A Spiritual Journey to Doreri Bay
Every year, just before February 5, Doreri Bay in West Papua is ‘invaded’ by boatloads of pilgrims heading towards Mansinam Island to commemorate the arrival of the first Bible in Papua 150 years ago. But that is not the only reason people come to these shores. Many call on nearby Bakaro Beach for the chance of meeting and watching Lukas Barayap at work. For Lukas is a gifted fishermen, a ‘caller of fish and whales.’ Every morning, Lukas heads for the surf and blows on his special whistle. He believes man can communicate with animals, just like the Prophet Solomon. Best of all, his special gift has prevented fishermen, fearful of Lukas, from using explosives around the bay. Tempo reporter Bagja Hidayat sent his report on the magical events in Doreri Bay for Tempo English.
January 26, 2011
THE man stood at the edge of the Bakaro shore. Wearing a T-shirt and shorts that reached to his knees, Lukas Awiman Barayap blew a whistle while at the same time throwing termites that he had gathered from a tree, far out into the sea. The weather was balmy on a Friday during the second week of last December. A sea breeze was gently throwing waves against the corals and the white sand, after a drizzle had left Manokwari, the capital of West Papua
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