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by Kim Smith

Scuba diving in South Pacific

Try some scuba diving in the South Pacific islands, the next time you want to try out something different in your vacations. It’s the best possible way to spend your vacations around the world. You will get to experience rich marine life like sharks, turtles, whales and rays when you go out on your scuba diving trip. Besides this you will also get to experience beautiful corals. You will be able to treasure this experience for the rest of your life. Some of the ideal destinations for scuba diving in the South Pacific are Fiji, Tahiti, Hawaii and Palau.

Fiji can be a perfect starting point to your scuba diving program – it’s ideal for scuba diving as well as snorkeling. You will not feel lost even if you are alone on your trip as it is always a popular destination for scuba diving enthusiasts. You will come across some of the best soft corals in the world. There are ample resorts which cater specially to the needs of scuba divers. Facilities like scuba diving charter boats are easily available at your service. You can use these boats to explore all the beautiful scuba diving points in this area. You also have the option of contacting the scuba diving instructors in case you need a bit of expertise on your trip. Fiji is especially wonderful for fish enthusiasts as there are over 1200 species of fish besides dolphins and whales. The sea temperature out here is pretty warm. You should ideally go for a dive out here in the early morning before the wind picks up.

On the other hand Hawaii is well known for its submarine lava tubes which are present on the Big Island, Maui and Lanai. You will be amazed when you come across over 2000 species of fish. You can easily spot manta rays, dolphins, whales, eagle rays, and turtles out here. You will not get to see any soft corals in Hawaii. Plan your diving budget in advance as scuba diving can be pretty expensive out here. You can get scuba diving operators who will be at your service to teach you courses of different levels in diving.

You can also try Tahiti, but remember it’s again quite expensive when you compare it to the other options available in the South Pacific. It has a fine display of sharks and rays and a fine collection of colorful reef fish too. Head off to Bora Bora and Moorea if you want to scuba dive. Tahiti is a must for coral reef lovers. The visibility out here is very good and the sea temperature too is ideal for scuba divers. Tonga is another good option for scuba diving. You will be able to spot whales around this area.

If you are a beginner, you can choose the Cook Islands as all the dive sites are just off the coastline of Rarotonga. You will hardly need any time to reach your diving destination. Thus South Pacific is where you need to head for these vacations, if you want to have an out of the world experience.

The SOUTH PACIFIC cast runs through a rehearsal singing with the orchestra for the first time as the national tour of Lincoln Center Theaters new production of Rodgers & Hammersteins acclaimed musical preps to open in San Francisco.
Video Rating: 5 / 5

by osseous

A Private Island Paradise To Dream About For Your South Pacific Honeymoon Could Be Dolphin Island Fiji

A Fiji Honeymoon has to be the ultimate in the South Pacific if you can afford to go there in the first place!

What are dreams for, if not to come true, and Dolphin Island could be just waiting for you and your new spouse’s honeymoon vacation. The dream honeymoon should be spent on your own private island, waited on hand and foot, surrounded by blue seas, white sand, and no troubles in the world to come near you .

Potentially you could find all this on the seven acre Dolphin Island, which is the perfect place for either a stopover or a three day interlude in your honeymoon vacation.

Firstly of course you have to get to Fiji, which is an eleven hour flight from Los Angeles, but only four hours from Auckland, Sydney, and Brisbane. You will arrive at Nadi airport, and you can then choose how you get to Dolphin Island.

The least expensive option is a two hour drive around the coast to Rakiraki followed by a 10 minute boat trip.

Alternatively there is the helicopter and seaplane which are much quicker but not included in the price!!

Dolphin Island apart from this is all-inclusive, and it really is a private island paradise, consisting of just two dwellings or Bures, and you will be the only guests on the island at any one time.

The two Bures stand next to each other, built in traditional Fijian style, they are built up off the ground with wide and roomy verandas to maximise the sea breezes, and face the setting sun. One Bure is purely for dining, and relaxing, whilst the other one has two completely separate suites and both are air conditioned.

Truthfully there isn’t a huge amount to do at Dolphin Private Island, but most activity is naturally based on the sea. Snorkeling equipment is available as well as advice on where to most enjoy the crystal clear water and the multi coloured fish. The more energetic can paddle kayaks or sail a Hobie Cat.

