The Ancient Spice Routes
Beccy Miller
The Ancient Spice Routes
The spice routes, also known as the Maritime Silk Roads, are a network of sea routes that stretch from Japan, through Indonesia and South-East Asia, around India and back to the Middle-East and Europe. The spice trade is over 4,000 years old and in its early days consisted of camel caravans taking the land route – The Silk Road – which wound through Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. In its day, the spice trade was the world’s biggest – it established and built empires. Spices like nutmeg were worth more than gold and dockworkers in the 16th century were paid bonuses in cloves, they were so valuable.
When Constantinople (now Istanbul) fell to the Ottomans in 1453, the land connection between Europe and Asia was cut off and this route was subject to expensive taxes and tariffs, so began the ‘Age of Exploration’ began – and maritime passages were created instead, and these quickly became the de facto way to trade and are still some of the busiest shipping lanes today. With so many beautiful destinations along the way, it’s natural that the cruise industry sails these routes too. We’ve picked some highlights below.
Singapore
Despite being one of the smallest nations in the world, the city-state of Singapore is one of the world's biggest transportation hubs, being the touching point between Europe and Australia. This clean, sophisticated city, rich in cultural diversity has much to see and do.
You might choose to wander around Gardens by the Bay – an urban nature park in downtown Singapore – which offers 1.5 million plants, hailing from every continent, or choose to visit Changi Chapel & Museum and learn about the history of the prisoner of war camp. Singapore is a foodie’s paradise too – from Michelin-starred restaurants down to stalls hawking their tasty produce, every palette is catered for.
Phuket – Thai
The province of Phuket is Thailand’s largest island and you can find some beautiful beaches here. The main beach of Patpong can be crowded, but there are plenty of others nearby that offer a more serene experience.
Take a trip to Hat Rawai for a more authentic trip. This small village is home to a tribe of sea gypsies – the Moken. Most work in the fishing industry or tour guides for sea trips and the seafood markets offer the catch the day. Here you can take your pick from the selection at the market and then take it to a local restaurant, who will prepare it for you.
Penang – Malaysia
Penang, known as the ‘Pearl of the Orient' has soft, sandy beaches, stunning scenery and is steeped in history from its days as an important trading centre. The UNESCO world heritage site of Georgetown is home to the mural trail, around the old British fort there are over 50 murals and sculptures etched on the side of old 19th-century colonial buildings. There are maps online to help you navigate them, but it can get hot and crowded, so it’s best to do it as early as possible.
Penang is a foodie’s paradise, a melting pot of different cultures such as Tamils, Malays, British and Hakka all have their influence. Hawker carts or tiny hole-in-the-wall stalls offer fragrant bowls of Laksa. People from out of town will happily drive to Penang to try and visit as many stands as they can for one day, if you want to join in, make sure you wear loose-fitting clothes!
Colombo – Sri Lanka
Known in the 19th century as ‘the garden of the east’, Colombo now is a sprawling city and offers visitors plenty to see and do. The National Museum, set in a dazzling white neo-Baroque building, formerly the Governor’s house, was built in 1877 and is a great trip through Sri Lanka’s history. There is also the old Dutch hospital, which dates back to the 1600s, now a bustling bar and restaurant complex for you to visit and sample some amazing local cuisine.
Goa – India
This Indian port was colonised by the Portuguese who brought Catholicism to the area, as demonstrated by the many churches dotted around the area. The oldest of these, the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, was re-built in 1619 over the site of the original, smaller, 1540 chapel and was the first stop for sailors who had made the crossing from Europe to give thanks for a safe passage. There is also Se Cathedral, the largest church in all of Asia which is also worth a visit. Goa also has an abundance of beautiful beaches – ones like Agonda and Patnem are two not to miss.
Bali – Indonesia
Bali has everything, great beaches, ancient temples, tasty food and amazing weather, so it’s not hard to see why it’s the most popular beach island in the region. Kuta beach is the one where it all began, it spans 2.5 km and here you can witness the most incredible sunsets. Its complete opposite, Sanur beach, on the other side of the island offers calmer waters great for surfing and watching the sunrise.
Bali’s temples have to be explored. There are so many to choose from, our favourite is the picturesque Ulun Danu Beratan Temple - the smooth surface of the lake it's situated on makes it appear that it is floating.
Hong Kong – China
The beautiful peninsula of Hong Kong, was one of the most important British trading posts in the 19th and 20th centuries. If your legs are up to the challenge, you can take the 268 steps up to Tian Tan Buddha, one of Hong Kong’s most famous landmarks, but you will be rewarded by the wonder of the Po Lin Monastery, an incense-filled sanctum, one of Buddhism’s most important locations.
If shopping is more your thing, the amazing Temple Street Night Market has to be on your list, selling a variety of goods and there is an array of fortune-tellers too.
If you want to discover the ancient spice routes for yourself, you can take a look at these sailings with Celebrity Cruises...
