This is the beginning of the New Guinea/West Papua expedition with Wilderness Travel. Wamena is a populated area with the Dani tribe. The region is primarily agricultural and somewhat westernized.

Second Trip

"The visible impression of Wamena is that it is more populated and poorer.  There are certainly fewer Dani in traditional dress, which is not good. Perhaps the demise of Suharto will impact the policy of transmigration and slow the trivilization of the Dani in their own land.

One fun note, on walking into the hotel, the same old Dani who stood there 2 years ago is still greeting every visitor. He shook my hand. I responded by looking in his eyes and started, “wa wa wa wa .” He responded and beamed."