Making the most of Ambon
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
Long and deep, Ambon's harbour is enclosed on both sides by steep volcanic slopes covered in greenery. The port lies within the city of Ambon.
Take a printable map with you.
Mountainous, fertile and well watered, Ambon is one of the 3 principal islands of the South Moluccas. Its main city and seaport, Kota Ambon, also serves as the capital of Maluku province.
High hills topped by statues overlook Ambon, the capital of Indonesia's Maluku region. The Tiahahu Monument combines an excellent view with the story of a young female freedom fighter who opposed Dutch colonialism; a striking statue depicts her. Maluku's ethnographic art and craft traditions are displayed in a substantial collection at the Siwalima Museum.
Getting around
Taxis operate in many towns, but agree the price before setting off.
Allow time to discover appealing Kota Ambon, perhaps on a guided walk through its luxuriant tropical vegetation.
Nearby places
Possible trips include the Leitimur mountain villages, such as Soya Atas, or Waai's “Sacred Eels”, which swim in a clear pool and are considered lucky to see.
Food and shopping
Eating with the hand rather than cutlery is common in Indonesia. Use four fingers to shape a small ball of rice, dip it into sauce, then push it into your mouth with your thumb. Etiquette requires using only the right hand, since the left is reserved for washing after using the toilet. Do not reach into shared serving dishes with either hand: serve yourself using utensils held in the left hand before eating. Wash both hands thoroughly before and afterwards. Some settings nevertheless frown on eating by hand...
Money
Cash machines are widely found in Indonesia's major cities.
Take care when paying by credit card, because cloning and fraud are serious issues in Indonesia. Visa and Mastercard have broad acceptance, while American Express may cause difficulties. Smaller businesses commonly add a surcharge of 2-5% compared with cash.
Staying connected
Indonesia has one official language, Indonesian, also called Bahasa Indonesia.
Internet prices differ considerably and service generally reflects the price, but a typical rate is around Rp 5,000 per hour. Some shopping centres, McDonald restaurants and Starbucks cafés in large cities provide free hotspots, as do the lobbies of certain hotels.
For emergencies from a mobile phone, call 112.