Sailling Ombak Putih on through the Spice Islands
The great arc of the Indonesian archipelago begins north of the island of Sumatra and south curves and east to that it reaches the northern part of the Australian continent. This arc of islands is defined by a string of active volcanoes, Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores and Banda, which burst like the Indian Ocean plate is subducted beneath the Asian continental plate. Further east, the island arc is pushed north of the Australian continent, which was tirelessly running north from the Antarctic separated there 45 million years. The continuous collision of the Australian continent and the Pacific Ocean plate pushed the Papuan mountains to a height of 5000 meters above sea level, where a tropical glacier is still only four degrees south of the equator. The huge Pacific plate moves westwards, pushing the island arc on itself and rafting segments Papua hundred kilometers to the west.
Our journey on Ombak Putih , two classic ones Bugis Pinisi begins in Ambon where we sailed all night for Banda nutmeg islands. Here we are at the eastern extension of the island arc before it is cut by the westward extension of Papua. The Banda Islands are a volcanic crater remains with the newest volcano Gunung Api formed at its center. Some tectonic shift in continental and oceanic plates occurred in 1988, causing Gunung Api to burst, sending huge clouds of volcanic ash high into the atmosphere and molten lava flowing along its sides and in the sea. These black lava flows are still visible as we sail into the port city of Banda Neira sheltered.
Gunung Api in the Banda Islands
Eastern Indonesia is a unique part of the surface of the Earth, because it is where four tectonic plates earth - the Indian ocean, Asia, the Australian continent and the Pacific ocean - are colliding with each other. There are three million years in the Molucca Sea, these powerful forces merged together volcanic island arcs, the bottom sediments and coral reefs to create new land, forming the island of Halmahera unusual shape. A subduction zone then formed along the west side of Halmahera causing a series of volcanic eruptions in the sea.
Our journey continues north and we are now sailing along the narrow strait between the great Patinti island Halmahera four fingers and a chain of volcanic peaks off, going up to the sea before us. This trip is one of the most beautiful in all of Indonesia and make it even more spectacular, we are accompanied by a school of dolphins welcoming us by immersing the crystal clear waters off our ship. By midmorning, the great Bacan Island back in our wake and the island of Kayoa expected. Here, we stop to do what few others have done and our group swimming across the equator. Soon the island of Mach is in sight, with wisps of cloud starting to build around its volcanic peak. Mach was once the most prolific producer of cloves in all the spices and marine islands described how, with the wind in their faces, they could smell his spicy scent sweet far at sea.
the island is characterized by a central volcano, which has been violated by a large crack on the northeast side, which clearly shows the crack caused by an eruption earlier. The same tectonic event that performs Banda in 1988 also caused the volcano to erupt explosively Mach and 15,000 islanders were evacuated some being permanently resettled on the main island of Halmahera.
The eruption of a volcano on the island of Mach 1988
on Ombak Putih landed our group and guide land to a village on Mach and we walk along a coastal path for an hour or until the next village. Walking through cassava plantations, corn, cloves, nutmeg and coconut, a particular flower attracts my attention. In my research online to identify the flower, I discovered an unusually named plant called Clitoria ternatea . This generic name was given by the botanist Breyne in 1678 to describe an exotic plant found growing as a vine on the island of Ternate.
Because of its similarity to a human body part, it was often used in traditional medicine to treat sexual diseases and also as an aphrodisiac. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to reach Ternate, called "criqua Fula" or creative flower, as in human creation. North Maluku extract, exotic cultivar is now cultivated throughout the tropical and sub-tropical world. Commonly known as the blue-pea, butterfly pea or pea cordovan, it is often grown as an ornamental -and you can have in your own garden.
Our final destination is the twin islands of Ternate and Tidore, which for a millennium was the center of clove trade and the port of Ternate, we can look back on volcanoes and our journey along spice islands.
next expedition Ombak Putih to the Spice Islands is from October 8-19. Please contact Sea Trek Sailing Adventures for details.
In brief:
Location : The Moluccas are on the Halmahera plate. They are located east of Sulawesi, west of New Guinea and north and east of Timor. The larger islands and island groups include Ambon, Aru, Halmahera, Ternate, Tidore and Seram
population :. All the Moluccas islands have a population of about 2 million people. It is the least populated province in Indonesia. Ambonese-Malay is spoken in most parts of Maluku, with different dialects and deep roots in Portuguese
Y :. Ambon and Ternate are the hub of air in the region. Sultan Babullah airport in Ternate and Ambon Pattimura the airport are served by Lion Air, Batavia Air, Garuda Indonesia Airlines and Sriwijaya Air daily
Things to do :. Banda islands is popular for its views breathtaking snorkeling and diving excursions, as is the case for most of the Moluccas. Great beaches are in abundance in the Moluccas, and it is a mountainous area, so walking is a great activity to enjoy. Good eating and drinking with a range of seafood products in the islands, and try the famous rujak in Ambon
Local Transport :. On the islands, transportation is provided by bus, minibus ( bemo ), taxi or chartered cars. Bicycles and rickshaws are available to small islands. For island hopping, ferries and boats are your best paris.
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