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Exotic Islands Of Vanuatu, Fiji and Cook Islands?

Today Norm Goldman, Editor of sketchandtravel.com and Bookpleasures.com is honored to have like a guest, Ian Heydon, author, travel writer, award- winning comedy writer, artist and expert on Vanuatu, Fiji and Cook Islands

Ian will be here to speak to us today about his expertise pertaining to these exotic islands.

Good day Ian in fact it is great to own you accept our invitation to sign up in this interview!

NORM:

Can you tell our readers something about you and your expertise pertaining to Vanuatu, Fiji and Cook Islands.

IAN:

Initially when i first visited Fiji in 1993 and merely fell in love with the tropics, the warm, picture-postcard waters as well as the relaxed rhythm of life normally. I went back one year later and got my PADI Open Water Dive accreditation and, to another handful of trips realised I was working basically which has a goal traveling more.

Because i a fairly successful career as an author, I decided to find out if I can come up with travel and kill two birds while using one pen. In 1999, we took a household holiday to Vanuatu, where my spouse Annie and I gave the other person a Renewal of Vows' ceremony as a possible anniversary gift.

I felt automatically in the home in Vanuatu and, as luck might say, Annie was offered employment teaching at Port Vila International School. We decided which it would be a trip, particularly for the children (then aged 7 and three). Our 12-month contract extended to 3 fantastic years, where I got to write a whole lot, including my travel book on Australia, The Small Help guide A major Country.

After leaving Vanuatu I aquired a travel agent's licence to are experts in taking people, particularly honeymooners to this fascinating and rewarding country. Some tips i thought will be a hobby quickly became a business as well as in early 2004 I visited the Cook Islands and fell deeply in love with another Pacific destination.

2004 also saw visits to New Caledonia, Fiji and three trips to Vanuatu. And I'm really excited about my first visit to Samoa this coming year. When i have no actual publications about the Pacific islands, I have three comprehensive information websites, Vanuatu A to Z, Fiji A to Zand Cook Islands A to Z.

NORM:

Can you tell our readers where these islands are located plus an idea about what differentiates one island from another in the perspective of topography, climate, and other things you think about different?

IAN:

For me, living in Australia, Vanuatu and Fiji are very accessible, being only a few hours away. Going to the Cook Islands means a stopover in Nz, however it is still just two meals as well as movies. For Americans, the Cook Islands and Fiji tend to be more accessible than Vanuatu (takes a stop by Fiji for connecting or to be used as a side trip from Australia or New Zealand). The weather in all destinations is comparable, tropical without having great range in temperatures however it can get very humid in the summertime months. These months are traditionally wet but El Nino have changed that. Within the Cook Islands, if this rains, they refer to it liquid sunshine. The nice and cozy water temperatures mean swimming is achievable throughout every season.

· Vanuatu is in no way probably the most primitive, in the event that's the best word. While Port Vila can be a modern town with higher infrastructure, excellent resorts and great restaurants, on lots of the outer islands the ni-Vanuatu people live traditional village lives (ni-Vanuatu means of Vanuatu).

Cannibalism belongs to a history and also the last recorded case is at 1969, the entire year Armstrong and Aldrin took that particular small step for man. Vanuatu even offers a number of active volcanoes, including Mt Yasur, that is accessible and rewarding. For this reason, small earth tremors are common. Until 1980, when Vanuatu became a completely independent nation, the country was referred to as the New Hebrides, a condominium, jointly run from the British along with the French. There was both French and English schools, hospitals, police forces and, for a time, they even drove for sides of the road!

Fiji is comparable in topography, without the active volcanoes. Personally, this really is more a resort destination. To find out certainly a lot to explore, most visitors usually choose one or two resorts for vacation.

The Fijian people are warm, outgoing (you simply can't go anywhere without greeted with a beaming smile and Bula) and are far more quite like living on island time than the Indian population. It is a happy mix for tourists however, since the Indians pretty much result in the business side of things operate correctly.

The Cook Islands also has rugged mountains, lush vegetation and pristine azure waters but a very different feel. The area everyone is Polynesian, not Melanesian, and comfortably marry the sensuality of Polynesia using a Christian way of life. It absolutely was came from here the Maori people followed migrating birds of their canoes to find out Nz. Nowadays inside the Cooks, English is spoken with a Kiwi accent and the currency is the New Zealand dollar (so that it is great value for all of us travelers). In comparison, the Fijian folks are around 50% Fijian and 50% Indian. The ni-Vanuatu everyone is far more shy and as friendly and welcoming. And, as his or her tourism slogan says, another time, another pace.

(Interviewer's Comments: If you want more information on Cook Islands click this link)

· In Fiji, I am going to pick a Tokoriki Island wedding. They've built a pleasant wedding chapel (and there are plenty of beach options). Here there are also traditional Fijian warriors to Montreal Independent Escorts the bride and a Fijian choir (these individuals discover how to sing!) plus a wonderful wedding dinner is part of the package. My major reason for choosing Tokoriki, though, may be the new honeymoon bures making use of their private plunge pools.