art (Asmat) would be greatly appreciated as well as the better areas of Kalimantan to get (near) original Dayak works.