1. The Pacific Fantasy Islands Chapter 29

2. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 2

3. 3 Why Go? Legendary beauty and romance Breaks up long trans-Pacific trip Climate is wonderful Water sports & beaches Cruises Fascinating cultural differences Volcanic scenery is dramatic

4. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 4 Three Geographic Regions of Oceania Micronesia Guam Saipan Truk Kiribati Yap Palau Diving Japanese Polynesia Tahiti Tonga American Samoa Samoa Cook Islands Best known Romance, lifestyle Melanesia Fiji Papua New Guinea New Caledonia Dark skin Australians & Kiwis

5. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 5 International Date Line North /south Zig-Zags east of Tonga  Tonga – Where time begins! Equator  East west  South of equator – South Seas

6. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 6 When to Go Climate  Relatively predictable Topography Location  Position  Leeward  Windward Wind Patterns

7. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 7 When To Go (cont.) MicronesiaMelanesiaPolynesia Location North of EquatorSouth of Equator SummerJuly - Oct Rainy, hurricanes Low Season Nov – Apr Hot, wet Low Season Nov – Apr Hot, wet Low Season WinterNov – Mar Mild High season May – Oct Warm, dry High Season May – Oct Warm, dry High Season Western shores tend to be drier Eastern shores rainier Wind patterns unpredictable Cyclones South of Equator in Summer

8. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 8 How Travellers Get There Long haul air travel  Scheduled carriers from LAX, YVR, SFO & HNL What Airlines service the Pacific Islands? What are the Gateway cities?  Papeete, Tahiti (PPT)  Nadi, Fiji (NAN)  Guam (GUM) Air-hotel packages - most economical Cruises growing in popularity

9. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 9 Getting Around Between Islands  Inter island flights  Cruises On the islands  Buses  Mopeds  Bicycles  Taxis  Helicopters  Horses  Glass-bottomed boats

10. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 10 Before you Go… Requirements vary depending on country: www.voyage.gc.ca www.voyage.gc.ca Passport Visas Vaccinations & health concerns Helpful suggestions: Copies of confirmations Bug repellent & sunscreen ( lots!) Shoes /sandals when walking on beach Bring electrical adaptors Time is relative!

11. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 11 Polynesia Tahiti  Papeete  gateway to  >130 islands  Paul Gauguin Tahitian Islands  Society Islands  French Polynesia – French speaking  Expensive – XPF - French Pacific Franc  Water sports, scenic

12. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 12 Tahitian Islands (cont.) Popular destinations  Mooreawww.mooreaisland.comwww.mooreaisland.com  White & black beaches Overwater bungalows  Bora Borawww.boraboraisland.comwww.boraboraisland.com  230km NW of Tahiti Remote  Raiateawww.raiatea.comwww.raiatea.com Sacred Island  Maupiti Small but beautiful

13. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 13 Tonga 176 islands cover 425kms Watersports  Whale watching – winter July – Oct Humpback whales Capital  Nuku’alofa on main island Tongatapu Getting There  Air New Zealand  Air Pacific  Pacific Blue  Polynesian Airlines www.tongaholiday.com

14. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 14 American Samoa www.amsamoa.com 6 Polynesian islands  US southern-most territory Sand, sun, coral seas  Deep sea fishing  Hiking Pago Pago  Accommodation B&B and small inns

15. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 15 Samoa www.visitsamoa.ws Samoan beach fale  Traditional thatched roof hut Apia Largest population of Polynesians Considered bargain Turtles Migration  dolphins, whales and porpoises

16. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 16 Cook Islands Air New Zealand & Pacific Blue English & Maori spoken Currency  New Zealand $ Diving, snorkelling, deep-sea fishing  Black pearls Rarotonga Aitutaki

17. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 17 Melanesia Stop off points on way to Australia & New Zealand 80% of Pacific Islanders live in Melanesia English spoken on most islands 1200 distinct languages

18. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 18 Fiji Islands  Nadi- NAN - gateway  Suva – capital  333 islands  Castaway – Tom Hanks  Bega – home of firewalkers  Watersports Surfing  Cloud Breaker  Accommodation  www.turtlefiji.com www.turtlefiji.com  only 14 bures traditional 2-room, thatched cottages staff of over 150

19. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 19 Papua New Guinea Eastern half of New Guinea Capital – Port Moresby Typically monsoonal  Hot, humid wet year round Native culture  Stone Age head hunters Expensive Political & social upheaval  Diving, birding  Flora and fauna

20. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 20 New Caledonia 3 rd largest island in region Noumea  Paris of the Pacific  Entertainment, casino, restaurants 1600km reef & lagoon French speaking Unique flora & fauna Vanuatu  Bungee jumping  Scenery  Diving

21. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 21 Micronesia “small islands” Thousands of islands  Over 2040 nautical miles Isolated WWII – brought attention to these islands Post WWII nuclear testing grounds  1946-58 – 66 bombs exploded over Marshalls  Guam  Saipan  Truk (Chuuk)  Kiribati

22. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 22 Guam Turquoise and tranquil seas  White sandy beaches Watersports  Diving, kayaking, windsurfing  Dolphin watching Capital  Hagåtña  www.visitguam.org www.visitguam.org

23. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 23 Saipan Largest island & Capital  Northern Mariana Islands  15 islands 200km north of Guam West  Beaches & coral reef East  Rugged rocky cliffs

24. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 24 Truk www.visit-fsm.org/chuuk Wreck diving  50 hulls  Lush vegetation  Migratory birdlife  Ocean kayaking

25. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 25 Kiribati Kee-ree-bus Coral atolls Capital  Tarawa

26. Copyright © 2007 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited 26 Possible Misgivings Too expensive Too far It seems too primitive for me Political unrest Not enough cultural attractions We didn’t like Hawaii and we won’t like this