14
Apr

Calling the blow-hole gods

Image by Light Knight
Calling to the blow-holes of Houma..A couple of small spouts can be seen on the right

Some of the most spectacular blowholes in the South Pacific can be found along the terraced coastline of south west Tongatapu. Here you’ll find not one blowhole, but hundreds of them along a four mile stretch of wild windswept coastline, the largest spouts of sea water being thrown almost 30 metres into the air. Best viewed at high tide, the blowholes are accessible a km walk past the inland village of Houma. Buses to Houma from Nuku’alofa take about 30 minutes.

It is reputed that one of the ancient Chiefs of Tonga spend his hours meditating over the blowholes and listening to the whistling of the waves – hence their name – ‘Mapu’a ‘a Vaca’ meaning ‘Chief’s Whistles’.

Hacienda Matapalo Costa Rica Strikes Alliance with N5R and Costa Rica Estates for Marketing Costa Rica Real Estate to …
Officials at Hacienda Matapalo, a 665-acre master planned gated community on Costa Rica’s South Pacific Coast, today announced they have formed a strategic alliance with two premier Canadian marketing and advertising companies to provide Canadians with access to the best selling development in Costa Rica.
Read more on PRWeb via Yahoo! News

Local News
Aberdeen’s two fire stations soon will carry signs telling mothers that they should drop their newborn babies off inside the stations rather than dump the baby somewhere else to die.
Read more on The Daily World

13
Jan

6.9-magnitude quake strikes off Vanuatu
An earthquake measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale struck beneath the sea near the south Pacific island nation of Vanuatu on Sunday night. The US Geological Survey said no tsunami warning was issued.
Read more on People’s Daily

Euro Gains Most in Nearly Six Weeks on Japan Pledge to Buy Bonds
The euro rallied the most against the yen in almost six weeks as Japan planned to buy bonds issued by Europe’s financial-aid funds, joining China in assisting the region as it confronts its debt crisis.
Read more on BusinessWeek