Maluku Islands
The Moluccas, formerly known as the Spice Islands, fully justify their name. There are entire plantations of clove trees and plants that supply cinnamon and nutmeg, coconut and sago palms, and peppers of all varieties and types. All this herbal abundance has given such a delicious name to the islands. However, such a nickname cannot be found on maps, and not every travel agent will understand where a traveler wants to go. Today, this branch of paradise on Earth is better known as the Moluccas.
General information
The Moluccas include more than 1,000 small land areas. They are located in the Pacific Ocean near New Guinea and belong to the state of Indonesia. The Europeans discovered the islands only in the 16th century. The Portuguese were the first to settle here, who began trading expensive spices at that time (by the way, it was they who owned the poetic name), then the territory became the property of the Netherlands. At the beginning of the 19th century, the lands were occupied by the British, during the Second World War they were captured by Japan.
Such popularity of tiny territories is explained by the presence of wonderful spices, oil, gold and tin, which were kindly provided by the land. By the way, the locals themselves translate the names of the islands as "Land of Kings".
What to do
The Moluccas fully meet all the hopes of tourists. The very young resort offers surprisingly sparsely populated beaches with snow-white sand and azure waters, framed in a charming frame of palm trees and flawless blue sky. The underwater world impresses with its magnificent beauty, accessible even to inexperienced divers. For those who do not want to dive deep under the waves, underwater beauty will open even to divers with a mask. In addition to natural wonders, you can explore sunken planes, boats, and ships here. However, there are no ancient galleons with treasures here, ships damaged during the military operations of 1941-1945 sank to the bottom.
Nature lovers will enjoy strolling through the thickets of the rainforest, watching the life of birds of paradise, climbing marsupials, parrots and other exotic animals and birds.
Attractions of the Moluccas
The Moluccas are notable for their amazing mix of cultures: folk customs have been assimilated with Dutch, Portuguese, and Indian customs for many years. This mix is most evident in Ambron, the current provincial capital. Here you just need to explore Fort Victoria, which has a Portuguese foundation and Dutch walls, the Sisalim Museum, which demonstrates the life of the population before colonization, the village of Soya with the palace of the local rajah and the ancient Dutch church, ancient villages where time seems to have slowed down its inexorable run.
On the island of Seram, you should climb the highest mountain in the Binaya region and look into the mouth of the volcano. Ternate is a stronghold of Muslim culture, so it's worth visiting the Sultan's Palace and the Orani Fort and marveling at the Gamalama volcano. On Tidore, travelers will find the town of Soasiu, which most of all resembles a charming Mediterranean village. And the Masarat and Masbait National reserves are located on the island of Buru.
