Wair Nokerua, a Trek to Miracle

Flores history in Catholicism has gone long with St. Francis Xavier as one of the charismatic figures. Wair Nokerua is a water spring named after him and is believed by local community to be the trace of his miracles. Wair in local language means water (derived from) he who lives celibate or pastor (nokerua).

Being one of the special interest tourist sites of Sikka District, Wair Nokerua is located on the beach of Kolisia Village, Sub District Magepanda, Sikka District. It is only ± 20km from Maumere and promises a rural nature living experience to incoming travelers. From Maumere, take the North coast Trans Flores route, turn right after ± 10m at Kolisia Village sign. You will enter an unpaved road enough for one car to pass. Crossing a river to get to the village where the beach is will be one of the most interesting parts the cross-country trek Wair Nokerua offers. Don’t forget to take your camera along because loads of beautiful village views await you.

Green scenery spreads before you the moment you enter village. In planting season, the land along the path will turn into a large green carpet filled with corn plants. If you go further, soon a vast view of green rice fields replace the thick bushes of corn fields. The cross-country trip also provides a variety of other plants to observe. It takes a guide knowledgeable about the nature to make the trekking fun and at the same time informative and educative such as providing information about the plants. Biduri (Calotropis gigantea) is a coastal wild plant used by the locals for herbal medicine; Lamtoro or Petai Cina (Leucaena leucocephala) is useful for composting, while the seed, not only delicious for meal but is also taken fresh to reduce flatulent symptoms; There is also Jarak seed (Jatropha Ricinus communis) that produces bio-energy fuel. Local passion fruit (Capparis spinosa subsp. Nummularia), wild fig (Ficus sp), Kesambi (Schleichera oleosa), tamarind (Tamarindus indica) are growing wild along the road to quench your thirst. One of the well-known herbal plants is Mengkudu (Morinda sp) which unlike those commonly found, here it has smaller fruit size and at a glance shows a glimpse of Batik Gringsing pattern on its skin. Wair Nokerua is also home to many fauna including Tekukur or turtle spotted birds (Streptopelia chinensi), sparrows (Estrildidae), as well as various grasshoppers.

Within the ± 3km trek, you may also see water buffalos enjoying cool fresh water, cows and goats grazing in the fields and hills surrounding Wair Nokerua, farmers plowing lands while others planting and weeding the rice fields. It is so unique that it makes you feel you are in another dimension of time. Early morning is the right time to really feel the peace and quietness of Wair Nokerua moment. Take a chance to also converse with the local villagers to really experience the friendliness and the daily life of rural agrarian society Florinese are proud of.

If you wish to just relax and unwind by the beach, Wair Nokerua’s gentle waves shall take you to tranquility. Situated in a lagoon arching the coast, the beach is very far from the town’s hussle bussle. Take your time to also climb up the highest hill for breathtaking scenery awaits you with paddy leave dances in a synchronized rhythmical move that it almost looks like a green ocean wave choreographed by the wind. With swaying coconut tress on one side and the aquamarine blue sea on the horizon on another, you will agree that St. Francis Xavier has led a miracle to Wair Nokerua.