:: Maluku - Mallucas Islands Trevel Guides ::
Maluku, Indonesia,
also known as the Moluccas or the Spice Islands, is a
region of Indonesia consisting o
f approximately 1000
islands, that lies between Sulawesi and Papua. A place
which is the transition zone between the Asian and
Australian fauna and flora, and also between the
Malay-based cultures of western Indonesia and those of
Melanesia, Maluku, Indonesia, is a wonderful
place to have a vacation in.
In the era of the Dutch
traders, the islands of Maluku, Indonesia, were
the only place on earth where nutmeg, mace and several
other valuable spices were grown. In fact, Maluku,
Indonesia, first came to be on the world map as the
place where exotic spices could be imported from. Now,
however, Maluku, Indonesia, is also a well-known
tourist destination.
A province of Indonesia
where only 10% of the total surface area is land,
Maluku, Indonesia, is surrounded by seas, that is,
at places thousands of meters deep. But, the vast
sea-coasts and long beaches are not just the
topographical features of the islands. The Maluku,
Indonesia, islands are forest-covered, and
mountainous. The mountains are mostly craters, and, the
islands of Maluku, Indonesia, are sitting atop
one of the most active volcanic belts of the world. In
fact, the last 400 years have seen more than 70
eruptions in the Maluku, Indonesia.
Maluku,
Indonesia,
has many interesting places to see, that will make the
visit of a tourist worthwhile. The major locations that
one can go to while in Maluku, Indonesia have
been listed down for you by LombokMarine.com.
Ambon, the provincial
capital of Maluku, Indonesia
Maluku lies across a transition zone between Asian and
Australian fauna and flora, and also between the
Malay-based cultures of western Indonesia and those of
Melanesia. there are over 1,000 islands in the Province
most of which are uninhabited. 85% of Maluku is water
and it sits astride one of the world's most actively
volatile volcanic belts. The region has known more than
70 eruptions over the last 400years. Tremors and
volcanic explosions are by no means rare events and, in
fact, many of the islands form classic scenes of
volcanic cones rising out of the sea.
Maluku is blessed with incredible sea gardens, idyllic,
tropical beaches and wonderful landscapes rich with
a
great variety of endemic plant and animal species. The
rugged, forest-coated and mountainous hinterlands of the
islands are home to the Racker tailed king fisher, the
Red-crested Moluccan cockatoo, and other
brilliantly-colored lorikeets and parrots.
Formerly known as the Moluccas, these are the famed
Spice Islands, which Indian, Arab, Chinese and later
European traders spoke of. These islands felt the force
of 16th and 17th attempts by major European sea faring
nations to establish their influence and power. In the
year 1511, the Portuguese built their first fort in the
area on the island of Ternate and established a monopoly
of the clove trade. The Spanish also came, but posed
little threat to the Portuguese.
It was the Dutch, who arrived in 1599, that proved to be
a strong adversary in the quest for, and control of,
Maluku's tree surest Armed conflicts broke out, taking a
heavy toll from the island populations as well as the
rival European powers an' when the Dutch finally emerged
as victors they enforced the trade monopoly with an iron
fist. Whole villages were razed to the ground and
thousands of islanders died, especially on the island of
Banda, in the so called Hongi Expeditions.
The
British briefly occupied Maluku during the
Napoleonic Wars, but Dutch rule was restored in 1814 and
it wasn't until 1863 that the compulsory cultivation of
spices was abolished in the province. Now it is fish and
other sea products that are Maluku's major sources of
revenue, but nickel, oil, manganese and various kinds of
timber also contribute to the province's wealth.
The main gateway into Maluku is through the provincial
capital of Ambon, which is served by regular flights to
most parts of the archipelago. Air and sea
transportation connect the islands themselves together
very well. The province has 79 seaports and 25 airports,
but only about 4 km of roads. However, good roads on
many of the islands provide easy access to the more
remote places of interest.
PLACE OF INTEREST
Ambon
Ambon,
the provincial capital of Maluku which is built
on a hillside overlooking the bay, has a number of
interesting sites of historical and cultural interests.
