Sightseeing and Meditative Trip in Sorong City

I have just guided Kary, a tourist from France on a motorcycle tour around Sorong city. I picked her up at Swissbel Hotel and then arranged a trip to a newly reclaimed land in the west of Sorong city. It is in the north of Halte Dom (the water taxi harbor). There were a lot of people who were sitting on the wall of the reclaimed land. The wall was protected by big granite stones from seasonal sea waves. The atmosphere was very relaxing. The city dwellers of Sorong were enjoying the beautiful scenery of the blue sea and the sunset. It was quite noisy to be at that place. Plastic wastes, cans began to appear on that area. Soon, shops, restaurants, offices and other businesses will be opened there. It is good for the economy of the city. Unfortunately, there was coral reef areas that had been burried under that newly formed reclaimed land. 

A Buddhist Temple on a hill in Sorong City

We continued our trip to a more quiet place located on a hill above Sorong city. It was Vihara Buddha Jayanti - a Buddhist Temple. The workers asked me why we were so late in visiting the temple. It was around 06:30 when we arrived. After paying the entrance fee and being allowed to enter the higher ground of the temple, we walked along the stairs up to the frontyard of the temple. It was a peaceful place for anyone who wants to enjoy the landscape view of Sorong city. We could hear the noisy sounds of the motorized vehicles.

Buddhism Sacred Statues in Vihara Buddha Jayanti of Sorong City

When a worker from the temple appeared from the stairs, we asked him to grant us permission to see the inside part of the temple. He told us to wait. He still had other things to do. He had to open a faucet to let water flowed along the hose. They were watering the surrounding flower plants. 

Mazu - Sea Goddess 

The concrete road that connected the Buddhist Temple and the main street was badly damaged. I had to be extra careful when riding my motorcyle down the steep hill. 

We continued our trip to Marina Star Restaurant where we enjoyed a plate of fried shrimp bakwan snack, ice tea and beer. At around 10:00 p.m. I brought her back to Swissbel Hotel of Sorong city and then I immediately drove my motorcycle back home. 

If you are interested in taking a tour around Sorong city and wants me to organize your trip, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com

Birding, Sightseeing in Sorong and Raja Ampat

Short Day Birding Tour Near Sorong City

In the past few weeks I guided tourists on various birding, sightseeing and snorkeling tours in Sorong. Most of participants have just returned from their snorkeling and scuba diving trip in Raja Ampat. There are also visitors who have just arrived in Sorong city. After taking this short tour, they will continue their trip to Raja Ampat.

I usually pick up the participants of the tour from such hotels as Swissbel, Aston, or Rylich Panorama. Sometimes, I meet the participants of the tour at DEO Airport of Sorong city. They arrive in the mornings by Garuda, or Batik Air.

Rainforest Tour in Sorong city

The tour at the outskirts of Sorong city allows visitors to explore forest to watch birds, butterflies and flower plants as well as see the magnificent beauty of the coastal area of Sorong. In my recent trip, I and the participants of the tour watch various species of birds such as Gray-headed Goshawk, Lesser Bird of Paradise, Papuan Pitta, Red-billed Brush Turkey, Blyth's Hornbill, Red-cheeked Parrot, Black-browed Triller, Double-eyed Fig Parrot, Yellow-faced Myna, Sahul Sunbird, Variable Goshawk, Papuan Eclectus, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Orange-bellied Fruit-dove, Whimbrel, Pacific Reef Heron, Common Sandpiper, Gray Crow and etc.

Beach Kingfisher

The short birding tour is conducted in the mornings or in the afternoons depending on the time and interest of the participant. For general birding, we usually start at 05:00 in the morning and finish at around 09:00. We usually go by chartered car. The number of participants is between 1 person and 10 people. to For afternoon birding, we start at 14:00 and finish at 18:00. Bringing camera and binoculars will greatly enhance this wildlife tour. 

A few days ago, I and some tour participants from South Africa saw dugong at a beach in Sorong city.

Papuan Eclectus

Birding and Snorkeling in Raja Ampat

The island of Waigeo is a great destination for visitors who are interested in both birdwatching and snorkeling. There are a lot of tropical avifauna that we could see in Raja Ampat. Some of them  are Papuan Eclectus, Claret-breasted Fruit Dove, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Pied Imperial Pigeon, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Yellow-faced Myna, Red-cheeked Parrot, Beach Kingfisher, and etc. Most tourists like to watch Red Bird of Paradise, and Wilson's Bird of Paradise. 

This rainforest birding can be combined with snorkeling and sightseeing tours to a lot of coral reef sites in Raja Ampat such as Friwen, Mioskon, Yenbuba Strait, Arborek, Piaynemo and etc. A lot of reef fish could be seen in the coral reef. They include Striped Surgeonfish, Parrotfish, Anemonefish, Butterflyfish, Moorish Idol, Wobbegong, Carpet Shark and etc. 

