October 17 2008: Manokwari, West Papua, Indonesia - Greenpeace Esperanza Expedition (sitios de interés)

Manokwari, here we come

From our blog: After nine days at sea, the Esperanza pulled into Manokwari harbour this morning. Crowds of people were already on the dock and despite the overcast skies, we received one of the colourful and exotic welcomes I’m becoming accustomed to on this trip, with traditional dancing and singing to greet us when we disembarked.

Manokwari isn’t what I expected. The image I had in my head was a quite an industrial place with lots of concrete, but although I haven’t left the port yet it looks very pleasant. It’s a small place, strung out along a bay and from the ship, most of the town is concealed by palms and trees. And just behind the town lies the forest, the tall tropical trees towering over the nearby buildings.

Maybe it’s the proximity to the forest that gives the people of Manokwari the commitment to protect it, at least that’s the impression I got from those gathered on the dockside. People spontaneously shook my hand, although maybe they were just being friendly rather than responding to the Greenpeace t-shirt I was wearing.

The dance party from the welcome ceremony in Manokwari take a tour of the Esperanza's bridge
© Greenpeace/Rante

© 2008 Greenpeace