An expedition to retrace the ancient cinnamon route reaches Seychelles with the expected arrival on Friday September 12, of a replica of the vessel used by mariners who sailed from Indonesia to Africa during the first millennium for trade in the spice.

The Borobudur Ship Expedition 2003 started with the inauguration of the Borobudur Ship in Jakarta on August 18, 2003. From Seychelles, the voyage is scheduled to reach Madagascar by October, Cape Town by November and continue up the western coast of Africa, arriving at its final destination, Ghana, by December 2003. 

The 20-metre Borobudur ship is the first reconstruction of the eight century ships depicted in relief on the massive Bhuddist temple at Borobudur in Indonesia.

The four-month long expedition is the brainchild of British man Philip Beale, 42, who left his position as head of pooled funds at City firm Morley Fund Management in March to pursue this ambition.

The project is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia and has also been approved by the Royal Geographical Society.

A documentary film is being made that will capture the three key elements of the expedition: the reconstruction of the vessel, the historical and cultural links between Indonesia and Africa and the voyage of exploration itself.

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