Ambon Maluku

Ambon

The name of the island Ambon is believed to come from the word apon, meaning "plantation'. Indeed, Ambon was one of the firsts Moluccan islands to be occupied by the Portuguese and used as a plantation. Ambon City is the Main City and seaport of Ambon Island, and is the capital of Maluku Province. It is one of the largest cities in eastern Indonesia. 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 Siwa Lima Museum with its local arts and crafts collection. 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 to commemorate the Allied soldiers who died in the region during world War 11. Ambon is at Maluku end of the annual yacht race between Darwin, Australia and Ambon. The race usually takes place in August. Ambon, as a beautiful city, has a lot of tourism objects that offer the tourist much beautiful scenery. On arrival in AMBON, you will be met at Pattimura airport, transfer to your hotel. After lunch, visit WAISELAKA POND in WAAI, its clear crystal water inhabited by holy eel, The Crazy Bamboo Performance. You can have dinner and overnight at your hotel.

Ambon, the provincial capital of Maluku which is built on a hillside overlooking the bay, a number of interesting sites of historical and cultural interest. Among them are the remnants of some old forts bulit by the Dutch East India company during they heyday of the spice trade and the Museum Siswa Lima with it’s collection of local arts and crafts.More ruins of forts are found elsewhere on Ambon Island, such as those of a Dutch one at Lima and those of the old Portuguese fortress at hill, on the other side, which is almost entirely hidden underneath the cntorted roots of a giant bayan tree.

The ANZAC War Cemetery near Ambon town is the site of services held every year 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, Australian, and Ambon usually takes place in August.

Maluku tourism profile that contains the object and appeal as well as visiting the Moluccas, are realities that are so promising potential for tourism, especially for tourists to come visit it's time to see the natural beauty include: Availability of appeal in accordance with the characteristics of the underwater area as the Maluku islands, volcano Area hills' natural scenery, Gulf, Lakes and Hospitality Molucan community that has been known since long ago with the tradition of community that considers "Tourists As the King".

Maluku its approximately 1000 islands support a population of less than 1.7 million people. The average population density figure is 19 people per-square kilometer, but the distribution is uneven. Air and sea transportation is the main means, which link the islands together. The province has 32 seaports and 20 airports, and only about 160 km of roads. However, good roads on many of the islands provide easy access to the often-remote places of tourists' interest.

Maluku lies in the transition zone between Asiatic and Australian flora and fauna and has a tropical climate. Maluku's flora includes meranti trees and many kinds of orchids; distinctive fauna includes cuscuses, birds of paradise, wild goats, and parrots. The economy is based on subsistence agriculture, especially sago (the sago palm, producing a starch used in food), and on the export of such products as spices, cacao, coffee, coconuts, fish, and minerals. Important indigenous groups include the Ambonese.

A great variety of endemic plant and animal species are found in the rugged forest-covered and mountainous hinterlands of most of the islands. A few of the best known are the Rucker-tailed kingfisher, the red-crested Moluccan cockatoo, and various brilliantly colored lorikeets and parrots. Most of Maluku sits astride one of the world's most volatile volcanic belts.

Traditional Costumes

The unique dress worn by Maluku women is Manampal coat which is a unique Ambon coat.For formal ceremonies, Maluku men usually wear red or black color coat with laced under wear and belts.The women wear Cele dress, a kind of coat, adorned with earrings, necklace, and rings.The women usually bring Lenso Pinggang in certain ceremonies, that is a white handkerchief which is how rarely laid at hip.

Halmahera

Ternate, a little island off the west coast of Halmahera in notrhern Maluku, was once the seat of an important kingdon which prospered from the spice trade. The Portguese, the Spanish and the Dutch vied with each other for influence on this island. 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 inside the town.

About five kilometers west of the town, on the slope of the 1.715 meters tall volcano in the middle of the island, is Afo, with it’s giant clove tree, said to be more than 350 years old. 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 it’s 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.

Banda

The group about 160 kilometers southeast of Ambon consist of three larger islands and 7 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 island, Banda, Banda Neira and Mount Api. The first to are covered with nutmeg trees and oother vegetation. The third, is entirely bare and highly volcanic. The last eruption of Mount 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 history pass during the 17^th century.

In 1609, the Dutch East India 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 the establishment of a fort, but in that same year Verhoeff was killed together with 45 to his men. The company retaliated, but peace was not restored.In 1619, VOC 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 on the fields.

The old perkeniers houses, or what is left of them, and old churches still lend a peculiar colonial character to the port town of bandaneire today. Two old forts, Belgica and Nassau, are inside the town limits. Others are found elsewhere on the islands. Available also the former Dutch Governor’s Mansion, the Museum of History in Neira, and the huge nutmeg plantation nearby.

The objects interesting are:

Marine Park, Pasir Panjang, Liang Beach, Coral Sea Gardens, Seram Island, Natsepa Beach

Victoria Fortress, Pattimura Monument, Mount Api, Tual, Lelisa Beach, Siwalima Museum, Tanjung, Santai Beach, Felawatu Beach, Pintu Kota

For complete information you could have on the “Text Book Guiding To Indonesia” By F. I. Fatrick.

Transportation

The capital of Maluku, Ambon could be reached from Jakarta and other major cities and ports by sea and air. Air and sea transpot are also the links that connect Ambon with some of the major towns elsewhere in Maluku, such as Ternate and Tual in the Kai Islands. Land transportation is available only in the city.