Tuvalu

Tuvalu could be one of the most interesting islands in our walk amongst island, and island groups of the south Pacific. First and foremost, Tuvalu is a mere speck in the sense of land mass. The total land mass added together amongst the nine real island chains that make up the country is a mere 25 square kilometers which exist in a zone of over 900,000 kilometers…not exactly a place to be ship wrecked and lost at sea in hopes of finding dry land. Other than that Tuvalu is generally the same as any other island in the South Pacific zone. It has beautiful beaches, an international airport on its main island, Funafuti, and enjoys making most of its income off of tourism from Europe and the United States of America. The one thing that makes Tuvalu so interesting and so different from the other island nations is that it is labeled and considered internationally to be an endangered country. There is a lot of speculation about this, but in the past decade it is generally agreed that the island is indeed beginning to feel the true effects of a receding shore line as the ocean seems to be retaking the land mass back into its depths. This happens to be a large argument for those who believe and support the whole global warming movement which is supposedly causing the sea levels to be rising. Tuvalu has even recently joined the United Nations to attempt to gain more support and publicity in order to mitigate this problem. The highest point above sea level on the island is only about sixteen feet!

Pitcarin

The Pitcarin region within the Southern Pacific is an interesting one with a really rich history. For those of you who are not English literature enthusiast or for those of you who don’t enjoy leisure reading, a very famous and well known tale of betrayal is that of the Mutiny on the HMS Bounty (Her majesty’s ship in case you aren’t familiar with the acronym). This is a true account for a real life mutiny of a crew against there captain and there are actually two accounts that you can read; one is from the captain’s perspective and the other is from the leader of the mutineer’s perspective. To keep the story brief, the mission of the Bounty was to find, locate, and harvest some breadfruit plants in the south Pacific and to bring them back to Britain in order to germinate. Well, once the crew got the taste of the uncomplicated island life and living in paradise (also having sex with the local women who were fascinated by the white men) they decided that they wanted to stay more than return back to their lives in England. So they did just that. One of the main areas where these men stayed was in Pictarin. In fact, when the weather is permitting, cruise lines even pass by the bay where the alleged account of the Bounty actually took place. I actually find this very interesting because my lineage (as part Tongan) can actually be traced back to these mutineers; which I can’t decide if that is cool or not.

Tokelau

For those who are interested in getting away from the norm and following a different track then the already worn and often traveled one across the South Pacific, Tokelau is the place for you. While there are many nations in the South Pacific and even more islands than anyone really even knows for sure, Tokelau is relatively untouched by outside forces and everyday life is simple and relatively stress free from modern day affairs. There are literally no roads, restaurants, clubs, bars, or anything that even looks remotely like a resort. There are only its inhabitants, who number around the neighborhood of 1500, who live life much like they have always done for hundreds of years. Fishing is still the main trade and practice on the islands but there are also coconut plantations that are run and tended to year round and raising pigs is the other main occupation. Technically, Tokelau is run under New Zealand’s ministry, but most of the council is made up of local representatives and organized government is very minimal. Any kind of visitors or tourists who come to the island are put up by host families, who are usually very warm and welcoming to visitors, or there are a handful of small motels (not really like what anyone in the US is used to calling a motel) that have limited space. So if you are interested in truly “getting away from it all” or crave an old world experience that is rich in culture and tradition, you should check out Tokelau. You find out more about this place for your next holiday at Holiday Destination Guide. It's a great resource.

Easter Island

Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, represents the southern most island in the Polynesian chain of islands in the south pacific. It is located between Tahiti and South America and is a territory of the country Chile. Easter Island is probably known best for its large stone statues called Moai. These large statues date back to over 500 years ago. They range in size, but the biggest (complete one) is 33 feet tall and weighs in at 75 tons. Most people have actually seen these statues at some time or another in their life but usually do not know that they originated at Easter Island. They are very distinct in their markings and are all pretty much of the same image. The statue is mostly a head, which roughly translates into over three fifths of the body size, which has a heavy brow, distinctly large nose, and they are always placed facing inward into the islands interior. Almost all of these statues were once destroyed in what is believed to be a large tribal or clan war amongst the natives of the island. But since then, massive reconstruction has taken place and many of the statues have been renewed to their original condition. There is a lot of speculation about what the significance of the statues actually is. Some believe that they are a part of ancestral worship and represent old tribal leaders (hence the size and importance of the large head). But apart from that, many people just visit the island to merely get a glimpse of these magnificent relics of the past.

Samoa

Samoa is kind of unique in certain ways from the other islands of the south pacific. For one, Samoa is only made up of a handful of islands while most of the countries of the pacific are made up of hundreds and sometimes even thousands of small volcanic islands. Samoa is located at the very heart of the pacific island chains right in between Tahiti and Fiji. Samoa, like many of the islands of the south pacific, boasts beautiful coral beaches and lush rainforests on the interior of the island. Because of the exotic variances in locations from beach to interior of the island, there is a wide variety of activities that tourist can enjoy during their stay. These include surfing, scuba diving, mountain biking, and tours through the thick vegetation in the rain forest for animal watching. Samoa comes with it a deep pride in its heritage and background and many natives still practice some of their old customs. For instance, many villages still have chiefs and most natives still sleep in open thatched homes. Samoa, some argue, is also one of the origins of the tribal style of tattooing. Many tourists who visit Samoa often leave with an authentic Samoan type tattoo as a souvenir of sorts. Another fun fact about Samoa is that it is the death place of famous author and poet Robert Louis Stevenson. Indeed, one of the most popular tourist spots on the island is his grave site which is located on Mt. Vaea overlooking the sea.

Amsterdam

Not south pacific related but I just got back from Amsterdam and want to talk about it! Amsterdam is the craziest city I have been to in my travels so far. And yes, a bit of that has to do with what I am sure you are thinking, but it is a great city in its own right. I have been there twice, once on my biking trip through Europe, and once for my freshman year spring break trip. Both times were nuts, though I think my first time around was the craziest week I have ever had.

We were staying in a campground a little outside the city, full of biking bums like ourselves, and it was great. We would all bike into the city en masse and hang out in the parks and squares, usually in an altered state of mind from some substance or another. Hell, my friend and I spent one whole night riding around on hallucinogenic mushrooms, watching laser light trails along the edges of our vision as we flew along at incredible speed (or so we thought). We also got to see a lot of the museums the city is famous for, such as the Van Gogh museum and the Anne Frank House. Going from the amazing art at the Van Gogh to the incredibly somber mood in the Anne Frank House was a sobering experience.

One of coolest things we ran into with the nightlife was Febo, which is like a drunk food dream. It is a wall of short-order food that cooks, or elves, make behind the wall and place in small little cubicles. You pay one euro, and you can buy whatever food you see on the wall. Pure genius if you ask me. They also had little food stalls that sold vlaamse frites (sp?), which were wax paper cones of thick cut French fries, drenched in ketchup and eaten with a tiny fork.

Fiji

Fiji has over 322 island which means you have 322 options to pick from when you want to go on your next island paradise. The islands in the western part of the country are much more developed for tourism than the eastern part of the country. It costs a lot more money to get to the eastern islands because they are so secluded and many of them are privately owned or given to local villages who don't want tourists.

Fact: Fiji is one the typical around the world route.

Fiji is a stop on most round the world tickets making it a frequent destination for backpackers and partygoers. If you are looking for less partying and more luxury, you should head north of Suva, the major island and stay in a private resort. The two main island of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu aren't that nice and you are better of staying away from those islands. The further you go away, the more privacy you will have.