Timika
is an active little
town in the flat lowlands (yellow box). The dense jungle was
originally
cleared by the Japanese military during World War II for an
air base. Much later, Freeport used the site as a logistical base
camp for developing the giant copper and gold mine in the highlands to
the north. We stayed at the Timika Base Camp one summer - an
ideal place for logging drill core for our research.Stacie and I had occasional opportunity to adventure away from our work in the drill core shed and explore the local market. These photos were taken in the main market in Timika.
Rickshaws
and moped taxis in front of the marketplace. Moped taxis are
called "Oceks"
and the drivers sometimes provide helmets for passengers. In
reality,
the helmets would provide about as much protection as a halloween
costume, but one does what one can with the materials available.
Ocek
taxi drivers waiting for customers. Machismo is everywhere.
Ocek
drivers and other young men hang around in groups like this both inside
and outside the market. 
More
guys just hanging around.
Although
racial distinctions are definitely present in Indonesia, a lot of
people clearly made friends across racial divides. 
Papuan people sold their produce
in the open space ("parking lot") of the market. This
mother and son sold sugar cain, plantains, sweet potatoes, and some
herbs and lettuce-like bundles. Many of the fruits and vegetables
sold
in the market are unlike anything I've ever seen (e.g., spiny fruit
about the size of a person's head at bottom of photo).
There
was more of a variety of foods and spices inside the market. One
could
buy toiletries, electronics, books, ... just about anything your
average Timika resident might want.
People in the market really were
accommodating and friendly to me. I
wonder how people here in Pennsylvania would react if approached by a
stranger and asked to pose for a photo. People are nice pretty
much
everywhere I've traveled with only a few exceptions. 
