A Drop of Ambon Manise

Waiselaka Spring, Ambon

Working during new year holiday may sometimes be a great experience. I visited Ambon, the capital city of Maluku of Indonesia on duty right at the beginning of this year, 30 December 2014 to 2 January 2015.

It had been an open secret that an auditor's new year is filled with stock take, i.e. counting client's inventory balance as at December 31st for related year. When I realised that with one and other conditions the job could be finished before 00.00 on January 1st, I took the bet.

The city of Ambon as seen from Terminal Bahan Bakar Minyak (TBBM)/Fuel Oil Terminal Wayame, 31 December 2014. TBBM Wayame serves as PT Pertamina (Persero)'s product marketing and distribution center for area Maluku-Papua, thus it's the biggest within the range.

Although located in one mainland with estimated driving time of an hour, the easiest way to reach the city center of Ambon from Wayame was by ferry. A bridge construction project is currently in progress to connect city center with opposite site of the gulf, in which Wayame and the capital's airport are located.

Connecting bridge construction was halfway through on late December 2014. The picture was taken from passing ferry.

The city center was getting more and more crowded as it getting close to new year countdown. Mass blocked the road and ferry had been shut down by 23.00; to reach our hotel in city center, we needed taking a private boat. And as our car could not pass the gulf, an ojek ride was taken from city center's port to the hotel.

Next morning was calm, and we took a little sightseeing around the town. Some of the famous we visited were Gong Perdamaian Dunia (World Peace Gong), Monument of Christina Martha Tiahahu, Natsepa Beach and Waiselaka Spring.

World Peace Gong, Ambon.

Christina Martha Tiahahu statue was build on the hill facing the gulf of Ambon.

Playing with giant eel in Waiselaka Spring. They're cute like cats!!!

Facing Seram Island, the layered colour of the sea was easily distinguished, representing dramatic change of its depth. Consisted of small but mountainous islands, Maluku province has the deepest sea in Indonesia.

And that's the summary of my visit. Another chance to visit this city and nearby islands will be hilarious!!

Wants to know more about Ambon? Check here!