Scott Stallard began his fascinating month long expedition to remote Irian Jaya, a province of Indonesia, when he left Bermuda on May 27, 1997 at 8:30 pm on British Airways to London. Altogether this travel adventure entailed 24 flights.

"It is the western half of the island with New Guinea and until 1962 it was controlled by the Dutch. It has remained a remote, isolated and virtually unchanged location for thousands of years,'' explained Mr. Stallard.

Although this is a fascinating place, Mr. Stallard says it is not a tourist destination and it is difficult to reach.

"It is uncertain territory, impossible to plan a schedule, the terrain is difficult with dense Malarial jungles up to steep, cloud shrouded mountain villages,'' said Mr. Stallard who is publishing a book on his travels there.

He photographed three tribes which seem to represent a cross-section of the many hundreds of tribes. They are the Dani of the Baliem Valley, the Momina of the Asmat Jungle and the Yali of the Mountains of the Central Highlands.

Mr. Stallard said, "I have seen and photographed no other people and place as primitive. In most cases, these are still stone age people, only recently emerged from thousands of years of constant tribal warfare.'' The country's population is about 1.6 million speaking as many as 250 distinct languages with one-fifth of the world's languages.

Excerpt from Mr. Stallard's travel diary to Irian Jaya.

May 29 Singapore - Jakarta -Ujung Pandang - Biak-Jayapura.

"...We left Biak at about 5:30 am and came in sight of Irian Jaya in no time.

First thing I saw were mountains and jungle sticking out above the clouds.

Looks massive and unpopulated. It's 6:25 am and the sun is up - good clear day. We circled over foggy mountains and dense jungle, landing at sentani after crossing Lake Sentani.

It was a smooth landing in between the coconut trees and under the mountain peaks.

It is about an half hour drive to Jayapura itself so I get a taste of the area. Lots of kids, especially on the road! The vehicles constantly come within inches of very small children who obviously learn at three or four years old about staying just off the tire track! We arrive at the hotel overlooking the port of Jayapura.

We go to find the Yali Tribe which will require some days of mountain trekking and jungle valleys. Apparently cold at night too! The first adventure will start June 3rd when we fly a small plane from Wamena to a grass strip in Dekai which I can't find on any maps! From here we hike jungle, cross four rivers over rope bridge, down river in canoes. Making tent camp at night for two days before finding the Momina people who build high in the trees. Then of course, we've got to come back!! Up the Brazza River the way we came.

"...Amongst the people there watching was my first glimpse of a Dani man with nothing on but his `horim' or penis gourd...! Upon exiting, the locals seemed interested in me and were very cheerful. Most looked Aboriginal as in Australia. We took a van to a little `losmen' as they call places to stay which was very comfy.

I packed a camera bag and headed to the open air market with two of my guides.

We wandered through the colourful but dirty market, learning what I was looking at! Dani tribes people were selling tobacco, sweet potatoes, gourds and even fossils, one of which I bought for eight US dollars. They find them in the river banks apparently.'' Irian Jaya: A Dani man wearing his `horim' or penis gourd.

Tribal men: Irian Jaya has many hundreds of tribes.

Ancient culture: Scott Stallard socialising in Irian Jaya.

Mominas: Deep in the jungle they build their homes in the trees.

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