On land you can walk around the island at low tide and here you get the chance to look at ancient Fijian fishing pools. If you are feeling particularly adventurous you can follow a walking trail and spend a night sleeping out in a room on the other side of the island.

Dolphin Island is truly a magical hidden island and perfect for a few days in the middle of a South Pacific Honeymoon. Just don’t expect sophisticated modern accouterments. This is simple and quite magnificent. The bures are decorated in the style of the local Fijian houses. The furniture is handcrafted, the bures have wooden beams hewn from local trees, and a dark local cloth covers the walls.

The food is exceptionally good, and of course cooked especially to please you, the only guests, in this exclusive laid back paradise that is Dolphin Private Island, home of the owner of New Zealand’s famous Huka Lodge. The management and staff also go out of their way to ensure you feel like the owners during your stay!!

If you can get to Dolphin Island and you don’t have to be on your Fiji South Pacific honeymoon. You might just be in need of a romantic break, and a Fiji Island vacation. This will do nicely!!

If you like the idea of a South Pacific Hideaway, then click on http://www.worldwidevacationspots.com/categories/Pacific-Ocean-Hideways/

A few nice south pacific images I found:

‘South Pacific’ plate detail

Image by H is for Home

by Kim Smith

Why Are Tropical Honeymoon Destinations in the South Pacific So Very Popular Now?

As people in general become more stressed in a society that focuses so much on being financially successful, the option of opting out of it all becomes highly desirable. Just using the imagination of putting oneself on to an island with sunshine, sea breezes, tropical palms swinging in the gentle zephyrs aloft – all conjours up a scene so inviting and desirable that people are prepared to knuckle down to the demands of the system we live in and work hard to achieve things that otherwise would not be possible. So when one is getting married, a tropical honeymoon destination in the South Pacific is grabbed with both hands.

 There are not many people who would not agree that this would represent a dream honeymoon, but due to the constraints of finance, it is not always possible to live the dream or to make it a reality. However there are many locations where it does not cost a fortune to have an amazing holiday – little chalets inland which are surrounded by lush tropical planting may not be the absolute beachfront location, but are often very close to the beach, and still provide a getaway which is what a honeymoon is all about. These often have very interesting aspects which make holidays in them very appealing as a tropical honeymoon destination in the South Pacific.

While there are many islands in the Pacific, most people tend to stick to the more well known ones such as Fiji, The Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga – especially the outer islands in the northern group of Vava’u which have amazing beauty and are very unpopulated and unspoiled with clear waters of deep turquoise and where a vacation on either on a skippered or bareboat yacht is offered, not a sound to be heard when cruising under a sail into a sheltered anchorage. Truly a tropical honeymoon destination in the South Pacific that becomes amazingly appealing to those who are boat lovers and enjoy cruising.

Of course the islands do also provide a standard which is now becoming increasingly popular in latter years and that is 5 star accommodation. This is a market that is steadily growing and which people are more than happy to save up for so they can enjoy a special location for a special occasion. There are 5 star resorts in all of the main centres in the Pacific region. Increasingly popular are the self contained small boutique villa properties where a hotel standard of service is offered, but guests have the option of using not only the lagoon as their swimming spot, but also a private swimming pool in their own villa courtyard. This provides a real getaway situation for couples wanting to escape the masses when on holiday. What could provide a better option for a tropical honeymoon destination in the South Pacific paradises?

A video montage from Lincoln Center Theater’s Tony-award winning production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s SOUTH PACIFIC
Video Rating: 4 / 5

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by Kim Smith

Tropical Islands of the South Pacific Ripped Off

Life has continued for thousands of years, in a simplistic form, in the tropical islands of the South Pacific. Culture and tradition have been the rule of the village, where the people live very much hand to mouth, as the necessity arises.

However, these ancient indigenous communities are not protected from the abuse of International Property Rights, in the ever expanding cut throat scene of global commerce. The only way to stop the highway robbery is to look urgently and seriously to the educational needs of the next generation.

The very simplistic way of life of these people has preserved unique pockets of areas, untouched by modern civilization, that are a unique experience for the tourist  and a delight to the scientist.

A library of genetic markers, which will be used as a unique resource for ecologists and evolutionary biologists around the world, is currently being produced through an ambitious research program, on the picturesque tropical island of French Polynesia. It is a combined program between a United States Californian university and a French research institute.

