The Spice Island : ..

Banda Islands Today

Banda is within the administrative province of Maluku, Indonesia, a part of Eastern Indonesia also known as the Moluccas. Most people in Banda are farmers and/or fisherman, and are of varying ethnic backgrounds, descended from original Bandanese and immigrants from all over the world, especially Java, the Malay Peninsula, Bay of Bengal and Europe. The people speak Indonesian, and approximately 95% are Muslim and 5% Christian. Nutmeg remains an important export crop, along with fish (particularly tuna), cloves, and bananas. Tourism was also an important part of the economy, with several thousand domestic and foreign visitors arriving per year prior to the 1999 conflict. There are hopes of reviving this soon.

The largest town in the islands is Naira, on the island of Banda Naira which also has the market, high school, museums, government offices and the wharf and air strip that serve all of the Banda islands. Naira is a town of about 6,000 people. Many of the buildings date from the Dutch colonial period, and are very interesting architecturally with polished marble or tile floors and inner courtyards and gardens. Some are in ruins, although there have been some recent efforts to restore some of them. The pace of life is pleasantly slow here, even though it is the most "bustling" town in the islands. The largest island is Banda Besar, which has several small villages along its coast, and a rugged mountainous interior. These islands are accessible only by motor boat. Each has a unique atmosphere and geography, are less "developed" than Naira (i.e. few or no motor vehicles or telephones) and all invite exploration.
The Banda Islands have spectacular scenery, and many visual reminders of the past, like crumbling, overgrown fortresses and colonial-style houses. The surrounding coral reefs are some of the most beautiful and unspoiled in the world, with steep drop offs to the deep Banda Sea basin. (sources)