Maluku
is known as the spice island. During the middle age,
this island had supplied nutmegs, maces, candlenuts,
and almond throughout the world. For hundreds of years,
clove production were from five little islands of Halmahera.
At present, Maluku islands are divided into two provinces:
Maluku Utara, with Ternate is the capital city and Ambon
is the capital city for Maluku province.
Bateng
Victoria is the colonian relic entrance built on the
18th century. The Siwalima museum displays Maluku’s
natural history and fine collection of local arts and
crafts. On the opposite direction of the museum is the
ALEC War Cemetery, which is maintained by the Australian
government. This cemetery remains of the Australian
soldiers and the allied troops who died in the World
War II. Good beaches are around Hunimoa, Latuhalat and
Namalatu.The Chain IslandsSeram, the second largest
island on Maluku is virtually untouched because its
wild and rugged interios. The Manusela National Park
is the home for 2,000 butterflies species and moths
and 120 birds species.
Ternate,
a small island near the island of Halmahera, once was
the important kingdom because of the spice trade, The
Sultan’s palace or Kedaton is now shifted into
a museum. There are several fort ruins of Portugese,
Spanish and Dutch origins. Benteng Oranje, built in
1667 by the Dutch, is right in town. Kao also at the
island of Halmahera hosted about 80,000 Japanese troops
during WW II. People also call this place Little Tokyo.
Kepulauan
Banda, located at the south of Seram island has also
have several forts, such as Benteng Belgica a military
headquarters until 1860, and Benteng Nassau the VOC’s
fort which Govenore-General Jan Pieterzoon Coen controlled
Banda in 1621. Many museums are also on these islands:
Museum Rumah Budaya exhibits historical artifacts, Istana
Mini side by side with the former VOC headquarters,
which has the statue of King Wilhelm III. Museum Mohammad
Hatta and Museum Syahrir, display the memorabilia Indonesian’s
leaders who were exiled in the mid of 1930s. Museum
Captain Cole, tributes a British leader that had been
captured by the Dutch in 1881.
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