Once such projects turn into profit, it is usually very little profit that finds its way down to the islanders, whose homes have been violated. One has only to look at the large diamond fields of the world to ascertain this.

Co-editor of the book, ‘Pacific Genes and Life Patents’, speaks of a high profile situation  where medical anthropologist, Carol Jenkins, who allegedly stole leukemia curing genes from the Hagahai people in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. The United States, through its National Health Institute, patented the DNA cells, stamping ownership, without permission, upon something that belonged to a group of people and their unborn generations, with little recompense to the local people.

Neither the individuals, their communities, nor their government were informed of the project. When the Hagahai people objected, the US government said their claims were inconsequential.

The question, which is as old as commerce itself, is who should gain from the benefits of such projects? The company who found and researched the product, or the original owners of the source of the raw material?

History proves that such projects have not shown any kindness to Pacific islanders.

Mead says the indigenous people of the Pacific nations don’t own anything, because property is owned by everyone in the group.  Culturally, individuals own nothing. To start to claim Intellectual Property Rights is to deny what is owned by everyone. “They don’t own their bodies, the words they speak, their mind, the music they sing, or the myths and traditions they pass from generation. All these things form part of their heritage. Gifts and creativity belong to the next generation”.

If money is owed to a nephew, the uncle has full right to claim some of it. Let a Pacific islander borrow a shirt and it is usually not returned. Not because they are trying to steal the shirt, but because of their simplistic inherent belief that wealth is defined by what they can give away. Their ability to play host, to be generous and give to others is a measure of their riches.

The idea of amassing wealth is foreign to these people. When the price of local grown commodities rise, due to rising food prices globally, the local people produce less. Once a villager has earned enough money to pay the school fees, buy clothing and a few basic supplies, there is no need to sell any more of their crop. When they are able to earn the same amount of money for less effort, why do anything more? They have no lasting dependence on a cash economy, though they do enjoy the limited benefits it gives them.

The majority of the population, particularly in rural areas, are unable to recognize potential commercial opportunities within their culture and capitalize on them. From metaphysics to blood cells, cultural expression to mineral rich volcanic ash, unique flora or fauna, unknowingly the Pacific islanders sit on a gold mine.

Education is an absolute necessity, if the younger generation of island people, who stand as a link to the richness of their traditional culture and partaking of the benefits of the 21st century. Only through education will they come to an understanding of how to protect their custom rights and privileges as well as maintain their island way of life, before their tropical island paradise is lost forever.

The message is clear for countries like the still underdeveloped tropical island nation of Vanuatu. The days of poorly educated politicians leaping on the Government gravy train and blundering their way through a few years of pocket-lining public office are over. There is a rising swell of opinion, demanding better education and health facilities, for all members of the community.

by pareidoliac

A Different South Pacific Island For Your Romantic Getaway

A South Pacific Vacation makes you think of Fiji, French Polynesia, Tahiti, but not perhaps Lord Howe Island. Yet Lord Howe Island could be just the perfect South Pacific Island vacation destination, a real romantic getaway, and yet easily accessible from the eastern seaboard of Australia, as it only takes two hours flying time.

Lord Howe Island is an extraordinary place, and has been described as the last paradise, where you will often find more fish and bird species than people, and this includes the visitors as well!! The reason for this is there are around 300 residents and then a restriction of 400 visitors at any one time. For this reason it is never crowded, and a good reason to call itself a real south pacific island romantic getaway

Lord Howe Island has the most southerly coral reef in the world and it is absolutely teeming with over 500 species of fish, plus many varieties of coral. It makes a superb sight below water line but pretty spectacular above, where there is a lovely lagoon protected by the line of surf that denotes the reef. This is a place with no pollution and the beaches are spotless.

Lord Howe Island is dramatic to look at, as it came from an ancient volcanic eruption, and the southern end is dominated by two large mountains called Mt.Gower, and Mt.Lidgbird, named after the Commander of the first ship to visit the island, which soar 875 metres out of the ocean.

Visitors definitely step back in time when they arrive here, and there are few of the trappings of resort style 21st century life for the holidaymaker. This is a place for nature lovers, and people who like nothing better than to walk and even hike in the mountains.
In addition you can hand feed the fish at Ned’s Beach, go for a lagoon cruise in a glass bottomed boat, charter a boat to go fishing, or take the two hour round the island trip. By the way the island is 11 kms long and 3kms at its widest.

