Ambon, Indonesia - Sail Banda participants, scheduled to arrive in Banda Neira from Darwin, Australia, soon will be shown around various tourism objects and cultural attractions in Banda, a local official said.
Local Sail Banda organizing committee spokesman Cak Saimima said on Saturday various marine tourism objects on the islands of Un, Ai, Gunung Api, and Pisang in Banda were awaiting visits by Sail Banda participants.
"They can visit many interesting and unique places in Banda such as the Sea Garden, Belgica Fort, House of Bung Hatta, House of Iwa Kusuma Sumantri, Agro Tourism, besides the scenic islands of Un, Ai, Gunung Api, and Pisang," Saimima said.
He said Sail Banda participants who left by yachts from Darwin, Australia on Saturday, July 24, 2010 would arrive at Banda Neira on July 27 and there they would be entertained with Welcome Party, Kora-Kora Attraction, Archeology Exhibition, City Tour, Marine & Agro Tourism, Cultural and Art Night at Belgica Fort.
Fort Belgica, one of many forts built by the Dutch East India Company, is located in the Banda Islands, Maluku Province, and is one of the largest remaining European forts in Indonesia.
Constructed in 1611, the fort was an important defense structure with a sweeping view over the bay of Bandanaira.
Its construction gave the Dutch an edge over other colonial powers in the area, and still remains the largest existing structure on the Banda Islands.
Besides Fort Belgica, there is also Fort Nassau, often referred to as the "Beneden Kasteel" which was built in the early years of the Dutch regime in the Banda Islands.
Admiral Verhoeven built this fort in 1607-1609 on the remains of a Portuguese fort built a century earlier.
Verhoeven never saw the completion of this fort, because he was killed in an ambush by local Bandanese freedom fighters in 1609.(*)
Source: http://www.antaranews.com
