Mansinam Island
This is the second closest of the islands, and is considerably larger. Similarly spectacular beaches, plus, on the side facing Manokwari, a small village with a church and a historical site: the location of the first missionary activity in Papua. A big celebration takes place here every year on February 5th, attracting people from all over the province, the anniversary of the missionaries’ arrival.
Mansinam is located in Doreh Bay, which is part of the capital city of West Papua, Manokwari. When observed, there is nothing special with this island with no more than 800 population. Rows of coconut trees that decorate the beach and a green hill overgrown with shady trees are common sights that often found in Mansinam.
Many historical relics related to the existence of Ottouw-Geissler can be found on Mansinam Island. Starting from a cross commemorating the entry of Bible in Papua, it stands so beautiful and has an inscription with German language on it with explanation that Ottouw-Geissler was the first missionary to arrive in Mansinam on February 5, 1855. Previously, this monument had been neglected for a long time. and it is so concerning, that in 2013, the Government of Indonesia instructed to renovate this monument into a magnificent monument. This is intended so that Mansinam will always be remembered as the place where modern civilization developed in Papua for the first time.
Apart from the phenomenal monument, the remains of the church building that was first built by Ottouw-Geissler can still be seen. At this time only the foundation remains, but it is enough to be a reminder of how persistent the two missionaries struggled in introducing the modern world to the local population at that time. Next to the church, there is an old well that was made by Ottouw-Geissler as a useful source of water for all the people of island. Remarkably, the old well is still in use today and is an important witness of the civilization history on Mansinam island.
There is one more interesting object to see on Mansinam Island. If you tracing the concrete path towards the hill, then a giant statue of Jesus Christ will be seen. This statue is a positive idea from the Indonesian government which is a form of appreciation for the history of Papuan civilization in Mansinam. This statue looks like the statue of Jesus in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but in a slightly smaller size. This object has just been completed in 2014 and stands very majestically and with great dignity. With open arms, Jesus Christ looks lovingly to welcome anyone visits Mansinam.
The ordinary Mansinam Island will be extraordinary after you trace the history and various evidences of the early legacy of the establishment of modern civilization in Papua. Mansinam keeps an extraordinary story related to the Ottouw-Geissler struggle for the development of the life of Mansinam people in particular and the Papuan people in general. Very incomplete, if you visit Manokwari but have not come to this island. Mansinam Island is a tourist island full of history and full of religious values in it.
On the shores of Mansinam Island, towering coconut trees, soft white sand lapped by the waves from the clear sea and a mixture of green and blue. The atmosphere of Mansinam Island feels very peaceful. Wooden-walled houses were lined up along the concrete road.
How to get there?
To visit Mansinam Island, you can use a motorized wooden boat with a load of 10-12 people from Manokwari Port. The trip to Mansinam Island can be reached in about 10-15 minutes. You can enjoy the clear sea water and see the fish swimming. Even if you are lucky, you can see a group of dolphins playing in the high seas.
