Geography
The legendary "Spice Islands" of Indonesia were
fought over for centuries by Europeans desperate for the islands' cloves and
nutmeg which they needed to both preserve their meat and fill their national
coffers. A vast scattering of tiny islands in a tempestuous volcanic "ring
of fire", they are a fascinating destination for travellers in search of
the unusual. Key islands are Ambon, the tiny island of
Ternate where the Sultan's Palace has been transformed into a
museum, and the Banda Islands where today you'll still find
remnants of Banda's "golden age", including old forts and
marble-floored mansions. Banda's coral
sea garden should also be on your agenda, and if you're really
looking for a beautiful souvenir, the pottery of the tiny
island of Tayanda near Irian Jaya is all made by hand and
simply beautiful.
One of the largest of the Maluku Spice Islands is the island of
Halmahera which also boasts a giant clove tree which is 360 years old
and said to be the ancestor of all clove trees in the world.
Culture
Activities
Nature
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