Ten minutes south of Kota Ambon, set in sloping landscaped gardens adorned with Japanese and Dutch cannon and a scowling statue of Pattimura, parang (machete) aloft, you'll find the modest Siwalima. The collection, housed in three buildings separated by a steep road, is dedicated to Malukan material culture, including fish traps, stone tools, model longboats, an elongated tifa drum, crafted from bamboo and ancient bone, and brass jewellery.
Traditional Indonesian wedding costumes from across the archipelago's many regions are exhibited in the topmost gallery. Renovations and a lack of demand can mean the whole collection is not always open, but it's a worthy diversion from the hustle of Ambon. An ojek to the door is about 10,000Rp.
