Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Walls of Old Batavia

Posted on January 16, 2015 by ianburnet

The map below shows the outline of the City of Batavia and its defensive walls and bastions in 1780, at the peak of its commercial development and before the subsequent bankruptcy of the United Dutch East India Company (VOC) only … Continue reading →

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Fort Nieuw Victoria, Ambon — A Mystery Solved?

Posted on January 16, 2015 by ianburnet

A fort on this location was built by the Portuguese in the 1500’s and then captured by the first war fleet commissioned by the United Dutch East India Company in 1605 and commanded by Steven van de Hagen. The fort … Continue reading →

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The Coronation of the Sultan of Tidore — October 2014

Posted on January 12, 2015 by ianburnet

When our first Spice Islands Sailing Adventure reached Tidore in 2012 we sadly learnt that the Sultan had recently passed away. During that visit we were taken to a Council House high on the mountain, where the elders would meet … Continue reading →

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The Forgotten Founder of Singapore

Posted on December 8, 2014 by ianburnet

I have always been surprised by the lack of recognition in Singapore for its co-founder William Farquhar. Please correct me if I am wrong but I cannot find a street or place named after him anywhere in the city. In … Continue reading →

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The Ambon War Cemetery

Posted on November 4, 2014 by ianburnet

They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old, age shall not weary them nor the years condemn, at the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them. The Commonwealth Graves Cemetary … Continue reading →

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The Ambon War Cemetery – Damien Parer

Posted on November 2, 2014 by ianburnet

They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old, age shall not weary them nor the years condemn, at the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them. The famous Australian war … Continue reading →

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Congratulations President Joko Widodo

Posted on October 23, 2014 by ianburnet
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Operation Opossum — The Rescue of the Sultan of Ternate, 1945

Posted on October 22, 2014 by ianburnet

On our visit to the Sultan’s Palace in Ternate we learned of how the family was rescued from the Japanese at the end of the Second World War. Here are the details summarised from an article by Kevin Smith in … Continue reading →

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Indonesia’s Spice Islands by Schooner

Posted on October 20, 2014 by ianburnet

Here is an article written on our 2013 sailing adventure. Reposted from Destinasian. Article by Johnny Langenheim and photos by Jack Wylie The sun is already hot and high by the time Run comes into view. Perched on the prow … Continue reading →

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The Cinnamon Route

Posted on October 6, 2014 by ianburnet

Taking the Mystery out of History Reposted courtesy of the Museum Malaysia Volunteers website The Museum Volunteers hosted a talk by Ian Burnet on 25 January 2014 on his two books, Spice Islands and East Indies. Spices, native to islands … Continue reading →

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