Maluku
The Capital
City of Maluku Province
is “Ambon”
Maluku (Moluccas), a region
of Indonesia formerly known as the Spice Islands, was once the source of cloves
and nutmeg, spices highly valued for their aroma, preservative ability, and use
in medicine before people learned how to cultivate the plants in other parts of
the world. Maluku is a cluster of about one thousand islands totaling 74,504
square kilometers, forming part of the Malay Archipelago in eastern Indonesia
near New Guinea. The region is divided into two provinces, Maluku with its
capital in Ambon, and North Maluku (2002 estimated population 913,000), with
its capital in Ternate; other important islands in the group include Halmahera,
Seram, and Buru.
Maluku is an archipilago of thousand large
and small islands, surrounded by the tranquil deep blue oceans. Formerly Maluku
was part of the legendary spice islands and it’s Banda Island which surrendered
to Dutch East Indies Companies instead of Manhattan Island-USA to Portuguese in
the 17th century.The rest is sea, in any places thousands of meters
deep. Maluku is transition zone between the Asian and Australian fauna and
flora, and also between the Malay, based cultures of western Indonesia and
those of Melanesia.It is 999 islands support a population of less than 2
million people. The average population density figure is 20 people per square
kilometer, but the distribution is uneven. Air and sea transportation are the
main means which link the islands together. The province has has 32 sea ports
and 20 Airports, and only about 1,60
kilometers of land roads. Good roads on many of the islands provide easy access
to the often remote places of tourist interest.
A great variety of endemic plant and animal
species are found the rugged forest covered and mountainous hinterland of most
of the islands. A few of the best known are the Racker Tailed King Fisher, 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. The region has known more than 70 eruptions in the last 400 years.
tremors and volcanic eruptions are by no means rare even at present. Many
islands, in fact, look from a distance like volcanic cones rising right out of
the sea.
Formerly known as the Moluccas, these islands
are the original Spice Islands which in the 16th and 17th
centuries lured the major seafaring nations of Europe to come to trade and to
establish their power and influence in this part of the East.It was Nicoli de
Conti, who in 1440 revealed the existence of the Spice Islands to the
Europeans. Using his information, Fra Maura drew his world map, and soon the
race to the East began. In 1511, following the Portuguese built their first
fort in the area on the island of Ternate and established their monopoly of the
clove trade.
The Spanish also came, but posed little
trouble to the Portuguese. The Dutch, who arrived in 1599, on the other hand
proved to be their toughest contestants in the quest for Maluku’s treasures.
Armed conflicts broke out, taking a tall not only among the two rival European
powers, but also among the local populations of the islands. To make it short,
the Dutch finally emerged winners and established their trade monopoly with
iron hand. Whole villages were razed to the ground and thousands of islanders
died in the so called Hongi expeditions lunched by the Dutch to maintain their
trade monopoly, especially on the island of Banda.
The British occupied Maluku for a brief
period during the Napoleonic war between England and France. Dutch rule was
restored in 1814, leading to a new rebellion under Matulassi which the Dutch
suppressed with difficulty. The compulsory cultivation of spieces was abolished
in Maluku only in 1863.Traces of that turbulent period in Maluku’s history
could still be found on a number of islands. Maluku’s great attraction for
present day visitors is it’s sea gardens, and beaches and the beauty of the
land. Maluku’s music dances and hybrid culture in general, too, are among the
provinces strong touristic drawing cards.
Fish and other sea products are nowadays
Maluku’s major sources of revenue, but nickel, oil, manganese and various
timber varieties also contribute to the provinces’s wealth.And Memorials of
Patimura and Martha Christina Tiahahu in Ambon. The Siwalima Museum at Taman
Makmur. The clove factory at Waemahu we could make photo, than to Namalatu Beach. See the sacred
eels and arrive Hunimua white sandy beach for a swim. And visit to the northern
peninsula of Ambon to see Hitu, a historical site, and Hila, Kaitetu for it’s
fort Amsterdam. Old Dutch Church and the oldest mosque of the Moluccas. Manuala
Beach Resort for a refresing swim. In Tantui has Second Worl War Cemetery.
Lonthoir on a leisure to see famous nutmeg plantation of Banda Besar. In
Lonthoir we could see Fort Holandia, Perkhouse and the nutmeg factory. Swim
also at the crystal clear water.
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
Moluccan 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 17th 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.
Liang Beach
Ambon
has a diverse natural tourist destinations. Liang
beach, for example, has a beautiful stretch of white
sand. This beach is often visited by foreign tourists for its beautiful
coastline and natural underwater.Ambon is not just the capital of Maluku
province. The city became a center of tourism and education.
Pattimura Airport became air transportation gateway. The beauty of nature is diverse ranging from the islands, volcanoes, the
hills, the bay, to the lake. Everything is integrated in the local
hospitality.There are various tourist destinations in Ambon, from history to nature.
Call it sculpture Pattimura at Merdeka Square, the Statue of Martha Christina
Tiahahu in Karang Panjang, Trikora Monument in Urimesing, until 'Monument
Australia' in laha and 'Monument Japan' in Tawiri.
Liang
Beach is located 40 km from the International Airport Pattimura. This beach has
white sand along the 1 km with a width of 300 m. No wonder, if Liang beach
is often visited by foreign tourists from Germany, UK, Australia, Canada, and
Netherlands. Tourists are usually dive and enjoy the underwater panorama of
Liang Beach.In addition, tourists can also fishing. Followed by eating grilled
fish, salad Natsepa, and coconut. They enjoy the beauty of Liang beach when the
sun sets.In addition to the clean white sand, this beach has crystal clear
water. The photographers would often stop and take pictures at
the beach for a photo contest national and international levels.Liang is
one of the most beautiful beaches in the country.
Adjacent to the northeast peninsula Leihitu
dealing with white sandy Ceram along approximately 4 km, is 40 km from
downtown. Clear seawater invite every visitor to enter the sea. A sea
restaurant owned by local communities provide Malauku typical meal, fish, baker
and colo colo. This beach is adjacent to the ferry dock there for crossing to
Seram Island, a former field that used to fly the Japanese World War II era. It
is located opposite the beach nature reserves / marine parks Pombo Island an
island of white sand and coral atoll inhabited by birds Pombo (pigeon).
The other object of interests are
Marine Park, Pasir Panjang, 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, etc.
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.
Sumber Investigasi:
F.I. Fatrick &
www.guidingtoindonesia.blogspot.com
