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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 get being a guest, Ian Heydon, author, travel writer, award- winning comedy writer, artist and expert on Vanuatu, Fiji and Cook Islands

Ian is here approach us today about his expertise pertaining to these exotic islands.

Good day Ian and it is great to have you accept our invitation to participate with this interview!

NORM:

Can you tell our readers something of you and your expertise associated with Vanuatu, Fiji and Cook Islands.

IAN:

I first visited Fiji in 1993 and simply fell deeply in love with the tropics, the warm, picture-postcard waters and the relaxed rhythm of life generally speaking. I returned the year after but got my PADI Open Water Dive accreditation and, to another couple of trips realised I became working just about which has a goal to search more.

As I had a fairly successful career as a writer, I chose to ascertain if I possibly could talk about travel and kill two birds with the one pen. In 1999, we took a family group holiday to Vanuatu, where my wife Annie and I gave one another a Renewal of Vows' ceremony just as one anniversary gift.

I felt automatically in the home in Vanuatu and, as luck might say, Annie was offered a job teaching at Port Vila International School. We decided that it will be an adventure, particularly for the children (then aged 7 and three). Our 12-month contract extended to three fantastic years, during which time I acquired to write a good deal, including my travel book on Australia, The Small Self-help guide to A major Country.

After leaving Vanuatu I aquired a travel agent's licence to focus on taking people, particularly honeymooners to the fascinating and rewarding country. What I thought would have been a hobby quickly was a business plus early 2004 I visited the Cook Islands and fell crazy about another Pacific destination.

2004 also saw appointments with New Caledonia, Fiji and three trips to Vanuatu. For really looking forward to my first http://pinkmontreal.com Samoa in 2010. Because i have zero actual publications around the Pacific islands, I've 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 can be found with an idea to what differentiates one island from another from your point of view of topography, climate, and other things you concentrate on different?

IAN:

Personally, moving into Australia, Vanuatu and Fiji are very accessible, being just a couple of hours away. Seeing the Cook Islands means a stopover in New Zealand, but it's still just two meals and a couple movies. For Americans, the Cook Islands and Fiji tend to be more accessible than Vanuatu (needs a stop in Fiji to get in touch or be utilized as being a side trip from Australia or Nz). The climate in most destinations is comparable, tropical without having great range in temperatures nevertheless it could get very humid during the warm months months. These months are traditionally wet but El Nino has changed that. In the Cook Islands, if it rains, they think of it as liquid sunshine. The warm water temperatures mean swimming is achievable all year round.

� Vanuatu is in no way probably the most primitive, if that's the proper word. While Port Vila is a modern town with good infrastructure, excellent resorts and great restaurants, on many of the outer islands the ni-Vanuatu people live traditional village lives (ni-Vanuatu way of Vanuatu).

Cannibalism is part of the history along with the last recorded case was in 1969, 4 seasons Armstrong and Aldrin took that one small step for man. Vanuatu boasts several 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 united states was referred to as the New Hebrides, a condominium, jointly run by the British along with the French. There have been both French and English schools, hospitals, police forces and, for a while, they will drove for both sides of the road!

Fiji is comparable in topography, with no active volcanoes. For me personally, this really is more a resort destination. As there is certainly much to explore, most visitors usually make a choice or two resorts for his or her vacation.

The Fijian everyone is warm, outgoing (you simply can't go anywhere without having to be greeted using a beaming smile and Bula) and they are far more comparable to living on island time as opposed to Indian population. It's a happy mix for tourists however, because the Indians basically result in the business side of things run smoothly.

The Cook Islands boasts rugged mountains, lush vegetation and pristine azure waters but an extremely different feel. The neighborhood folks are Polynesian, not Melanesian, and comfortably marry the sensuality of Polynesia with a Christian life style. It absolutely was from this point that this Maori people followed migrating birds within their canoes to find Nz. Nowadays inside the Cooks, English is spoken with a Kiwi accent and the currency could be the Nz dollar (rendering it great value for US travelers). Electrical systems, the Fijian everyone is around 50% Fijian and 50% Indian. The ni-Vanuatu people are far more shy but just as friendly and welcoming. And, as their tourism slogan says, another time, another pace.

(Interviewer's Comments: Should you desire more information on Cook Islands just click here)

NORM:

How safe is it to journey to these islands?

IAN:

I have discovered these destinations the safest on the planet. Yes, many times petty crime, as you will anywhere, but generally speaking people are less materially minded and possibly more family oriented. Our three years in Vanuatu were a reminder of when the world was obviously a simpler and much more secure position the children would nip off on the lagoon to experience unsupervised so we knew these were safe& or perhaps a father would load a dozen children in the back of his truck and go out for any beach picnic no seatbelts but also no worries& it absolutely was a location where kids were permitted to be kids.

NORM:

Why could you consider these islands great for a captivating getaway or wedding and honeymoon destination, and when you'd to decide on your favorite one, which one do you find it and why?

IAN:

Firstly, for that scenery there's something really romantic about swaying arms, balmy weather and green-blue warm waters (I'm yet to find out any artist reproduce these colours). But, more than this, I think it's that rhythm of island time that I've mentioned. You absorb the slower pace and are from the routine of computers, traffic and deadlines. Choosing one place is tough personally, on the other hand will go using the island of Aitutaki from the Cooks (with regards to a 50 minute flight through the main island of Rarotonga). This massive lagoon (a volcanic crater) is merely stunning, the area everyone is welcoming where there are a couple of excellent accommodation properties and restaurants.

NORM:

What's the best time for it to visit these islands through the standpoint of weather, costs, and crowds?

IAN:

I'm going to take a straightforward out and say when you desire to travel and to utilize a local saying, regardless of the weather, have a very nice day. I used to be in the Fiji and Vanuatu in December 2004. Traditionally here is the hot, wet and humid season. In Fiji it hadn't rained for seven weeks and I didn't use air-conditioning in either country. Some individuals avoid driving in February and March because of possible cyclones these are pretty rare. I'm betting that 2005 will probably be cyclone free the lake temperatures haven't risen much and there aren't a good amount of mangoes. For whatever reason the mango tree looks like it's in tune with weather patterns and the've an over-abundance of fruit if a cyclone is imminent. Cost and crowd-wise, I'd avoid the Australian and New Zealand school holiday periods but, having said that, the 3 destinations have adults only accommodation options.