This is probably the image that the Spice Islands presented to the first European sailors... Tidore is the southern sister island of Ternate, located west of the large Moluccan island of Halmahera. The beach, towered over by coconut palms, is littered with blackish basalt debris, evidence of the volcanic origin of most of these islands. – 1990

This is probably the view that the Spice Islands offered the first European sailors... - Togolo Beach on the island of Tidore – Moluccas – 1990

This is probably the view that the Spice Islands offered the first European sailors... – Latuhalat Beach – Ambon – Moluccas – 1990

This is probably the view that the Spice Islands offered the first European sailors... – Waitomu – Ambon – Moluccas – 1990

Coconut palm on Ternate – Moluccas – 1990

Koggala Beach in Sri Lanka. This stretch of coastline is located in the southern province of the country, about 120 km south of the capital Colombo and not far from the historic city of Galle. The striking rocks in the water are typical of this stretch of coastline between Unawatuna and Weligama. – 1990

Dalawella Beach in the south of the country. The region is known for its wide sandy beaches, coconut groves and excellent conditions for travellers. – 1990

A wooden boat on the Hamilton Canal (often simply referred to as the Dutch Canal) in Negombo, Sri Lanka. It was originally developed by the Dutch in the 17th century (and later by the British) to transport cinnamon and other spices. It connects Colombo with the Negombo Lagoon. The canal runs directly through dense mangrove and coconut groves, making it a popular route for boat trips. – 1990

A traditional toddy tapper at work, a scene that is particularly typical of Sri Lanka. Toddy tappers climb palm trees to extract the sap from the inflorescences of coconut or palmyrapalm trees. To avoid having to climb up and down each tree individually, the treetops are often connected by ropes, along which the tappers balance from tree to tree at dizzying heights. The sap extracted is called ‘toddy’. It is a milky drink that ferments naturally, turning into an alcoholic palm wine. – Induruwa – 1990

A palm grove near the village of Induruwa on the south-west coast of Sri Lanka (Ceylon). Like a circus acrobat, a man walks along the ropes stretched at the height of the tree tops, linking around a hundred palm trees together. Twice a day, he harvests the milky, sugary palm sap, which is extracted through incisions in the fresh flower shoots and, when fermented, produces the much sought-after toddy or palm wine. If the palm wine and rice are fermented again, distillation yields the strong arrack or palm spirit, which is particularly popular among the Sinhalese. – 1990

The beach at Balapitiya is characterised by fine sand, coconut palms and distinctive rock formations in the water. - 1990

This photograph shows a boat-building workshop in the backwaters region of Kollam (Quilon) in Kerala, India. It depicts wooden fishing boats that have been pulled ashore on rails for maintenance work. A distinctive feature of the region are the dense groves of palm trees in the background, which are typical of Kerala’s waterways. – Journey to Allepey – 1990

Along the coasts and inland waterways of Kerala, such as here around Kollam, one finds the famous Chinese fishing nets (known locally as Cheena vala) in the backwaters of Kerala, India. These distinctive, permanently installed dip nets are an iconic symbol of the region. They are mechanical devices made of wooden or bamboo poles that lower a horizontal net into the water and raise it again using counterweights (often stones). It is believed that this fishing technique was originally brought to Kerala by Chinese traders in the 14th century. - Kollam (Quilon) - Journey towards Allepey - 1990

A man rows a traditional wooden boat, resembling a dugout canoe, through the picturesque backwaters of the Indian state of Kerala, a region often referred to as ‘God’s Own Country’. The scene captures the tranquil, characteristic atmosphere of the narrow canals and lagoons, lined with dense groves of coconut palms. – Thrikkunnapuzha – 1990

This scene is typical of the waterways in the backwaters of Kerala. The boat is a type of barge or dhow, often used to transport sand or other goods through the palm-lined canals. – Thrikkunnapuzha – 1990

This boat is a traditional vessel often referred to as a ‘Kettu Vallam’. Historically, these boats served as the ‘freight carriers’ of the backwaters, transporting goods such as rice, coconuts and sand before the advent of proper roads and railways. A characteristic feature is the sail, which is often made from simple materials such as grain sacks. The banks are densely covered with coconut palms, which is typical of this region near Thrikkunnapuzha, a picturesque coastal town in the Alappuzha district of Kerala. – 1990

The traditional boats of Kerala’s backwaters were historically used as ‘waterway lorries’ to transport goods such as rice, spices and sand. This is a Kettu Vallam from the Thrikkunnapuzha region. The boats are often characterised by hand-woven roofs made of coconut fibre and bamboo, as well as distinctive sails. – 1990

Locals in a traditional wooden boat (pirogue or canoe), used for transport and daily life on the waterways. The backwaters of Kerala in south-west India form an extensive network of lagoons, lakes, canals and rivers. The banks are lined with dense groves of palm trees, rice fields and small villages, making the backwaters a popular destination for nature lovers and those seeking relaxation. – Thrikkunnapuzha – 1990

Traditional huts with roofs made of palm fronds, situated directly alongside the waterways in the backwaters of Alleppey in Kerala. This region is famous for its extensive network of canals, rivers and lakes, lined with lush tropical vegetation and coconut palms. – 1990

Cannanore (now officially known as Kannur) in northern Kerala, India, is famous for this type of landscape. Here, there is a very special, traditional form of rice cultivation known as Kaipad. This involves integrated organic farming in the brackish coastal marshes. Typically, during the monsoon season, rice is grown on small mounds of earth, whilst during the drier months, aquaculture (fish and prawn farming) is often practised in the same fields. The dense groves of coconut palms lining the water-filled paddies are the hallmark of this region and make it a popular subject for landscape photography in Kerala. – 1990

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