Molding Airstrip

Molding Airstrip is about as remote as Indonesian aviation gets, tucked into the highland folds of Pegunungan Bintang where the Papuan jungle meets the clouds. Don't arrive expecting a food court or a café with a laminated menu — the airstrip is a single-strip operation serving small missionary and cargo flights, and the concept of airside dining simply doesn't exist here. What you will find, if you time your connection right, is the extraordinary generosity of the local Aplim Apom community.

Villagers near the airstrip often gather when flights are expected, and it's not unusual for travelers to be offered sweet potato — known locally as hipere — roasted over coals, or taro wrapped in banana leaf. These aren't commercial transactions; they're expressions of welcome. If you're traveling with a local guide or a mission-affiliated organization, you may be invited to share a meal of smoked fish or river crayfish with sago, the starchy staple that anchors Papuan highland cooking. Accept gratefully and eat with your hands.

For anything resembling a sit-down meal, you'll need to plan ahead. The nearest village warung — a humble roadside stall serving rice, instant noodles, and whatever the morning market yielded — is a walk or short ride away. Travelers passing through on MAF or mission flights typically carry their own provisions: dried fruit, crackers, and perhaps a thermos of coffee. The honest advice is to eat well before you arrive in Oksibil or Jayapura, because once you're at Molding, you're dining on patience, scenery, and the kindness of strangers.