French Polynesia Experience

This is SAMOA

Advantages: The weather and the peaceful nature
Disadvantages: Sometimes gets boring very quickly

This review is from a trip I took to Samoa in January this year. About Samoa ------------------- Well Samoa is situated a few hours away from Australia and the two islands which are part of Samoa are very small and can sometimes be difficult to find on a world atlas. The first island is named Upolu which has the capital city of Apia there. The other is named Savaii and although there are about 5 other islands which are not inhabited these are the ...
...because there is ocean everywhere you go visible in Samoa which is a nice thought and can be a breathtaking experience. Nearby islands you can see sometimes in the open air are Fiji and Tonga. Overall it is a very small place to visit but has advantages. Weather -------------- The weather in Samoa can be unpredictable, they have a dry season which is May to October and then they have the tropical season which is from November to April. The entire ...

tink-er-bell 09.10.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: exceptional
Review of American Samoa (South Pacific Islands)

Escape to Vanuatu

Advantages: Lush rainforests, turquoise waters
Disadvantages: Numerous earth tremors

...halfway between Australia and Fiji, Vanuatu is a Y-shaped Chain of about 80 islands in the southwest pacific. According to geologists, massive tectonic plates in the earth crust collided at this point to form lofty mountains that are mainly underwater. The peaks of the tallest of these rose above the ocean surface creating Vanuatu’s rugged islands. Today, the geologic crunch and grind triggers numerous earth tremors and fuel nine active volcanoes. ...
...European explorers first arrived in Vanuatu in 1606. Fierce tribes inhabited the islands and cannibalism was widely practiced. At the time, forest of sandalwood, an aromatic wood prized in Asia, carpeted the landscape. Smelling profit, European traders systematically plundered the trees. They then turned their hands to blackbirding. Blackbirding involved recruiting indigenous islanders to work on sugar and cotton plantations in Samoa, Fiji and Australia. ...

quan 31.07.2007 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Vanuatu (South Pacific Islands)

The Islands of Perpetual Sunday

Advantages: Pristine rainforest and beaches, amazing diving, welcoming locals
Disadvantages: Not for those who cannot make their own entertainment

...♣♣♣Fact Box♣♣♣ Country: Independent Samoa Capital: Apia Location: 13 .5 S & 171.5 W, in the South Pacific between New Zealand and Hawaii Time: GMT-12hours Neighbours: American Samoa, Fiji, Cook Islands, French Polynesia Language: Samoan, English People: Polynesian Currency: Samoan tala Getting there (from U.K.): Use Qantas/BA to Australia, then Polynesian Blue to Apia, or Air New Zealand from London to ...

cladach29 12.09.2006 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: exceptional
Review of Independent Samoa (South Pacific Islands)

Not Quite The Island Paradise We Hoped For.

Advantages: Pristine beaches, clear seas, tropical fish.
Disadvantages: Mosquitos, humidity, some negative male attention, nothing to do per se.

American Samoa. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ American or Western Samoa, as I will refer to it here, is composed of a group of six islands in the South Pacific Ocean, about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand. Western Samoa is composed of two main islands (Savaii and Upolu), several smaller inhabited islands and a number of other uninhabited islets The islands are mostly coastal naturally although ...
...such as The Cook Islands and Fiji. The islands re volcanic, they are rocky and rugged with steep mountainous interiors. The population is around 60,000 and this is gradually declining. I visited Western Samoa for about 8 days in between August and September 2000 while I was on a back packing trip (see my other review on New Zealand) with my best friend. Clearly this was quite a while ago although it should be bourn in mind that this review was first ...

nickyturnill 20.01.2005 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of American Samoa (South Pacific Islands)

Getting hot and steamy in Vanuatu

Advantages: White sandy beaches, crystal clear ocean, coral reefs and colourful tropical fish, coconut palms, the list could go on forever.
Disadvantages: humidity from hell in the wet season

When the opportunity to visit Vanuatu arose I jumped at it. I was aware that it was the rainy season and it would be hot and humid ( I don't do hot and humid very well) but the timing couldn't be helped as my husband was attending a seminar. Nothing I could imagine could prepare me for the initial blast of hot air.The heat coming off the plane as we walked across the tarmac made it almost unbearable and thankfully it was slightly cooler in the airport, ...
...fantastic way of experiencing life Vanuatu style. These are 12 seater mini buses with a red B on the number plate. For 100 Vatu you can go anywhere around Port Vila and for travelling further out it will cost 200 Vatu. It costs 100 Vatu for each one-way trip and no matter where you are, just stop under a shady tree by the road and wait. In town look for a blue sign with a B on it. A bus will turn up and stop for you, jump onboard and tell the driver ...

casnz 13.12.2004 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Vanuatu (South Pacific Islands)