Jakarta - The Southwest Maluku (MBD) district town of Wonreli in Kisar island is now getting ready to host the peak event of Sail Banda 2010.
Locally known in the past as Yotowawa Daisuli, Kisar island is part of what centuries ago was internationally known as the world`s "spice islands" in Maluku. It was at the time a hub for the spice trade and had thus also seen the battles fought for control of the then lucrative trade between the Portuguese and the Dutch.
Now the island is grooming and sprucing itself up for the peak event of the upcoming international marine spectacle named Sail Banda 2010.
Kisar islanders were elated when Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu decided to move the planned location of Sail Banda`s peak event from Tiakur in Moa island to Wonreli in Kisar island with the puspose of breaking its isolation.
"Sail Banda 2010 is considered profitable by the people of Southwest Maluku district because it will directly promote the cultural and tourism aspects in the area to the international community," Maluku Provincial Legislative Assembly (DPRD) Commission A spokesman Melky Frans said in Ambon on Tuesday.
Kisar is scheduled to be the location for the peak event of Sail Banda 2010 , namely an undersea ceremony at the beautiful Nama beach on August 17, 2010 to observe Indonesia`s independence day.
Melky Frans, a native of Abusur village in Kisar island, said the undersea ceremony at Nama beach was expected to be participated in by thousands of teenagers from ASEAN member countries and hundreds of foreign Sail Banda participants.
Therefore, MBD acting district head Franky Renjaan and Sail Banda provincial secretary Piet Norimarna were called upon to mobilize the people of Kisar island to clean up Nama beach which is covered in thorny plants and thistles.
The thorny bushes and thistles had sprung up in an area stretching to the north and south from the colonial-era Vollenhove Fort along the coastline of Cape Madalasar, adding to Nama beach`s attractiveness.
Kisar and its surrounding islands such as Roma, Wetar, Leti, Moa, and Lakor (Lemola) are actually blessed with many spots holding great potentials for development of tourist resorts.
On such spots is Nama beach which has been functioning as a sea port in Kisar Yotowawa since the Dutch colonial era and now it is time to develop it as a tourist resort in the new district of Southwest Maluku.
There are a lot of good places for excursions in Kisar but none of them has been developed to attract foreign tourists, especially from Australia, New Zealand, and Timor Leste.
"If only there were investors who are prepared to develop and manage the spots professionally, they would undoubtedly increase the income of the local people and absorb manpower," Oirata village head Edison Katihara said.
Katihara admitted that the beautiful beaches and the fascinating marine parks were not being intensely publicized or promoted like Kuta beach in Bali and Bunaken in North Sulawesi.
He expressed optimism that if Nama beach in Wonreli, Kisar, and other islands in MBD district were developed by investors, the results would be encouraging, especially in the run up to the international marine event of Sail Banda.
To host Sail Banda`s peak event in Kisar, various preparations are being made, namely the expansion of Purpura airport`s runway from 800 meters to 1,300 meters, accommodations, and fresh water facilities for Sail Banda participants.
Maluku Transportation office chief Benny Gaspersz said in Ambon recently that the runway of Purpura airport in Kisar was being expanded, because it was a strategic way to support Sail Banda 2010.
"After the runway of Purpura airport in Pulau Kisar is extended from 800 meters to 1,300 meters, ATR 42 aircraft with 40 seats, operated by PT Wings Air will be able to land there," Gaspersz said.
Meanwhile, Maluku province`s Public Works Office is currently building fresh water facilities in Kisar and Banda for participants of the upcoming Sail Banda event.
"Based on an instruction from Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu, we are now building clean water facilities in Kisar and Banda for participants of the upcoming international marine event of Sail Banda 2010," Maluku Public Works Office spokesman Ismael Usemahu said in Ambon recently.
Besides a water tank with a capacity of 3,500 liters to transport fresh water from village to village, a water reservoir is being built and several new wells are being dug in Kisar island to provide the local people, as well as Sail Banda participants with fresh water.
"The water tank is to be operated by the MBD district administration to supply the local people with fresh water," Usemahu said, adding that a team would soon be sent to Banda in Central Maluku district to survey the water flow rate.
Prior to the peak event of Sail Banda 2010 in August, MV Orion, an expedition cruise ship skippered by Captain Steffen Friedrich from Australia visited Kisar island last year.
In the morning of September 12, 2009, MV Orion in its spice island adventure voyage of discovery from Darwin, Australia, was fortunate to have the luxury of coming alongside the wharf of Nama beach port on the west coast of Kisar Yotowawa Daisuli.
Members of the expedition team, led by Harry Christensen, eventually got off the ship and made their way to a convoy of local cars, which were going to take them to Wonreli town.
There they were entertained with colorful local traditional dances and then given an official welcome speech by a district administraion official.
Arriving at Orata village, the MV Orion expedition team had the opportunity to see a number of activities including "sopi" (alcoholic drink) distilling, palm sugar making, and ikat weaving for sale.
"Then they visited traditional markets, the old Dutch church in Oiraram, Leklor, and the old Delfshaven Fort in Kaisama village," Oirata village head Edison Katihara said.