I terms of where to stay on Lord Howe Island, then there are 17 family run accommodation properties, ranging from full board to self catering, but please note, there is no camping permitted. You can hire a car when you are here if you pre book it, but bicycles are the popular mode of transport.

The weather on Lord Howe, is sub tropical varying from 18-28 degrees C.
The Best time to visit Lord Howe Island is really anytime!! In fact from September to May is summertime, and it is usually fine and mild to warm and hot. You are advised to bring a jacket for cooler evenings, and that you should bring a raincoat. You’ll need comfortable shoes and sandshoes for reef walking. You’ll need a torch to find your way around at night because there are no street lights.

There are no entry requirements, and Australian citizens don’t need a passport.
Lord Howe Island isn’t only a great place for a romantic getaway it is also a paradise for children because they can roam free in perfect safety, because there are no snakes, nothing poisonous, and almost zero crime. Honeymooners and escapists love it because you are out of the range of mobile phone masts.

Go to Lord Howe Island for a South Pacific Island Vacation with a difference.

For more information about South Pacific Hideaways http://www.worldwidevacationspots.com/categories/Pacific-Ocean-Hideways/

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Check out these south pacific images:

240/365 South Pacific

Image by kcolwell
Lieutenant Cable and Ensign Nellie Forbush. More Images at ONU

Strobist Lighting Info: Crazy stage lighting during a live show.

South Pacific Line 1939

Image by pareidoliac
South Pacific Line, 1939. Koninklijke Paketvaart-Maatschappij.

by prc1333

Experience Magical Holidays in the South Pacific

Holidays in the South Pacific are well known as relaxing and fascinating experiences. There are many wonderful islands to explore including Cook Islands, Fiji, Tahiti Vanuatu, and Samoa. If your idea of a great getaway involves “fun in the sun” then you should surely consider visiting at least one of the island chains in the southern Pacific region.

While many people may only think about the beautiful beaches when they imagine holidays in the South Pacific there are many other sights and adventures waiting to be discovered. The white sandy shores of the South Pacific islands do hold a magnetic attraction for most guests, and who can blame them? The sands of the beaches are powdery soft and the shores are dotted with tall, graceful palm trees that gracefully sway in the balmy breezes. Clear, jewel toned water laps gently at the edges of the beach. You can walk just a short distance out into the ocean and easily find sand dollars, unusual sea shells and a dazzling assortment of curious, colorful fish.

If you want to find a wider variety of marine life you can grab some gear and go snorkeling or scuba diving. The Pacific Ocean is where you can listen to the magical songs of humpback whales or watch the dizzying dances of playful dolphins. These islands are home to some of the premiere beaches, lagoons and coral reefs in the world. For those visitors who prefer to stay on the surface of the ocean during their holidays in the South Pacific there are many places to rent sailboats, canoes, kayaks and jet skis.

On the South Pacific islands you have the chance to explore many amazing displays of nature. You can wander through exotic rain forests, climb mountains, visit a volcano, or just enjoy the lush green beauty of the landscape that surrounds you. This is also an opportunity for you to discover more about the culture of the islands.

Holidays in the South Pacific have enough magical excitement and fun to keep everyone entertained throughout your stay. There are hundreds of resorts available and you can find one that will suit any taste and budget. Choose a bohemian beach hut as the accommodations for your stay. Or perhaps you may prefer one of the elegant, high-end island resorts where you can enjoy pampering that extends beyond your wildest dreams. For the “high roller” holiday guests there are a number of resorts that feature live shows and busy casinos.

Related South Pacific Articles

by osseous

A Musical Of All South Pacific

If you do not have South Pacific tickets yet, grab them as soon as possible and be the one to experience the mind blowing musical right in front of your eyes. Every generation can become a part of this musical and enjoy every minute of it as they discuss issues that were in the society decades ago and still exist. Considered a bridge between the gaps of the generations, this musical is necessary to see so; you should buy South Pacific tickets for your family as well.

