A Circle of Spice Culinary Adventure With Janet de Neefe

A Circle of Spice Culinary Adventure With Janet de Neefe
Ambon - Buru - Lease - Banda - Ambon
Once worth their weight in gold, at one time spices were once the most sought after commodity in the world. From Asia
to Europe, the demand for fiery flavor drove merchants, entrepreneurs and explorers across the globe in search for these
valuable items. The more remote a source of a particular spice, the more the spice was worth, and none was so dear as
the clove, mace, and nutmeg that hailed from the remotest area imaginable: the minuscule specs of land in the seas of
the Moluccas, known as the Spice Islands.
It was the search for these mysterious Spice Islands that pushed European naval powers and explorers such as Magellan
and Columbus and Magellan beyond their nearest shores to begin the “Age of Discovery.” Though their secret location
has long been revealed, the Spice Islands remain remote and exotic as very few travelers get a chance to explore this
culturally rich and historically fascinating region.
Lined with clove and nutmeg trees, the islands are as fragrant as they are beautiful, boasting dramatic volcanoes, pristine
beaches, and crystal clear waters lined with teeming and vibrant coral reefs. Come follow in the footsteps of maritime
explorers and quench your untamable taste buds as we indulge in all that the fragrant and fiery Spice Islands have to
offer.
As we would like to start early we
recommend our guests to arrive in
Ambon one day before embarkation or
take the very early morning flight from
Makassar at 3.35 AM.
Day 1
This morning we will pick you up from
your hotel or the airport and transfer you
to Ambon harbour for embarkation on
board ‘Ombak Putih’. After you are settled
we will have a quick briefing, before Janet
and our professional guides will take you
to the town for a visit of the local market.
we will have lunch at a local restaurant to
try some of the local specialities.
Ambon was the centre of the historic
Dutch clove monopoly and continues, to
be a commercial centre and the seat of
the Moluccan government today. Apart
from being a spice hub Ambon is one of
the biggest hubs for fish and seafood in
the area. After lunch we will embark the
Meet the expert - Janet de Neefe
Adding extra flavor to this extraordinary
adventure will be expert Janet de
Neefe. Melbourne raised, Janet has
made Bali her home since 1984. Her
love of Indonesian culture and cuisine
led to opening two Ubud restaurants :
Casa Luna, and Indus, as well as
inspiring two cookbooks: Fragrant Rice,
and Bali, the Food of My Island Home.
Janet’s expertise and insight will spice
up our journey with market tours,
culinary workshops, and certainly many
delicious regional dining experiences.
Day to day itinerary continued
Day 3
Ombak Putih again we set sail and enjoy
the view of Ambon bay around us while
our chefs, and Janet will give you the
change to help prepare the first dinner of
the cruise.
Offcourse you can choose to sit back,
relax and watch the sunset instead.
Day 2
Today we will arrive at the remote island
of Manipa.
We will visit a distillery for kayu putih oil
(similar to “eucalyptus” and known for its
antiseptic qualities) for which the area is
famous. We explore the village to learn
more about the local life and their diet and
specialities.
Our next destination is the island of Nusa
Laut. This is the smallest of the Lease
islands to which also Ambon and Saparua
belong. Nusa Laut is rarely frequented by
outsiders.
We will see how life in the villages still
reflect some of the custom of the
forefathers, the island is still filled with,
clove, nutmeg, cinnamon trees and sago
palms, and an abundance of fruits.
The sago palm produces a flour that is the
biggest staple food in the area, it is used in
many dishes the most famous one is
called papeda. Apart from that the palm is
used as building material for roofs and
bricks, the villagers will show us the
process of distrecting the flour from the
three.
can discover exotic ingredients and stock
up on fresh supplies
In the afternoon we pay a visit to a local
earthenware-pottery maker.
Day 5,6
In the afternoon we will be warmly
welcomed by one of the the local villages;
they will show us around and will prepare
a feast of local dishes for us right on the
beach.
Day 4
During lunch we set sail for the Pulau Tiga
Island for some exceptional snorkelling
and beachcombing.
This morning is dedicated to exploring
Saparua, one of the former strongholds of
the Dutch in colonial times. In the early
19th century Fort Duurstede, located in the
heart of Saparua, was attacked and
conquered by Pattimura, one of the heroes
of Indonesia.
In the evening we will enjoy and talk more
about all the culinary items that Indonesia
has to offer and their rich history.
