East Timor/ West Papua

Jiwika is a Dani village where we enjoyed a day-long introduction to their local culture. The entire village was traditionally dressed. The welcome was rich and deep. In fact, this will take several posts.
As we approached the village, we encountered the village chief atop a lookout column or pedestal where he challenged us. Then there was a simulated battle (see another post).
After the battle, we walked to the village being continuously welcomed until we reached the village gate in the 2nd picture. Following this challenge and welcome we entered the village where we experienced 2 welcome dances, one by the warriors and the 2nd by the entire village.
A feast followed. However, we didn't just eat. We saw the entire process, from live pig to meal. 1st they caught and killed the pig for the feast (see another post, but be forewarned that the pig being killed is shown). The pig was butchered (picture 3). The next 5 pictures are preparing using the cooking process. The 5th picture is the fire where stones are heated. A cooking pit lined with grass is prepared and the hot stones are carried from the fire using long wooden tongs (picture 6). The process builds up in layers with taro, sweet potatoes and corn on the cob in the layer above the rocks. Then more vegetation, especially potato leaves, and hot rocks are added, and the pig is placed on that. Finally, more hit rocks and vegetation are added, and the grass lining is folded up and tied in place. The 8th picture is the finished operation. The 9th picture shows the village women removing the taro, potatoes and corn. I confess to being so interested in eating that I forgot to get a picture of the meal.
In the last picture, the people showed us many traditional crafts which were also for sale.Read more