Page 93 - Diving Indonesia 21 November 2019

Maluku Overview

AIRPORT
aluku’s political and economic past largely revolves around the How to Get There
exotic spices which were historically only found in this region
Mof the world and were highly prized by Europeans - nutmeg, The main entry points into the Maluku’s Taxi cars and sea taxis are widely
cloves and mace were considered the treasures of the Maluku’s. Prior are Ambon; Pattimura Airport (AMQ) available – haggling the price is standard,
and Ternate; Babullah Airport (TTE).
angots (small people buses) are common
to the 1600’s the islands were under Portuguese control (and named Both airports are serviced by domestic in towns and cities. Boat crossings
‘Moluquo’) until they were expelled when the Dutch arrived in 1599. flights only but have numerous daily are inevitably less reliable during the
wet monsoon leading to delays and
Eventually the Maluku islands became part of the Dutch East Indies until flights arriving from Jakarta, Manado cancellations. For longer journeys there
and Makassar. There are limited flights
Indonesia gained independence in 1945 – though that was not until after (operated by Express Air) that link Ambon are numerous public ferries or boat
the Dutch gave the British Manhattan Island in return for the tiny island and Ternate directly; transit between the captains can be paid for private charters.
Most dive resorts will offer pickups and
two is usually via Makassar.
of Run to gain full control over nutmeg production! transfers and this simplifies travel time
and reduces stress.

Following Indonesian Independence in are uninhabited. Halmahera and Seram
1945 the Maluku Islands were declared are the largest islands whilst Ambon and
one province; however, in 1999 it was Ternate are the most developed areas
split into two: North Maluku and Maluku. despite being comparatively small.
North Maluku includes Ternate, Sofifi; the
administrative capital, Tidore, Bacan and Due to the vast area covered by the
Halmahera whilst Maluku’s administrative Malukus there is a climatic range which
capital is Ambon and the area covers the becomes drier as you near Timor but in
Lease Islands, Seram, Buru and the Banda general there is a healthy annual rainfall
Islands. North Maluku is predominantly which supports these fertile islands.
Muslim whilst Maluku has a larger Each individual island group has its own
Christian population –these religious climatic characteristics but across Maluku
differences led to conflicts from 1999 – the dry monsoon is from October – March
2002. Today the people of the Malukus and the wet monsoon from June through
focus on day to day life in peace. September.
N
The Malukus are home to approximately Maluku’s agriculture is not limited to
2,000,000 people which accounts for less spices; rice, sago, cassava, coffee, cocoa
than 1% of the population in Indonesia. and a variety of fruits are also grown
Bahasa Indonesia is commonly spoken here. Diet varies from island to island
and in areas visited by foreigners some but most people rely heavily on fish
English is understood. When travelling for protein and ‘Papeda’ is a common
in more rural parts it is best to be armed carbohydrate – sago flour cooked with
with some basic Indonesian. water until it coagulates into a gluey,
starchy consistency. Tradition local
The Maluku Island’s cover approximately cuisine includes ‘Papeda Kuah Ikan’ which
850,000 square kilometers, 90% of is Papeda made with a yellow fish soup 1. Guramangofa 5. Kananga 9. Kota Janji
10. Floridas
2. Black Rock
6. Masjid Raya
which is sea; there are approximately flavored with turmeric, lime and other 3. Talaga Nita 7. Swering Point 11. Tanjung Kalumata
1030 individual islands, many of which regional spices. 4. Dodoku Jetty 8. Sampalo 12. Tanjung Rum

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