Snorkeling photo from Waigeo of Raja Ampat

Coral reef in Raja Ampat

Piaynemo Karst in Raja Ampat

If you are interested in taking this birding, sightseeing and swimming tour in Sorong city and Raja Ampat, and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180. 

Courtship Display of Lesser Bird of Paradise in Sorong Regency's Forest

A few weeks ago, I guided a couple of birdwatchers from the United Kingdom. We watched a lot of species of birds including the male Lesser Birds of Paradise that were performing courtship dance in the forest of Malagufuk village of Sorong regency. I had the chance to make some video. Early in the morning the light from the sun had not fully reached the entire ground of the rainforest. So, the video is not bright enough. 

Courtship Dance of Lesser Bird of Paradise

At least, it is good enough for those who are interested in seeing the courtship behaviour of this beautiful bird. 

The trails to the site for watching birds of paradise are steep and long. This tour is suitable for avid birdwatchers who are physically fit. Most often, visitors need to spend at least 2 to 3 days tour in the forest in order to watch the paradise birds. The cost of this paradise birdwatching tour is also expensive.

Yellow-faced Myna

For visitors who only want to do nature tour at the outskirts of Sorong city, there are several places that are also beautiful and worth visiting although they are not the habitat of birds of paradise. Sorong's hill and mangrove forest are cheaper alternative and more suitable for those who want to enjoy easy nature walk. The hill forest of Sorong is the habitat of Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Orange-fronted Fruit Dove, Black Butcherbird, Helmeted Friarbird, Yellow-faced Myna, and etc. To enhance the birdwatching activity, I bring a spotting scope that is mounted on a tripod. This device enables tour participant to watch birds and other wild animals in distant trees. 

Papuan Eclectus

Tour participants need to bring binoculars, and camera with telephoto lens if they want to watch and take pictures of the birds that they see. 

If you want to take birdwatching tour in Indonesia and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.

Also read:

• Nightwalk in Malagufuk's Forest
• Birdwatching in Malagufuk, Snorkeling in Raja Ampat
• Birding in Malagufuk with 5 British Tourists

• Tropical birds in Sonder of Minahasa
• Birdwatching in the farmland of Sonder
• Birdwatching in Sonder of Minahasa Highland of Indonesia
• Birding in Sonder of Minahasa
• Birding in the Paddy Fields of Subdistrict Sonder
• Birdwatching in the Farmland of Sonder Town
• Walking Tour, Birdwatching and Butterflywatching in District Sonder of Minahasa Highland
• Birds in North Sulawesi
• Birdwatching Tour in the Farmland and Forest of Minahasa Highland
• Manado City Tour: Birdwatching and Sightseeing
• Birding in North Sulawesi
• Birdwatching in Sulawesi
• Birdwatching in Minahasa Highland
• Collared Kingfisher
• Birding in Minahasa of North Sulawesi
• Birding in Higher Elevation Forest of Minahasa
• https://wildlifeminahasa.blogspot.com

Sorong Birding and Raja Ampat Snorkeling

Sorong is an important transit city in Indonesia for visitors who want to go snorkeling and scuba diving in Raja Ampat or adventure trip in Tambrauw. As a matter of fact, Sorong city is a nice destination for tourists who love birding. For day birding, birdwatchers can enjoy their activities, usually very early in the mornings from 06:00 to 10:00, and in late afternoons from 14:30 to 18:00 at the outskirt areas of Sorong city.

Participants can be a solo traveling visitor or a group of tourists who are interested in watching birds and other wild animals of West Papua as well as enjoying sightseeing of the natural landscapes of Sorong regency. 

Blyth's Hornbill

Sorong is a recommended destination for visitors who like birding or want to see outdoor natural environment. There are a number of places which birders can go to watch birds. Some of them include mangrove forest, hill forest, Sorong's ridge forest, and northern coast of Sorong city. 

Hooded Butcherbird

In the hill and ridge forest, visitors can watch Black Sunbird, Sahul Sunbird, Olive-crowned Flowerpecker, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Palm Cockatoo, Blyth's Hornbill, Orange-bellied Fruit-dove, Black-butcherbird, Hooded Butcherbird, Brown Oriole, Orange-bellied Fruit-dove, Pink-spotted Fruit-dove, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Yellow-faced Myna, Golden Myna, Emperor Fairywren, and etc.

Blue-fronted Fig Parrot, formerly called Orange-breasted Fig Parrot

In mangrove forest, visitors could enjoy watching such birds as Orange-fronted Fruit-dove, Collared Imperial Pigeon, Brown-backed Honeyeater, Sahul Sunbird, Common Sandpiper, Willie Wagtail, Blue-fronted Fig Parrot, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Beach Kingfisher, Little Kingfisher, Striated Heron, Rainbow Bee-eater, Brush Cuckoo, and etc. 

Papuan Eclectus

Visitors can bring binoculars, and camera if they want to take this tour. As a birding guide, I can bring a spotting scope to enable participants see birds in distant trees. This device greatly enhances the birding experience of participants.

