  Freeport
Indonesia built a town in the high mountains for the people working at
the mine, mill, and other mining-related facilities.
|
 A modern mining camp is much, much
more than a bunch of bearded, old prospector types living in roughshod
cabins. Modern mining towns have mechanic shops for cars and
trucks, sewage treatment plants, hospitals, schools, and even shopping
malls.
|
  The town sits in a valley between
steep mountains. Thin waterfalls cascade down the slopes and make
for great scenery to wake up to every morning.
|
  Apartments in Tembagapura are
nice two story affairs. The roads between them are remarkably
steep. Toyota Forerunners account for roughly 99% of the vehicles
on the property and everyone has great calves! |
 In
addition to the fancy shopping mall, there is a small open air mall
that caters more to papuans and other less wealthy workers. The
open air mall is a place to buy cigarettes, T-shirts and cheaper
clothes, and betelnut
(betelnut is a very popular fibrous nut that
produces an alkaloid stimulant when chewed simultaneously with powdered
sea shells [lime] and juniper-like twigs [wet with saliva, then dip in
lime powder]. The lime neutralizes acids in your saliva and the
betelnut, creating an alkaline solution that is bright red/orange and drools out of the mouth of the
chewer.) |
 The
soccer field is a large dirt field near the field house and is heavily
used. The field gets pretty muddy because it rains very often in
Tembagapura. Some of the players are quite good and games are
never called on account of rain.
|
Freeport
Indonesia built a town in the high mountains for the people working at
the mine, mill, and other mining-related facilities. 
A modern mining camp is much, much
more than a bunch of bearded, old prospector types living in roughshod
cabins. Modern mining towns have mechanic shops for cars and
trucks, sewage treatment plants, hospitals, schools, and even shopping
malls. 
The town sits in a valley between
steep mountains. Thin waterfalls cascade down the slopes and make
for great scenery to wake up to every morning.
Apartments in Tembagapura are
nice two story affairs. The roads between them are remarkably
steep. Toyota Forerunners account for roughly 99% of the vehicles
on the property and everyone has great calves!
In
addition to the fancy shopping mall, there is a small open air mall
that caters more to papuans and other less wealthy workers. The
open air mall is a place to buy cigarettes, T-shirts and cheaper
clothes, and betelnut
(betelnut is a very popular fibrous nut that
produces an alkaloid stimulant when chewed simultaneously with powdered
sea shells [lime] and juniper-like twigs [wet with saliva, then dip in
lime powder]. The lime neutralizes acids in your saliva and the
betelnut, creating an alkaline solution that is bright red/orange and drools out of the mouth of the
chewer.) 
The
soccer field is a large dirt field near the field house and is heavily
used. The field gets pretty muddy because it rains very often in
Tembagapura. Some of the players are quite good and games are
never called on account of rain.
