Azure: Base G Beach is famous for its clear blue waters, unblemished by rubbish.

Jayapura, a city of just over 270,000, is one of the nation'€™s most eastern cities '€” and home to a beautiful beach.

Base G Beach, located 10 kilometers from the city'€™s center, is passable by motorcycles and private cars through a road that winds its way along Jl. Angkasa to the west.

When you are in Jayapura, you must not miss a visit to Base G Beach, where one can find white sands, rows of huts, lodgings, palm trees and simple seasonal kiosks.

In addition, Base G Beach is famous for its clear blue waters, unblemished by rubbish. One can look down into the sea and spot fish and coral. The sky also looks clean and friendly. The beach is ideal for those who love to swim or bask in the sun.

Pricey: The beach remains popular, although residents complain of multiple admission and parking fees.

No one knows exactly what the '€œG'€ stands for. Some think it was a code name given by Allied officers during the Second World War. Relics of the Allied forces, such as tanks and cannon, can be found on the border between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

'€œIt takes around 30 minutes to the south to reach the border of Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, where one can see relics. You must report to the [Indonesian Navy sailors] who guard the border,'€ said Wellem Mabirsa, 42, a sailor who owns a location for visitors to shelter.

During the day, visitors can enjoy white sands, blue seas, waves and coral that make people linger while chatting with their family and friends. From a distance, one can look at the curve of the mountains in Papua New Guinea.

Children and adults can be seen swimming as far as 200 meters from the edge of the beach. Some dive for shells and to look at corals. Others walk along the sand.

'€œOn Sundays, quite a few visitors are thronging to this beach after they have attended services at church. At least a thousand visitors spend time gathering with their family and friends,'€ added Wellem.

Another resident was less than enthused.

'€œI seldom come here. The reason is that the entrance fee has doubled,'€ said Tri Yulianto, who has lived in Jayapura since 1987. '€œYou can imagine that after we have paid to enter, then the owner of the huts still charge a fee for parking '€” again. In fact, we have already paid. Once we park a vehicle inside the location that we have rented, we must pay it again '€” Rp 200,000. Illegal parking has burdened visitors.'€

Getaway: The beach lies only 10 kilometers or so from downtown Jayapura.
Bilha Poei, a vendor, said that the huts could be rented from Rp 200,000 to 300,000 a day. The huts, often with a honai-style roofs and measuring 10 meters square, can accommodate up to 20 people.

'€œAt least we can obtain a net profit for rentals that'€™s around Rp 5 million a month. As you know, the owners of the huts do not stay at Base G. They have their own houses in Jayapura city. This is our side job,'€ said Vincent Kossay, who works for the city secretariat.

When night falls, one can still enjoy the beauty of Jayapura. Houses stand amid hills and valleys with roads winding up and down.

Evert, who runs the local Culture and Tourism Agency, said that the city offered a blend of historical and natural attractions. He said that the provincial government was focused on developing the tourism sector.

Evert said that most tourists in Jayapura were businesspeople. However, on certain days, especially when there are festivals, the city can attract more visitors.

'€œNet profits from Base G beach can reach at least Rp 600 million [US$5,128] a month. These profits are used to maintain the entrance gate, pay G beach officers and other necessities,'€ Evert said.

Evert said that Jayapura was built by the Netherlands and the US, meaning that many traces of the Second World War could be found here.

'€œThere are many antiques '€” relics of World War II. Japanese tourists often come here and Americans as well. They want to see the relics, including the ones at the border of Base G and Papua New Guinea,'€ said Evert.

He said that there are 50 hotels from the most basic to the five-star level that could meet the needs of tourists coming to Jayapura.

La dolce vita: Visitors enjoy the laidback scene at Base G beach.
 

 

'€” Photos by Markus Mardius