Arrived in Banda Neira in theafternoon using early fast boat fromTulehu Harbour Ambon. After 5hours, as soon as I stepped out fromthe Banda Neira harbour, I wasdirectly being picked up by Allan(Vita Guesthouse). No longer than 5minutes walking, I arrived at Vita.The place was just spot on with allpositive recommendations on theinternet. It was quiet, clean and ithas a big backyard beautifully facingthe water and Banda Api volcano.
Tulehu Harbour
Express Bahari fast boat, Economy class.
Vita Guesthouse
Gunung Api view from Vita Guesthouse
There are some parts of Banda Neirawhere you can find guesthouses,which is more popular than hotels.My advice is to take guesthousenear the traditional market by thewater, so you can get on and off theboat after hopping islands easier, nohassle and walk far with your stuffsand also you can find cafes andwarung easily at night. Trust me,with packed activities, tummy refillis important.
On the first day I arrived, I only hadabout 2 hours before dark and it saidthat the Banda Neira city alwayssleep early. Didn't want to waste anytime, I took a long walk throughsome historical sites : The OldChurch and Belgica Fort. There, Iluckily met and join a group offemale travellers and shared someitineraries and cute pictures withthem. Banda Breakfast: Nutmeg Jam,Nutmeg Coffee or Nutmeg Tea.Nutmeg has been an important part of Banda life. Although it is small,but it was a big main reason, a darkhistory started centuries ago.
Belgica Fort, Banda Neira.
Breakfast with nutmeg jam
Second and third day itinerary.Snorkeling trip around Sjahrir Island(was Pisang Island) for a half dayand spent the rest of it in HattaIsland (was Rozengain Island).
If you are a person who loves toswim in shallow underwater withcolorful corals and plenty of fishes,so Hatta Island is that one place youcan not miss in Banda. It has a longwall where you can see bigger fisheslike sharks, barracuda and napoleon.This island also happened to be anexile island for Mr. Hatta, Indonesianhero, in colonialism era.
Snorkling arround Pisang Island.
Ready to snorkling
Snorkling near Hatta Island.
My advice will be: stay in Hatta atleast for one night or more.I did.I stayed at Neira Dive. Mr. Caesar theowner, only built two humblewooden rooms, just in front of thewater. I loved it. I love the food, thepeople, the cats, the hammock andthe sun. You also can walking go arround island and enjoy the view and village.
Activities at Hatta Island
Hatta beach front of resort
Enjoy a lunch.
Rosengain Vitalia guesthouse, our neighbours. Hatta Island.
Fourth day itinerary was to conquerthe Banda Api volcano and to visitthe old and mystical Banda Besar,Lonthoir Village (Andan Orsia).
My advice to those who want toclimb the Banda Api Volcano is toget a local guide, start early like at 4or 5 in the morning, prepare a goodhiking shoes, bring head covers toprotect your face and bring waterwith two bottles at minimum only foryou.The main challenge will be a difficultrocky and slippery path and theheat.
After take a break for couple hours, we go to Andan OrsiaLonthoir Village by boat. Banda Besar Island is the biggest island in Banda Islands. I managed to visit somesites : Old Well (Parigi Pusaka),Bleeding Stone (Batu Berdarah), Nutmeg Fields, Cannary Fields andhome processing and the beautifulHollandia Fort.
Heavy trekking
Banda Api Volcano Summit
Enjoy the view
Amazing view from Hollandia Fort
Cannary
Nutmeg
Fifth day itinerary: I was back tovisit the water of Ay Island, NailakaIsland and Rhun Island.
Rhun Island, the history of thisisland captivated my mind. TheBritish traded it to the Dutch forManhattan Island, NieauAmsterdam (now New York).And what a big difference it isnow between those two islands.Rhun Island is like gone andforgotten, while Manhattan hasbecoming like one of world'scenter of money and power.
After my tan lines became moresolid, I guess it was about time totone down a bit and back to BandaNeira to walk again and visithistorical sites I haven't visit in thefirst day.I visited : Banda Neira Museum,Hatta Home Exile, Captain ColeHouse, VOC Governor General Officeand Makatita House.
Last day activity
Our boat, rent from Vita guesthouse
fisherman catch
Ay Island
Rhun Island
On my last night in Banda Neira, Ihad a chance to have a fine diningdinner in Cilu Bintang Estate. A wellrecommended resto with a thickcolonial ambience, food of asian andwestern all-you-can-eat dinner with avery affordable price.Too bad I did not take any goodpicture. But for you to find, therestaurant is just next to NassauFort, in front of Belgica Fort. A great closing party!
1 komentar:
Aku melihat foto foto dari mas udah merasa ingin kesana. sangat begitu indah...
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