BANDANAIRA : EXOTIC PARADISE IN EASTERN INDONESIA

Banda archipelago consists of ten volcanic islands scattered in the Banda Sea, ± 140 km south of Seram island and 2,000 km east of Java Island. Islands covering an area of ​​180 km ² is included in the Maluku province. Largest city, Bandanaira, located on the island of the same name. . Until the mid-19th century, the Banda Islands were the only source of nutmeg spice. The islands are popular for scuba diving and snorkeling enthusiasts.


Edge of the lagoon pier visible reflective glass-clear sea water reflection violet, blue and amethyst of the sky in the morning, while at the lip of the mountain peaks, still be seen the chunks of rock and soil ground black remains of the eruption. Really a beautiful scenery and fantastic fishing with boats occasionally passing his little singing.


Adventure in exotic islands never visited by world celebrities such as Princess of York, Sarah Ferguson to Mick Jagger. not so easy flight from Ambon followed by erratic Pelni ships or chartered baiter

From the airport to the port of Tuluhatu in Ambon bay, a good month to visit the island of Banda is the month of April - May or September to November, where the weather is friendly and very calm sea. Outside the moon month, season, making the sea west of Banda became very dangerous to be forded by small ships.
After 7 hours sail the high seas, visible from a bird flying bird, and that means are close to the mainland. Apparently not absolutist seen how distant a dim figure mainland. simultaneously with the start setting of the sun on the western horizon. Exactly nine-hour trip, the ship docked at the pier baiter Maulana Hotel, Banda Neira


Lacks at 6 am, with the sound of bird voices seem simple storied buildings auberge archetypal absolutist Spanish, with a huge walnut tree in front of the hotel porch, overlooking the lagoon bay right Banda and just opposite a volcano stood firm as high as 1000 meters, which is called the Mountain of Fire.
The distance from the core toward the edge of the pier auberge lagoon is only about 6 meters, the water looks clear glass reflect reflection sea violet, blue and amethyst of the sky this morning while on the mountain top lip, still be seen the chunks of rock and soil ground black remains of the eruption


Maulana Hotel is located in Naira, Banda small island that was once the target of medieval merchants worldwide. Historical flashback to explain when the fleet, Alfonso de Alburqueque conquistadors of the Portuguese conquered Malacca in 1511 which became the center of the world spice trade. He had prepared a large expedition to the Moluccas and Banda Neira, as the center of the world spice manufacturer. With the help of a guide of Malacca, the Portuguese fleet could reach Banda Neira in the year 1512 - 1514, until expelled by the VOC fleet. Walking street in Banda Neira evoke memories of the days of old colonial life situations. Almost all houses or buildings well maintained colonial architecture, and is still used today


Angle corner of the city, streets and buildings still reflect the same life hundreds of years ago. The mosque is used by Bung Hatta and Sjahrir during their exile on the island, still used by the people there. Similarly, the colonial heritage building or house that is now used as the office, school and small auberge auberge around Banda Neira.


Adventure dives on one of the best dive in the world of atoms. Banda Islands is famous for its underwater beauty of the natural biodiversity and stunning coral reefs. Indeed, due to volcanic fire had destroyed most of the coral reef island of Banda Besar. But according penilitian of UNESCO, as a result of this phenomenon precisely the growth of coral reefs in the world is fast battens. At other places, coral reefs can take decades to grow up. On the island of Banda Besar only takes less than ten years. Dive in Banda Islands are amazing, bright afterimage can be up to 40 beats when it makes the underwater scenery can be seen clearly.


Almost the entire breadth diving on the island of Banda Besar, Pulau Ai, Pulau Run, Hatta Island and the Island until the pier Sjarir Banda Neira has the charm and diversity of the underwater world that can not be seen anywhere else in the world. Our eyes were really spoiled with colorful coral reefs and healthy apricot bendable. Not to mention with fish fish with eloknya around adjacent regardless of our presence. Occasionally a group of dolphins leaping dolphins accompany the ship's side baiter who leads us to point point dive in the Banda Islands.


Travel between points in dives with one another, not too far away and can be reached between 30 minutes to 1.5 hours by boat. Our usual lunch break looking for empty beaches beaches are scattered throughout the archipelago, to eat a meal rantangan we had brought from the hotel. It feels good to sit down to enjoy lunch on the soft white sand while facing the crystal clear sea water. Occasionally memtik coconuts from the ship. In diving around the island of Hatta, sea forest can be found admirers (such as pine fan) giant that lay at a depth of 20 meters. Angle or jelly jellyfish giant jellyfish. and the procession procession of hundreds of academy is commonly called a jack angle pompano, which moves in a convoy headed lovely depth

Been to building culture. Here we can see that there are historical records. Goods VOC relics, as well as the interest is painting a painting about the situation that age. Right in the middle of the museum's main room, hangs a giant painting that described the massacre 44 people distinguished from Banda. They are commonly referred to as the rich, and in those days they were held captive by the VOC and taken to Fort Nassau. Then in front of his wife and family, all the leading men in Banda was brutally massacred by the executioner executioners hired samurai from Japan!.


After plugging nail VOC trading monopolies, they build a new civilization in Banda Neira that will be an eBook dejected future development of the city of Batavia. Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, which was home to the Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies, modeled after a mini replica of the palace buildings are still standing in Banda Neira. Similarly Immanuel church in front of the station gambier has the same architecture with the church here which unfortunately has been marred by a mass of refugees rioting in Ambon some time ago. If we look at the corner of the corner of the old city in Jakarta, will be the same also with the composition of buildings and street corners there. I imagine that this place is very suitable for the manufacture of filming filming blur the colonial era, because the structure of the building and the city that never changed from the past until now

VOC fortress, Fort Belgica is built on a hill, and can be reached only half an hour walk from the auberge Maulana. It's amazing selection of the location of the position of the fort, because from the top of the fort we could look toward the sea from all sides of the island. This makes it easy to monitor VOC ships in and out of Banda at the time. The house that formerly occupied the house of Bung Hatta and Sjahrir still well maintained, along with relics of their goods. From the typewriter they use at the time, until the class room at the back of the house, where Bung Hatta taught to the children of Banda.


Exploring the enchanting underwater nature, and enjoy the rest of the remaining life of the exotic silamnya. Plantation nutmeg and walnuts. The journey through the woods into a very exciting nutmeg, fresh air and parrot sounds heard in the distance. looking trees hundreds of years old, who witnessed the history of spice trade.

Diving in the dock on abscessed day filled with colorful Mandarin fish fish reddish hue. residents who accompanied the children playing and swimming on the banks of the routine since hundreds of years ago.