This story is told in the museum inside the
fort in a realistic diorama. The island
boasts a vibrant morning market where we
A trip to the Spice Islands would not be
complete without an overland journey to
explore the “mother island” of Ceram.
Day to day itinerary continued
This pristine and remote island of hilly
jungle has long been reveared as the
home of local beliefs and culture of the
Lease islands. Ceram is rarely visited by
outsiders, yet our vessel will allow us
access to one of the wildest, remotest
and most mysterious islands of the entire
archipelago. From our anchorage on the
southern shore, we take a 3 hour drive
through the jungle and clove plantations,
stopping along the way to take in the sites
and scenic drive. Our destination is the
beautifully designed Ora Resort, an oasis
in itself, but also a perfect land base for us
see a to make the most of Ceram’s
pristine and stunning northern coast. We
will explore the surroundings enjoy dinner
provided by the resort and
again as we set our course for the
Banda islands.
Day 7
Our arrival in the renowned Banda
Archipelago generates a true sense of
historical excitement. These Islands,
world famous for their natural beauty
and cultural heritage from the time the
Portuguese/Dutch/English colonization
era, are among the highlights of
Indonesia. The flow of nutmeg, mace
and cloves from the Bandas and Ternate
to the West, can be traced to
destinations around the world dating
from several centuries BC. The Spice
Islands dramatic and difficult history is
well documented through these times.
The current, quiet colonial ambiance,
coupled with world class biodiversity,
makes this destination special. We will
anchor near the hacienda style colonial
era hotel in Bandanaira, the only (small)
city of Banda. . We will stroll through
the city, visit old fortresses and admire
the planters’ mansions from the old
days.
Day 8,9
overnight here. The following morning we
will use the resort’s optimal location as
our base for hiking, snorkeling or just
relaxing before returning to our home on
the Ombak Putih, eager to take to sea
These days will be filled with visits to a
few of the other islands of the
archipelago, perhaps Run, Ai, and Hatta
where we will see what remains of the
ancient plantations, churches and
cemeteries. We will breathe the
atmosphere of the time that the Banda
youth were sent to the most expensive
boarding schools of Europe and dream
about the splendid, but short-lived glory
during this remarkable episode in world
history. We should be able to see how
the nutmeg trees are still grown today,
learning about their harvesting, hopefully
taste some of the dried fruit of the nutmeg
tree and enjoy baked goods flavored with
fresh mace and nutmeg. We will also
have several opportunities to explore the
pristine waters and bountiful reefs of the
islands. We will then proceed from Banda
northeast, perhaps with a war canoe called
a kora-kora, escorting our departure out of
the harbor in the direction of Ambon.
Day 10
After breakfast we say goodbye to the
crew and your home of the past few days.
Your transport will comfortably move you
to the Ambon airport for your onward
travel.
Route Map
CERAM
MANIPU
BURU
SAPARUA
AMBON
NUSA LAUT
BANDA
Prices & Inclusions
Cruise Code
Start Date
Finish Date
OP1511SS2E
20-Nov-15
29-Nov-15
Cruise Description
Vessel
No Days
Price US$
SPICE ISLANDS: Ambon- Lease Islands - Banda
- Ambon
Ombak Putih
10
$ 4.950*
* Prices are per person and based on sharing a double or a twin cabin
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12 superior cabins
Length over all:
36 meters (118 feet)
Beam: 10 meters (33 feet)
Draught: 3.5 meters
(11.5 feet)
Rig: Gaff rigged ketch 600 m2 sails, 2 mains,
two tops, three jibs
Cruising speed:
7-10 knots
Maximum speed:
12 knots
International standard
Navigation & Safety
equipment (with
satellite phone)
About SeaTrek Sailing Adventures
Based in Sanur, Bali, SeaTrek is the premiere adventure sailing operator in the Indonesian archipelago. With over
25 years of experience, SeaTrek is the longest established company providing cruises throughout the region. Guests
from all over the world have set foot on one of SeaTrek’s Pinisi-style schooners and experienced the distinctive
beauty and charm of Indonesia’s exotic islands. The company’s vessels have first-rate multilingual tour guides and
are crewed by highly trained stewards and staff. SeaTrek offers a variety of cruises to suit travellers both looking for
adventurous activity, as well as to explore the historical and cultural uniqueness of this corner of the world.
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