Among them are the remnants of some old forts built by
the Dutch East Indies Company during the heydays of the
spice trade and the Museum Siwa Lima with its collection
of local arts and crafts. More ruins of forts are found
such as the Dutch one at Lima and those of the
Portuguese at Hila, which are almost entirely hidden
underneath the contorted roots of a giant Banyan tree.
The ANZAC War Cemetery near Ambon town is the site of
services held every year on April 25, to commemorate the
Allied soldiers who died in the region during World War
II. Ambon is at the Maluku end of the annual yacht race
between Darwin, Australia and Ambon. The race usually
takes place at the end of July and the beginning of
August.
Coral Sea Gardens
Good beaches with coral reefs just off the shore are
found around Pombo island Namalatu beach and at Hunimoa
Beach on Ambon. A popular recreation beach on the same
island is Natsepa, Honimua and Namalatu.
Banda Islands
The
Banda group, about 132 kilometers southeast of Ambon,
consists of three larger islands and seven smaller ones,
perched on the rim of Indonesia's deepest sea, the Banda
Sea. Near the island Manuk, the water reaches a depth of
more than 6,500 meters. Of the three biggest islands
Banda, Banda-Neira and Gunung Api, the first two are
covered with nutmeg trees and other vegetation. The
third however, is entirely bare and highly volcanic. The
last eruption of Mt. Api occurred only a few years ago.
The seas around Banda are the site of the famous Maluku
sea gardens with their bright corals and colorful fish
darting through the crystal- clear waters. Facilities
for sightseeing, snorkeling and skin diving are
available, as well as clean, comfortable cottages. Banda
saw some of the bloodiest episodes of Maluku's past
history during the 17th century. In 1609, the Dutch East
Indies Company (VOC) dispatched Verhoeff to the islands
to obtain the contested spice trade monopoly at any
cost. Confronted by a superior power, the people of
Banda were forced to allow the company to establish a
fort, but in that same year Verhoeff was killed together
with 45 of his men. The Company retaliated, but peace
was not restored.
In 1619
, VO.C. Governor-General Jan Pieterszoon Coen
arrived at the head of a penal expedition and
exterminated the entire population of Banda. The land
was divided into lots, called "perken", and given to
former company employees, the "perkiniers", who were
obliged to grow nutmeg and sell them at predetermined
prices to the company. Slaves did the actual work in the
fields. The old "perkenier houses", or what is left of
them, and old churches still retain a peculiar colonial
character to the port town of Bandaneira today. Two old
forts Belgica and Nassau, are inside the town limits.
Others are found elsewhere on the islands. See also the
former Dutch Governor's mansion, the Museum of History
in Neira, and the huge nutmeg plantation nearby.
Seram Island
One of the biggest island in Maluku. The beaches in
Ceram are generally beautiful and suitable for swimming,
fishing etc. Sea gardens, Sago woods, Maiden forests.
Naulu race, who still keep their habits and traditional
way of life. Exotic nature, flora and fauna, Manusela
National Park, Kasa islet and Babi islet surrounded by
white sandy beaches, beautiful spots for swimming and
fishing and gorgeous sea gardens. Wonderful waterfall
and beautiful surrounding panorama in the village of
Rumakai Antiques.
Halmahera Islands
Ternate, an island off the west coast of Halmahera in
northern Maluku, was once the seat of an important
kingdom which prospered from the spice trade. The
Portuguese, the Spanish and the Dutch vied
with each
other for influence on this island. A stronghold of
Islam in the otherwise predominantly Christian province
of Maluku, Ternate nevertheless carries the clear
imprints of both its pre Islamic past and its period of
contact with the West, especially the Portuguese.
The old sultan's palace in Ternate town is now a museum.
In the vicinity are the ruins of old Portuguese, Spanish
and Dutch forts. The remnants of the Dutch Fort Orange
are right in town. About five kilometers west of the
town, on the slope of a 1,715 meter tall volcano in the
middle of the island, is Afo, with its giant clove tree,
said to be more than 360 years old to be the ancestor of
all clove trees in the world. Morotai Island, just off
Halmahera's northern arm, was an important airbase
during World War II, first for the Allies and later for
~the Japanese until its recapture near the end of the
war. The ghosts of war still linger in this area, where
many wrecks of aircraft and rusting guns lie abandoned
in the bushes.
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