Author Archives: ianburnet

About ianburnet

Author of the book, Spice Islands. Which tells the History, Romance and Adventure of the spice trade from the Moluccas in Eastern Indonesia over a period of 2000 years. Author of the book, East Indies.Which tells the history of the struggle between the Portuguese Crown, the Dutch East India Company and the English East India Company for supremacy in the Eastern Seas. Author of the book 'Archipelago - A Journey Across Indonesia'.

‘Friends in Australia’ – a message from Sutan Sjahir, the Prime Minister of the newly declared Republic of Indonesia, November 1945.

Posted on November 25, 2018

On 17 August 1945 and two days after the Japanese surrender, Soekarno and Hatta unilaterally declared Indonesia’s Independence and became the first President and Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia.   Brothers and Sisters All! I have asked you … Continue reading →

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The Dukono Volcano on Halmahera

Posted on November 13, 2018

When our Coral Expeditions cruise arrived in the town of Tobelo on the northwestern arm of the island of Halmahera in October 2018, the Dukono volcano was erupting ash. This should not have been a surprise since research shows that … Continue reading →

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Lest We Forget – The Balibo Five

Posted on October 17, 2018

This is the forty third anniversary of the death of the Balibo Five in Portuguese East Timor – can it have been that long ago? Here is an excerpt from my book ‘Archipelago – A Journey Across Indonesia’. On October … Continue reading →

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Oost-Indisch Huis (East India House)

Posted on September 17, 2018

East India House in Amsterdam, built in 1606, was the first building especially built for the United East India Company (VOC) and was the centre of all its business activities. The buildings have been preserved and are now part of … Continue reading →

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Indonesia’s path to Independence 1901-1945

Posted on August 15, 2018

1901        Under the aegis of what became known as the ‘Ethical Policy’ the Dutch Government slowly began to extend opportunities, to the children of the Indonesian elite to attend Dutch language primary and secondary schools. The best of the young … Continue reading →

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Explore the Spice Islands

Posted on August 14, 2018

This is your chance to explore the Spice Islands with Coral Expeditions at a special discount rate.

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425 kg of spices at the Art Gallery NSW !

Posted on August 6, 2018

Space Makers and Room Shakers until 21 October 2018 Ernesto Neto has made a large sculpture that you can smell before you see — a stretchy shelter filled with the following spices: cloves, tumeric, cumin, paprika, black pepper and fenugreek. … Continue reading →

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