Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Garden of Good and Evil — Indonesia’s Fabled Spice Islands

Posted on June 30, 2014 by ianburnet

A guest blog from Jennifer Hayes, tour leader, photographer and writer with Sea Trek Sailing Adventures SeaTrek, the Ombak Putih and Ian Burnet will be sailing to the Spice Islands from 8-19 October 2014, for more details go to http://www.seatrekbali.com/cruise/spice-routes-spice-wars/ … Continue reading →

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“Indonesia Menggugat” —- “Indonesia Accuses”

Posted on June 19, 2014 by ianburnet

I was recently reminded that Soekarno’s birthday is in June, and then remembered a visit to the former Dutch Landraad courthouse in Bandung. It was here in 1930 that Soekarno gave his famous speech against colonialism, ‘Indonesia Menggugat’ or ‘Indonesia … Continue reading →

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On Food and Wine

Posted on June 9, 2014 by ianburnet

The Sydney Writers Festival was another great week of ideas and discussion. Here are some famous writers with their thoughts on Food and Wine.

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The Flowering of Clitoria Ternatea

Posted on May 16, 2014 by ianburnet

On the Spice Islands Sailing Adventure in 2013 we landed on the island of Machian in the North Moluccas. Once the most prolific of the clove growing Spice Islands, early sailors claimed they could smell the sweet scent of its … Continue reading →

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East Indies — Book Reviews III

Posted on May 4, 2014 by ianburnet

Some more ‘East Indies’ book reviews have come in Ian Burnet journeys through the East Indies, from Calcutta and Goa to Timor and Malacca, as far as Nagasaki, Canton and Hong Kong. Europe’s desires for goods from the East —- … Continue reading →

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A Death in Paradise

Posted on April 24, 2014 by ianburnet

The whitewashed residence of the former Dutch Governor on the island of Banda has some classical architectural features. From the golden lions mounted on the entrance gates, to the now defunct fountain on the lawn in the forecourt, to the … Continue reading →

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Fort Revenge – A Mystery Solved

Posted on April 12, 2014 by ianburnet

Fort Revenge. Just the name conjures up boyhood images of the sound and fury of battle, with cannons booming, muskets firing, military flags waving, the clash of swords, and the sound of battle cries. Fort Revenge still stands on the … Continue reading →

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‘East Indies’ —- Book Reviews II

Posted on April 6, 2014 by ianburnet

Some more ‘East Indies’ book reviews have come in. Armed Enterprise – Competition and Monopoly in the East Burnet tells of the struggle between the Portuguese Crown, the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and the English East India Company for … Continue reading →

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Ambon Medley

Posted on April 6, 2014 by ianburnet

Time to have fun with some timeless classics. Join in with the audience —- clap your hands, stamp your feet, whistle, shout, and have fun with Keroncong Tugu Band

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The Manhattan Transfer

Posted on March 16, 2014 by ianburnet

Originally posted on spiceislandsblog:
This is a story that never ceases to fascinate. Whenever I give a ‘Spice Islands’ book talk, I am always asked “Is it true that the island of Run was exchanged for Manhattan?” Manhattan is often…

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