Java Lava climbed Gama Lama September 09 2011.Would expect a little more time 4.5hrs up, 3.5 dowm for most climbers.On descent as trail re-enters clove/nutmeg forest, esy to get on the wrong ridge and have to backtrack, so useful to have guide/use GPS at this point

Dan – an irrelevant but interesting fact for Muslims who may wish to pray in the ancient mosque of the Sultan of Ternate … Those who wish to enter the mosque are obliged to wear celana (trousers) rather thann sarong, as is customary for Friday prayers throughout Indonesia. The reason, as explained by the ulama, is that fishermen wear sarongs at sea and would return to the mosque for prayers in unclear garments. As the wearing of celena in mosques is quite unusual, the tradition may also have its origins in early Portugues-Spanish influence. Further research required!

Ternate and Tidore were the original and only source of cloves, bringing the Portuguese and Spanish and later the Dutch and English to these islands. The history of these islands and European powers’ attempts to exercise influence over the spice trade is recorded in “Turbuoent Times Past in Ternate and Tidore, Willard A. Hanna and Des Alwi, 1990, Yayasan Warisan dan Budaya, Banda Naira.

Visitors to Ternate should try to obtain as copy of this book locally if it is still in print.