Turning the globe, closing your eyes and stopping it with all ten fingers, the chances to point with at least one in the near the Banda island are slimmer than having a white Christmas this year! But if you really try and take the magnifying glass, focus on Indonesian tiny islands in the province of Maluku, you’ll bound to succeed.
The reason that Banda islands stay an unchecked item on most traveller’s bucket lists is the series of logistic riddles you need to solve before reaching the island’s capital of Bandaneira, a town with no more than 6.000 people. 18 seat airplanes only connect the islands three times a week and a ship only takes you there every second week. If we add the fact, none of the connections are sure not to be cancelled, we see a true adventure up ahead.
If the shining sun, which reflects off the turquoise blue straight between the islands doesn’t blind you, you will be able to catch the friendly morning greetings that Banda throws at you. The colourful houses that show their colonial style with their modest colours, reveal there colonial architecture from half a millennia ago. The green spots of Muscat nut plantations and the white teeth from behind the curtains of generously laughing people will greet you.
»Hello mister,« said the first one, followed by some hundred more voices.
There are 11 islands in the group, but less than a half are inhabited. Some attracted a village or two with less than 500 inhabitants. If you close your eyes for a minute (it’s OK to open them again) you can imagine the sounds and colours, the smells and the feel of bare feet on the beach of a paradise island. Well, that’s the image of one of these islands.
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When the sea is smooth in the morning or evening, and the sunset spreads the whole palette of colours, the islands are surrounded by wooden canoes and singing fishermen. Their wives await them on the shore, collecting Muscat nuts in their woven baskets, along with kenari nuts. A bit further, at the colourful coral reef the young ones are burning fires and preparing freshly caught fish.
If Bandi can justify the loud shouting claims of being the most beautiful part of the country, there is straight competition to it right under the sea surface of it. The corals that surround the islands embrace you with unearthly colours and eyes of thousands of fish, which are almost hypnotic. The sharks, tortoise, sword fish, barracudas, lobsters and schools of fish in rainbow colours will be around you on every step of the way.
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And if getting here is a bit of a stretch for a student’s budget, the stay is much more pocket friendly. Living here is so inexpensive you need to pinch yourself to realize it’s true.
Since there are no restaurants, not even street vendors, at most of the islands, the food is included in the price, as well as in between drinks (like coffee or tea) – and the price for full board is 7,5 EUR per person. Yes, you will pay less than 10€ for an »all inclusive« stay at a colonial house on the white sand beach, that sinks into a submerged kingdom with the tide.
So if you crave adventure, let there also be gourmet goodies from the island along the way, which will convince you to go to this little known part of the world.
While traveling along Asia, we also write and draw on our blog, so you’re welcome to follow us at
www.ineedtoiletpaper.com.
Katja in Mic Melanšek
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