Istania Writing Contest - Uniquely Travelling in Indonesia (Raja Ampat)

This short review in order to participate in writing contest by Istania.net:

My Unique Travel Moment – Pearl Cultivation in Raja Ampat, Indonesia

This mid year of 2014 I had a chance to visited the very end on Indonesia Island or as commonly known as Papua Island, the second largest island in the world after Greenland. Me and some of my friends tendency going to one of attractive diving spot on earth, Raja Ampat Island. To go there, we have to transit in Sorong’s airport town call Dominique Edward Osok and continue by 2 horus speedboat or half an hour airplane goes to Waisai – the capital of the island.

One of my friend has a relative in there so we’re going to Raja Ampat by private speed boat which consumed estimate time for 3,5 hours from local port straight to snorkling spot, in this destination is Batanta Island. What a heavenly panoramic in there, outside and inside of the water. The West Papua ocean is famous for its deep and trough pace, hence, the purity of its water also very clear. All of that makes it possible to breed clam that will produce pearl in that area.

By chance, my friend invite us to see pearl cultivation near our vacation spot. It is owned by national citizen and has been established for thirties years. The company also has partnership with several technician from Japan. The place located in the middle of the sea where the operation panel for planted and harvested is floating. The total number of year the pearl could be cultivate is average 4 years. First 2 years for develop the specific clam until mature enough for planting pearl seed (nukleus), then next 2 years are the moment when pearls ready for growth.

I’m so lucky available to see the examples of the perfect product. It is classified by color (shiny), round (shape), surface (thick), size, and reflection. After crop season, pearls are ready to export to Japan or any demand consumer in foreign or inside country.

Tambahan (personal note just for share :))
Perjalanan saya ke Dayan - Raja Ampat bukan untuk liburan semata, melainkan mengikuti ritme kerja dari suami yang memang rutin mengunjungi pulau sebagai situs kerjanya yang di bidang budidaya kerang/siput. Kenapa di Raja Ampat? Karena di lokasi ini plankton sebagai makanan kerang masih terjamin untuk menghidupi kerang. By the way yang dihasilkan oleh kerang ini adalah mutiara, yang siap panennya membutuhkan waktu 2 tahun sekali, belum termasuk waktu untuk mengembangkan kerangnya agar siap berproduksi, surely took a long time!

Proses dan alat-alatnya seperti di dokter gigi ya! Well, proses diatas dinamakan memasukkan sejenis manik-manik kecil ke dalam cangkang untuk diselimuti selama 2 tahun ke depan, dan itulah hasilnya berbentuk mutiara. Tempat pemeliharaannya di dalam laut, dengan tempat yang telah dibuat khusus, gambarnya dibawah ini.

Anyway, daging kerang yang telah dipanen bisa dimakan loh. Direndam kecap Jepang selama sehari, ta daaa, jadilah sashimi scallop! Pake wasabi pun sedap!

tambahan dari suami: 

Mutiara yang dihasilkan sangat bergantung dengan alam. Prosesnya mengandalkan kadar plankton, oksigen dalam air, kadar garam, dan suhu dari air laut itu sendiri. Jika semua itu tidak terjaga, contoh global warming yang menyebabkan kadar garam berkurang karena tingginya volume air, maka dapat membuat hasil dari produk mutiara tidak mumpuni (perfect).

Happy hunting!