ASIATODAY.ID, MALUKU – Ternate and Tidore not only promise natural beauty, but also rich history and cultural traditions. Many old stories about the two small islands side by side in the Maluku Sea. One of them is about the existence of the spice route.

It is known, long before the Europeans carried out trading activities in Southeast Asia, the archipelago had become an important player in the world through its spices.

It is this historical trail that underlies the Land of Spice Foundation to open up public insight through fun travel trips. 

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the State Spice Foundation, Hassan Wirajuda, said that Indonesia is a world-recognized center for producing spices. According to him, the spice trade then also influenced the cultural exchange of various nations.

“Trade provides contacts between different people and nations. From there, there is an exchange of culture, philosophy, and technology," said Hassan Wirajuda in a written broadcast, Thursday (18/7/2019).

The former Foreign Minister of the Reformation era also hopes that efforts to introduce the history of the homeland will continue to be improved. In this case, the role of the government is certainly highly expected.

“Awareness of our past is very important. As Bung Karno once said, 'only a great nation can appreciate its history'. We remind policy makers, both at the central and regional levels, of the importance of learning for the younger generation about history,” he explained.

In Ternate and Tidore, it is known that there is Afo Clove tree, which is believed to be the oldest clove in the world. Its age is estimated to be hundreds of years. Around Clove Afo, scattered nutmeg plants, which are also a mainstay commodity from Ternate and Tidore.

History records, cloves are the reason why there are so many fortifications around Ternate and Tidore. The forts were built by the Spanish and Portuguese for nothing other than protecting cloves, which at that time were considered treasures.

Forts scattered in the Ternate and Tidore areas include Fort Tolukko, Fort Kastela, Fort Tore, and Fort Tahula. Not only history, the variety of local Ternate and Tidore cuisines such as papeda eaten with gohu tuna is also worth a try.(Lis/AT)