International Market
Passing the Fly River, we entered the Wonam River in Indonesian territory. Two hours later, the boat arrived at a quiet swamp. A rancid smell floated from a distance.
The atmosphere of the international market at the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea border.
An international cross-border market spanning Indonesia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) operates every Wednesday and Saturday in Indonesian border territory. This event is much-awaited by villagers in PNG.
Kuem is the closest PNG village to the market. Elisa, a crocodile skin trader, left the village at 3 a.m. The old man allowed me to join him. Our boat carried 12 passengers, including four small children, and 300 fresh mujair (freshwater tilapia). About two hours later as the sun began to rise, we entered the main course of the Fly River, or the “curve” along the RI-PNG border.