Baliem valley may become a real sensation for someone. It's the whole region that existed in full isolation! The aboriginals who had to jump from the Stone Age into the modern time prepared many surprises and mysteries for the world. Who could imagine that the primitive tribe knew the secrets of mummification?!




Gates to Kurulu, but we won't go there.


Sompaina is to the left from this hill. Do you see something like the path when looking at the peak? In fact its the trace from the logs which are rolled down from above when they cut tress.


In Sompaina one may see traditional huts of Baliem aboriginals. Usually they occupy a tiny fenced territory. The fence is needed to keep pigs inside. There are female and male huts, children sleep in the female ones. The kitchen is one for all. In the centre there is a site where locals gather.


People here like to smoke. Girls often wear nothing but skirts.

Each mummy has a keeper who takes care of it. To see and to photograph a mummy costs 60,000 rupees, as the keeper said. He added that taking photos of aboriginals should be paid for too: 5,000 to everyone including children whose photos you want to take.

Sompaina sees many tourists so this system is normal for them.


Vim Motok Mabel - the mummy is 285 years old.


The keeper holds the mummy in order it doesn't fall.


The mummy is rather well preserved, except the cap, so aboriginals knitted a new one and put on the old cap.

Almost all locals wear traditional dresses, but it is just a window dressing, specially for tourists...


Being given 5,000 rupees for taking pictures of the mummy (negotiated price), the keeper started to demand 20,000!


For entering inside and seeing how he mummy lives there they demand 50,000 rupees!


Local souvenirs, women didn't want to discuss what they were made of, they only wanted them to be bought!