A musical of the year 1949, Richard Rodgers was the mastermind behind its music and with the help of Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan, these men created magic that later became history. The story is based on a Pulitzer Prize winning novel of 1948 written by James A. Michener and was known as “Tales of the South Pacific” and putting together the concept with music and giving it a whole new form transformed it into an ever famous hit. The plotline was from the different tales of the novel, which molded into a form of a musical, to serve the service of entertaining the theatre lovers. Exploring and experimenting with issues such as the racial prejudice and approved by the masses and you should book yourself a theatre ticket before it’s too late.

Award Bearing Classics

In 1950, just a year after its production, this musical won a Pulitzer award for best drama, which is amongst the much reorganization that this production got. The issues that exploited in the play and discussed through the medium of music, it was an amazing move made since the period during its production was not as modern as we are today and this was amongst the first attempts of a musical in the society. Being holders of 10 Tony Awards, this musical is the only one to have won all the four Tony Awards for the best actors. Get your tickets and see what is so special about the musical that had swept the crowd of the 50’s away. It was the success of this very musical that the production led to film adaptation in the later years and the revival of musicals, in 2008, continues to attract the crowds towards it self. With a few different touches present in the musical, it remains to be the same award-winning musical that moved the masses decades ago.

They are here to take over your town

The South Pacific tickets are available now and you should get yourself one if you want to be part of this experience since the theatre tickets are most likely to get sold. Buy South Pacific tickets and get to know what art and performance is all about. Give yourself a chance to see the magnificent purpose of the musical and enjoy every minute of it.A show that has been gaining popularity since the first day, this musical is bound to become your favorite as well since it has every element and reason to be on top of your most liked list.

Mandy Patinkin singing the song Younger Than Springtime from South Pacific.

Related South Pacific Articles

by osseous

Nukubati Island Resort Labasa The Most Romantic Hotel In The South Pacific

I had a week on Nukubati Island Resort Labasa, as part of my honeymoon and I thought it was absolutely amazing. Whilst being greeted by hotel staff on the beach is quite commonplace in the South Pacific, this was something else.

Their voices are so harmonious, and apart from our welcome song, there were ice cool flannels, and welcoming drinks, and boy did we need them!! We had read reports which included quotes like “Most romantic hotel in the South Pacific.” And we very quickly realised why.

It is important to be aware that this is an all inclusive resort, and we were looking for all inclusive adult only hotels for our South Pacific Honeymoon.

This is the perfect escape with no phones, no television just serious relaxation.

Jetlag can spoil the first few days of a vacation especially when you are close to the international dateline, and having to conform to meal times isn’t what you want to do. We need not have worried, because we discovered after sleeping in almost all day after arriving, that you can pretty well eat when you want to. We were brought champagne and canapés, and then we had a wonderful seafood meal, and tons of fresh vegetables which we discovered were literally from the back garden!!

We could have eaten in our honeymoon bure all the time, but the dining room was a real treat with tablecloths, candlelight, fresh flowers, looking out onto the beach, and views you can’t really do justice to here.

If you want to see photographs then go to http://www.worldwidevacationspots.com/articles/128/1/Nukubati-Island-Resort-Labasa-the-Most-Romantic-Hotel-in-the-South-Pacific/Page1.html

Fiji and the Pacific islands in general are so lush, and not without reason. It is because of the amount of rain, but it is such warm rain, and it hits you so hard it is totally exhilarating to be out in. I’d never realised before now how much fun swimming in the rain can be!!

Above all it was the superb service, and the attention to detail that we loved. The little things we observed like the mosquito repellent burner at your dinner table, the water tray at the door of the bure, so you don’t bring sand in. The boat bringing you in, takes you to the beach outside your bure, and there would have been a towel on your seat on the boat to stop you from burning yourself.

We attended Sunday church in the local village, and the singing and the harmony was so moving it made me cry.

We also were taken out for a sandbank picnic, which was epic, not only for the picnic, but also the snorkelling afterwards. These little sandbanks only appear for a few hours, but we were taken there, and the staff set up umbrellas, table, chairs, champagne, and a three course delicious lunch, then they picked us up before the sandbank reappeared.

Nukubati is without a doubt the most romantic place I have ever visited. I felt so far away from every care, in fact from the world. I felt we were seeing the traditional Fiji. I know we came looking for an all inclusive adult only hotel for our South Pacific Honeymoon, and what we found was the most romantic hotel in the South Pacific

Kelli O’Hara and Paulo Szot perform “Some Enchanted Evening” from the Broadway revival of South Pacific on The View.