Archive for October, 2010
Destination : Guam
Located approximately 3,300 miles West of Hawaii, 1,500 miles east of the Philippines and 1,550 miles South of Japan, the Island of Guam is the Western most territory of the United States and one of the leading tourist destinations in the Western Pacific. Guam is truly a tropical island paradise. Approximately 30 miles long and 4 to 9 miles wide, the Northern end of Guam is a plateau of rolling hills and cliffs rising to 600 feet above sea level. Waterfalls, rivers and bays abound throughout Guam ‘scentral and southern areas. Luxury 5 star hotels line the Tumon Bay beachfront and Guam ‘s unique “duty free” status makes it a shoppers’ paradise. The beaches of Tumon Bay offer gleaming white sand and crystal clear, warm waters for swimming, snorkeling, or just relaxing and enjoying the fantastic sunsets over the Philippine Sea . With its year round warm and crystal clear waters, Guam is one of the most desirablescuba dive destinations in the World. Guam offers seven world class golf courses open to the public and two military courses for authorized military personnel. Guam has a number water parks and beach clubs that offer key skiing, windsurfing, kayaking, paddleboats, pools and water slides and various other water sports. Other popular Guam outdoor leisure activities include hiking (boonie stomping), skydiving, parasailing, deep-sea sport fishing and more. The Island of Guam has an ancient history and rich cultural heritage.
Today, Guam is a truly cosmopolitan community with a unique culture, the core of which is Chamorro heavily influenced by the Spanish occupation and the Catholic Church. Strong American influence is evident in the celebration of many public holidays, the form ofGovernment and the pride in being U.S. that is displayed by the populace. Guam ‘s culture has also been influenced and enriched by the Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Micronesian immigrants each group of whom have added their unique contributions. Many of the major hotels provide cultural shows and cuisine. The Chamorro Village in Hagatna offers ancient cultural dances, live reggae bands, and other cultural exhibits and you may also experience a wide variety of restaurants and food stands featuring Chamorro, Chinese, Japanese, Greek, Jamaican, Mexican, Filipino and other exotic delicacies.
Destination : Palau
Micronesia: Palau, Family Vacation Ideas – Kayaking, Dolphin Encounters, and Snorkeling. Imagine a spot on the planet where one can safely interact with sharks, crocodiles, jellyfish, dolphins; see firsthand World War II memorabilia; go kayaking into inner lagoon wonderlands and snorkel above awesome coral reefs. The destination described is the North Pacific destination of Palau, Micronesia, which is a natural, ecologically-responsible habitat worth a visit.
Palau doesn’t appear anywhere near the top of mainstream family vacation lists which is precisely why I was intrigued by the information that crossed my desk. I am passing on some very cool family vacation possibilities. From the US it’s a long flight but why not cash in the frequent flyer miles and go for it.
Snorkel or dive among old growth corals. Anyone’s who’s ever wondered through an old growth forest of Douglas Fir or California Redwood can immediately appreciate the ancient beauty of ancient timber. Palau, interestingly enough offers snorkelers the same feeling of timeless scenery in the form of our old growth forests. While many species of sun loving corals grow with amazing speed, those corals found within the shade of overhanging limestone islands are limited to imperceptible growth. The vertical walls of Palau’s rock islands serve as cathedral like walls, protecting ancient corals from seasonal winds, waves, and even typhoons. As a result, the corals within the rock islands are often hundreds and even thousands of years old! Without any physical disturbance to limit their growth, the rock island corals can form massive boulders, delicate branches, or even absurdly giant baskets. These protected habitats are akin to the “high rent district” of a bustling city. In this case, multi-colored corals are literally climbing over one another competing for every inch of available real-estate.
While the divers flock to the vertical walls of the outer reef, the snorkelers have discovered the profusion of life around the patch reef habitats. These current swept environments are bathed in nutrient rich waters and tropical sunshine. The combination of food sources creates an ideal habitat for giant table corals and multi-colored branching or stag-horn corals. Competing for sunlight, these corals create mutli-level tiers, in order to block their neighbors light! Living within this coral city are an uncountable number of reef fish swimming the protected maze of their coral home. These coral habitats may be enjoyed on both speed boat and kayak/snorkel excursions.
Destination : Kiribati
The Micronesian island nation of Kiribati is scattered 3000km along the equator in the Central Pacific. Comprising 33 low lying atolls divided into 3 groups – the Gilbert Islands, Line Islands and Phoenix Islands – Kiribati presents unspoiled reefs and lagoons and a thriving traditional culture.
The natural environment of the islands and surrounding waters present unrivalled experiences, with the marine world offering world class fishing and undiscovered diving, while on land the bird life is incredible.
Destination : Hawaiian Island
One of the hardest parts of planning a trip to Hawaii is deciding which of the six major islands you should visit. We recommend that you plan on visiting at least two of the major islands so that you can get a feel for what Hawaii is all about,
Maui, the Magic Isle, is all about variety. With magnificent sunsets, 42 miles of shimmeringuncrowded beaches, luxury resorts, and wilderness areas where few outsiders have ever set foot, this island has something for everyone.
Destination : Rotuma
Stunning but very remote, Rotuma is a tiny isolated island that sits some 450 km north of Fiji. The landscape here is very beautiful with some superb beaches and intriguing archaeological sites that are definitely worth seeing if you are up for an adventure. A volcanic island of roughly 30 sq km, Rotuma has been a Fijian province since 1881. However, what makes Rotuma unique from the rest of Fiji is that the culture and people here are more Polynesian than Melanesian. One reason for this is during the 17th century, Tonga invaded Rotuma and this is evident from the Tongan influence on Rotuman dance and culture.
Discovered in 1791, Rotuma was an important port in its heyday, but today, this tiny island is mainly agricultural, with villagers producing copra, growing fruit and fishing. The village life here is very different from the rest of Fiji and you will notice it immediately when you meet the locals. Life is laidback and relaxed out here, with some of the best beaches on the island found along Rotuma’s southern coast. Motusa, Juju, Noatau and Oinafa, are all great beaches. Read the rest of this entry »