Afterward they gathered around to witness the cakalele, the sword fighting performance, and then were invited to join in the dancing as well.(Otniel Tamindael)
Source: http://www.antaranews.com
Locally known in the past as Yotowawa Daisuli, Kisar island is part of what centuries ago was internationally known as the world`s "spice islands" in Maluku. It was at the time a hub for the spice trade and had thus also seen the battles fought for control of the then lucrative trade between the Portuguese and the Dutch.
Now the island is grooming and sprucing itself up for the peak event of the upcoming international marine spectacle named Sail Banda 2010.
Kisar islanders were elated when Maluku Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu decided to move the planned location of Sail Banda`s peak event from Tiakur in Moa island to Wonreli in Kisar island with the puspose of breaking its isolation.
"Sail Banda 2010 is considered profitable by the people of Southwest Maluku district because it will directly promote the cultural and tourism aspects in the area to the international community," Maluku Provincial Legislative Assembly (DPRD) Commission A spokesman Melky Frans said in Ambon on Tuesday.
Kisar is scheduled to be the location for the peak event of Sail Banda 2010 , namely an undersea ceremony at the beautiful Nama beach on August 17, 2010 to observe Indonesia`s independence day.
Melky Frans, a native of Abusur village in Kisar island, said the undersea ceremony at Nama beach was expected to be participated in by thousands of teenagers from ASEAN member countries and hundreds of foreign Sail Banda participants.
Therefore, MBD acting district head Franky Renjaan and Sail Banda provincial secretary Piet Norimarna were called upon to mobilize the people of Kisar island to clean up Nama beach which is covered in thorny plants and thistles.
The thorny bushes and thistles had sprung up in an area stretching to the north and south from the colonial-era Vollenhove Fort along the coastline of Cape Madalasar, adding to Nama beach`s attractiveness.
Kisar and its surrounding islands such as Roma, Wetar, Leti, Moa, and Lakor (Lemola) are actually blessed with many spots holding great potentials for development of tourist resorts.
On such spots is Nama beach which has been functioning as a sea port in Kisar Yotowawa since the Dutch colonial era and now it is time to develop it as a tourist resort in the new district of Southwest Maluku.
There are a lot of good places for excursions in Kisar but none of them has been developed to attract foreign tourists, especially from Australia, New Zealand, and Timor Leste.
"If only there were investors who are prepared to develop and manage the spots professionally, they would undoubtedly increase the income of the local people and absorb manpower," Oirata village head Edison Katihara said.
Katihara admitted that the beautiful beaches and the fascinating marine parks were not being intensely publicized or promoted like Kuta beach in Bali and Bunaken in North Sulawesi.
He expressed optimism that if Nama beach in Wonreli, Kisar, and other islands in MBD district were developed by investors, the results would be encouraging, especially in the run up to the international marine event of Sail Banda.
To host Sail Banda`s peak event in Kisar, various preparations are being made, namely the expansion of Purpura airport`s runway from 800 meters to 1,300 meters, accommodations, and fresh water facilities for Sail Banda participants.
Maluku Transportation office chief Benny Gaspersz said in Ambon recently that the runway of Purpura airport in Kisar was being expanded, because it was a strategic way to support Sail Banda 2010.
"After the runway of Purpura airport in Pulau Kisar is extended from 800 meters to 1,300 meters, ATR 42 aircraft with 40 seats, operated by PT Wings Air will be able to land there," Gaspersz said.
Meanwhile, Maluku province`s Public Works Office is currently building fresh water facilities in Kisar and Banda for participants of the upcoming Sail Banda event.
"Based on an instruction from Governor Karel Albert Ralahalu, we are now building clean water facilities in Kisar and Banda for participants of the upcoming international marine event of Sail Banda 2010," Maluku Public Works Office spokesman Ismael Usemahu said in Ambon recently.
Besides a water tank with a capacity of 3,500 liters to transport fresh water from village to village, a water reservoir is being built and several new wells are being dug in Kisar island to provide the local people, as well as Sail Banda participants with fresh water.
"The water tank is to be operated by the MBD district administration to supply the local people with fresh water," Usemahu said, adding that a team would soon be sent to Banda in Central Maluku district to survey the water flow rate.
Prior to the peak event of Sail Banda 2010 in August, MV Orion, an expedition cruise ship skippered by Captain Steffen Friedrich from Australia visited Kisar island last year.
In the morning of September 12, 2009, MV Orion in its spice island adventure voyage of discovery from Darwin, Australia, was fortunate to have the luxury of coming alongside the wharf of Nama beach port on the west coast of Kisar Yotowawa Daisuli.
Members of the expedition team, led by Harry Christensen, eventually got off the ship and made their way to a convoy of local cars, which were going to take them to Wonreli town.
There they were entertained with colorful local traditional dances and then given an official welcome speech by a district administraion official.
Arriving at Orata village, the MV Orion expedition team had the opportunity to see a number of activities including "sopi" (alcoholic drink) distilling, palm sugar making, and ikat weaving for sale.
"Then they visited traditional markets, the old Dutch church in Oiraram, Leklor, and the old Delfshaven Fort in Kaisama village," Oirata village head Edison Katihara said.
Afterward they gathered around to witness the cakalele, the sword fighting performance, and then were invited to join in the dancing as well.(Otniel Tamindael)
Source: http://www.antaranews.com
