On arrival into Kokas, we were greeted with a warm welcome from the local school children who were just as excited to see us, as we were to see them. After a colorful dance performance to the beat of local drummers, we set off by foot for a tour of the village. The fun continued with local Papuan women demonstrating a unique dance, jumping between two poles on the ground that are clapped together. Get your timing wrong and you may get caught! Onboard Cultural Specialist Kura stole the show, dancing and jumping with ease as we all clapped and cheered her on. The young boys of Kokas then showed us their determination and strength as they stood on each other’s shoulders, climbing as high as they could up a pole covered in grease, with prizes for whoever could make it to the top!
Afterward, we took the Zodiacs for a cruise across the bay to view ancient rock paintings dotted along the jagged limestone islands. The rocky overhangs displayed rich, red ochre paintings of handprints and animal depictions that are thought to be 3,000 years old.
