http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Indonesia/Maluku/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Asia , Indonesia , Maluku en-us Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:13:12 UTC Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:13:12 UTC Blogged already about getting down to the Banda Islands Great place definitely worth the trouble. As luck would have it we arrived at the right time for the Kora Kora races of which more later.We arrived at Bandaneira with all the bustle of the ferry docking horn echoing round the island street stalls set up selling food every Ojek and Becak driver on the island waiting for a fare porters run http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Indonesia/Maluku/Banda-Islands/blog-137461.html Maluku is a delightful group of islands in the eastern part of Indonesia. They straddle the equator directly right of Sulawesi. This part of the world is said to have been the spark that ignited European colonialism. Nutmeg in the 16th century was worth its weight in gold in Europe but here it cost next to nothing. The Banda islands in the south of Maluku province had nutmeg in abundance growi http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Indonesia/Maluku/blog-136623.html I write this because I know the issue often comes up when people are planning to go to Eastern Indonesia. I have just returned from a holiday in Maluku 3 weeks in November 06. While I do not have Bahsa we meet up with some knowledgeable people on the subject of the conflict. Dutch Mulukans local English speakers Europeans trying to run businesses in the area People who came there for Holidays ev http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Indonesia/Maluku/blog-132666.html PELNI FOR VIRGINSIt was our first time on a Pelni boat some folk do it often and choose whichever class they want if thatrsquos applies to you then no point in reading this I write as a first timer.Finding out when the boat was in didnrsquot prove to be easy Bahsa would help lots of course. But even fluent Bahsa speakers seemed to suffer a fair amount of confusion.As we only booked 2 days http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Indonesia/Maluku/Ambon/blog-132066.html Journey to the Spice Islands Spice Islands Indonesia AsiaBy Dave StockingWe recently returned from a trip to the Banda Islands previously the mysterious Spice Islands. The islands have both a European and a local history. They have long been a major point of conflict for their riches. Getting there is an adventure in itself. This is our trip with a few tips. We are in our mid to late 50s do http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Indonesia/Maluku/Banda-Islands/blog-130387.html Not all that much happens on the Banda Islands. The days of crazy foreigners falling over themselves to set foot on the islands all for a little brown nut are long gone. The Bandas are a forgotten backwater if ever there was one.Not surprisingly therefore the docking of a ship as large as the Bukit Siguntang at a port as tiny as Neira Island's is an event. A big event.Arriving in the Banda Is http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Indonesia/Maluku/Banda-Islands/blog-95742.html Eyes still heavy with sleep I extract myself from my little niche to have a look around. No sooner has my head risen above the edge of the parapet that a terrifically strong wind threatens to blow me off the ferry It must be about 6am and our destination is in sight dead ahead. A place I have dreamt of visiting for years the Banda Islands.The Bandas are a small cluster of islands about 200 http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Indonesia/Maluku/Banda-Islands/blog-95194.html ldquoFly is cheaprdquo. Thatrsquos the confidenceinspiring slogan printed on the front of our Lion Air tickets. Still herersquos hoping the money they save on corporate image goes towards decent aircraft maintenance. Lion is one of a vast number of recent startups in the Indonesian regional airline business. With these airlines whether your flight departs or not is a matter of luck. Wh http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Indonesia/Maluku/Ambon/blog-94142.html