Maluku

The Meratus Mountains divide South Kalimantan into two distinct regions. The southern section of the province is much flatter with large rivers meandering through lowlands to vast mangrove swamps along the coast, that why South Kalimantan an exceptionally fertile land. Many villages and settlements build along the Barito River, by the indegenous majority, the Banjar. Exquisite traditional and commercial handicrafts are all made from local raw materials which include a variety of precious and semi precious stones, gold, silver, brass, iron and wide variety of woods including bamboo and rattan. South Kalimantan is one of the largest wood producers in Indonesia. Extensive forests with wide variety of trees such as ironwood, meranti, pinus and rubber have helped to make the province a unique and rich natural resource. The provincial capital, Banjarmasin, lies a short distance from the delta of Barito River. A lot of business is done on the waterways; Local people build traditional floating houses made of wood or bamboo facing the river, called “lanting”. Floating market flourish selling an enormous variety of goods including a tropical selection of fresh fruit such as Kesturi, a rare aromatic species of mango, durian, rambutan, butter fruit, pineapple, watermelon and banana. let's visit Indonesia

Places of Interest

Ambon

Ambon, the provincial capital of Maluku, is built on a hillside overlooking the bay. It has a number of interesting historical and cultural sites, among the remnants of forts built the Dutch East Indies Company during the heyday of the spice trade. The ruins of the Pourtuguese fort at Hila are almost entirely hidden beneath the contorted roots of a giant Ba¬nyan tree. The ANZAC War Cemetery near Ambon town is the site of serviced held every year on April 25, to commemorate the Allied soldiers who died in region during World War II. The museum Siwa Lima has a fine collection of local arts and crafts. Ambon is at the Maluku end of the annual yacht race between Darwin, Australia and Ambon. The race usually takes place in July and August.

Beaches and Coral Reefs

Beaches and Coral Reefs. Good beaches with coral reefs just off shore are found around Hunimoa, Latuhalat, and Namalatu beaches on Ambon. Namalatu has the nicest beach and a hike to Latuhalat will take you some excellent escluded coves.

Namalatu Beach

Namalatu Beach Looks out over the Banda sea on the South coast of Ambon in the village Latuhalat some 15 km away from town Ambon. Namalatu has a strip of a white sand and coral beach and crystal clear unpolluted water. The scenery is beautiful and attractive it is an ideal place for sunbathing, swim, snorkel and scuba diving.
Additional facilities Namalatu beach offers are shelter, open air stage for dance and music performances and also “rujak” (mixed fruit salad with peanut sauce), fresh young coconut peddlers and on prior request people can serve you with barbequed fish and lobster.

Pintu Kota (the gate of the city)

Pintu Kota (the gate of the city) Lies between the villages Airlow and seri on the south coast of Ambon island. A huge rock stretching out to the sea with a hole at its bottom which looks like a gate where through it we can see the coast line and the Banda sea. It is an ideal place for snorkeling and diving.

Latuhalat Village

Latuhalat Village is the main center of bricks production. The sub-village Waemahu is also well-known for the production of clove miniature boats handicraft.

Banda

Banda. The Banda group, about 132 kilometers southeast of Ambon, consist of three lar¬ger islands and seven smaller ones, perched on the rim of Indonesia’s deepest sea, the Banda Sea. Near Manuk Island the water reaches a depth of more than 6,500 meters. Gunung Api Islands is an active volcano, the last major eruption occured only a few years ago.
The seas around Banda are the site of famous Maluku sea gardens with their fantasy-land coral reefs and kaleidoscopic array of multi-colored fish darting through the crystal clear water. Pulau Karaka, Pulau Pisang and Pulai Ai are particularly well-known for their amazing snorkeling and diving. Facilities for sightseeing, snorkeling and skin diving as well clean, comfortable cottages are available on some islands.
Banda was home to some of the bloodiest episodes of Maluku’s history. In 1609 the Dutch East Indies Company dispatched a new governoor-general to the islands to obtain the contested spice trade monopoly at any cost. Confronted by superior power, the people of Banda were forced to allow the company to establish a fort, but in the same year Go¬vernoor Verhoeff was killed, together with 45 of his men. The company retailed, but peace was not restored. In 1619, V.O.C. Governor-General Jan Pieterszoon Coen arrived at the head of 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 “perkinier houses” , or what is left of them, an 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.

Accomodation and information are most readily available on the ’heavily populated’ south coast. The north coast boasts some of the best snorkeling in all of Maluku at Asele, one hour east of Wahai.

Seram Island

Seram Island The second-largest island in Maluku, Seram is virtually untouched because of its wild, rugged interior. Seram receives a lot of rain throughout the year, and is a birdwatcher’s paradise. Trekking in the Manusela National Park is about as far offs the beaten track as you can get in Indonesia; the park receives fewer visitors than Baliem Valley in Papua.

Tourist Office:

Jl. Pattimura No. 1 Ambon 97124
Phone. (0911) 345336
Fax. (0911) 352471, more visit my-indonesia