Maluku

Maluku is the only Indonesian province in which land makes up just 10 percent of the area's total surface. In many places the surrounding seas could be thousands of meters deep. Maluku is a transition zone between the Asian and Australian fauna and flora, and also between the Malay-based cultures of western Indonesia and those of Melanesia. Its approximately 1000 islands support a population of less than 1.7 million people. The average population density figure is 19 people per-square kilometre, but the distribution is uneven. Air and sea transportation are the main means which link the islands together. The province has 32 seaports and 20 airports, and only about 160 km of roads. However, good roads on many of the islands provide easy access to the often remote places of tourists interest.

A great variety of endemic plant and animal species are found in the rugged forest-covered and mountainous hinterlands of most of the islands. A few of the best known are the Racker-tailed king fisher, the red-crested Moluccan cockatoo, and various brilliantly-colored lorikeets and parrots. Most of Maluku sits astride one of the world's most volatile volcanic belts. The region has known more than 70 eruptions in the last 400 years. Tremors and volcanic eruptions are by no means rare events at present. Many islands, in fact, look from a distance like volcanic cones rising right out of the sea.

The sunny days within dry season between May and September are warm and pleasent, while the rainy season is between October and April, tropical showers will alternate with clear sky and sunshine. The average temperature of the day in coastal areas varies from about 28ºC (82ºF) during May, June, July to about 30ºC (86ºF) in March and October.

It is approximately one and half hours drive to the highland where temperature varies from 16ºC to 26ºC and it is known to drop about 8ºC during the night. The humidity is high (from a minimum of 70% to a maximum of 96%). The weather is most pleasent between May to September.