Birding in Sorong

Rainbow Bee-eater

Birding and Snorkeling in Raja Ampat

The island of Waigeo is a great destination for visitors who are interested in birding, snorkeling and scuba diving. The target birds for Waigeo includes rainforest birds such as Pink-spotted Fruit-dove, Claret-breasted Fruit-dove, Pinon Imperial Pigeon, Papuan Eclectus, Red-cheeked Parrot, Coconut Lorikeet, Violet-necked Lory, Red Bird of Paradise, Wilson's Bird of Paradise, Yellow-billed Kingfisher, Rufous-bellied Kookaburra, Common Paradise Kingfisher, Raja Ampat Pitohui, and etc. 

If we do island hopping trips, we could see a wide variety of sea birds such as Common Sandpiper, Pacific Reef Heron, Whimbrel, Lesser Frigate Bird, Crested Tern, Black-naped Tern, Sooty Tern, Bridled Tern, Striated Heron, Osprey, Brahminy Kite, White-bellied Sea Eagle, and a lot more.

Tropical sea and typical beach accommodation in Kri island of Raja Ampat

The coral reef in Raja Ampat islands is one of the best in the world. Tour participants could enjoy snorkeling or scuba diving to see various species of marine creatures from grouper, barracuda, trevally, batfish, manta, surgeonfish, moorish idol, butterflyfish and etc. There are also turtles, wobbegong, walking shark, and giant sea clam that tourists can see  while in the water.

Coral reef in southern coast of Waigeo island

Waigeo, Kri, Mansuar, and Gam islands are mostly chosen by visitors as their base for snorkeling and scuba diving trips. Daily excursions to various coral reef sites and islands can be done by speed boats. 

LONGER TRIPS

In addition to one day trip, I also run multiple day rainforest tours that last for 3 days to around 1 week covering Sorong regency's forest in Malagufuk, Sorong's hill and mangrove park, Tambrauw and  Raja Ampat.

More plants and animals could be seen during the tours from sago palm whose pith is grated to make starch (which is the staple food of local people) to giant merbau tree whose trunk is cut to make wooden blocks and planks for house contruction. 

If you are interested in taking a birding tour from Sorong city and want me to organize your trip, please, contact me (Charles Roring) by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com or by whatsapp to: +6281332245180. 

Related Posts:

• Birding in Raja Ampat and Sorong Regency of Indonesia
• Birding Near Sorong City
• Short Birding Tour in Sorong City
• Birding Tour Outside Sorong City
• Birding at the Outskirts of Sorong City
• Sorong City Sightseeing and Birding Tour
• Birding and Sightseeing Tour in Sorong City
• Tourist Attractions in Sorong City
• Birding in Mangrove Forest of Sorong City
• Birding in the Forest Near Sorong City of Indonesia
• Birdwatching in Sorong regency's forest

Also read:

• Birdwatching in Sonder of Minahasa Highland of Indonesia
• Birding in Sonder of Minahasa
• Birding in the Paddy Fields of Subdistrict Sonder
• Birdwatching in the Farmland of Sonder Town
• Walking Tour, Birdwatching and Butterflywatching in District Sonder of Minahasa Highland
• Birds in North Sulawesi
• Birdwatching Tour in the Farmland and Forest of Minahasa Highland
• Manado City Tour: Birdwatching and Sightseeing
• Birding in North Sulawesi
• Birdwatching in Sulawesi
• Birdwatching in Minahasa Highland
• Collared Kingfisher
• Birding in Minahasa of North Sulawesi
• Birding in Higher Elevation Forest of Minahasa
• https://wildlifeminahasa.blogspot.com

Mangrove Tour in Sorong City

As a tourist guide, I offer a mangrove tour by boat along the coastal area of Sorong city. This trip can be carried out very early in the morning at around 06:00. The tour will allow participants to see mangrove ecosystem. Birds, shrimps, crabs, seashells, oyster, fish, coastal people depend on mangrove forest for their livelihood. 

After seeing the mangrove ecosystem, we could continue the tour on land by walking along the edge of mangrove forest to watch birds, butterflies and other tidal animals such as mudskipper, crabs and etc. 

Fishing

Participants who are interested in fishing can also take this tour. Please, bring your own fishing equipment. 

Wildlife Watching

Participants can bring their binoculars to watch birds in trees, and cameras to take pictures of any interesting plants and animals as well as beautiful landscape which they see during the tour. 

Birdwatching is a favorite activity among tourists who visit mangrove forest. Birds that could be seen during the tour include Orange-fronted Fruit-dove, White-bellied Cuckooshrike, Brown-backed Honeyeater, Sahul Sunbird, Collared Imperial Pigeon, Little Kingfisher, Collared Kingfisher, Striated Heron, Common Sandpiper, and etc. 

Rufous-bellied Kookaburra

Helmeted Friarbird

Mangrove Tour in Sorong city

This tour is suitable for visitors who are in transit trip in Sorong city. Tourists who have only short time such as 1 day or 2 days. 

If you are interested, please, contact me by whatsapp to: +6281332245180 or by email to: peace4wp@gmail.com.