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Savaii
Savai’i, the largest island of Samoa, stands quiet in the blue expanse of the South Pacific. Its name whispers on the lips of those who’ve tasted its verdant beauty, known its tempestuous seas, and braved its wild, untamed rainforests. To understand Savai’i, one must listen to the hush of the leaves, the steady pulse of the waves, and the ageless chant of her timeless lava fields. The island, thick with coconut palms, banana trees, and emerald green canopies, spreads across the horizon like an artist’s dream. Its beaches, kissed by the surf, stretch out in a necklace of fine, golden sand, while inland, the mountains play hide-and-seek with the clouds.…
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Papua New Guinea
A country of enchanting paradoxes, splashed with a riotous palate of colors and teeming with a delirium of cultural complexities, Papua New Guinea is an archipelago that nudges one to the brink of a fairy tale. It is a land of the unexpected, where the improbable seems probable and the impossible, merely inconvenient. The traveler in Papua New Guinea is caught in a constant state of wonder. Here, tribal customs flourish with exuberant vitality,. The populace, painted in the colors of the rainbow, adorned with bird feathers and shells, are a carnival of human expression. They speak in a babel of tongues – over eight hundred languages – making one…
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Merritt Island
Located on Florida’s eastern coast, Merritt Island is home to spectacular natural beauty, a rich history, and a significant role in America’s space exploration efforts. Geography and Nature Merritt Island is the largest island in Florida, situated between the Indian River and the Atlantic Ocean. It is part of Brevard County and is connected to the mainland via several bridges and causeways. The Island’s unique location creates a varied ecosystem that blends the beach and marshlands, making it a haven for diverse wildlife. A large part of the Island, about 140,000 acres, is a designated National Wildlife Refuge. The Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1963, serves as a…
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Cienfuegos – Cuba
Known as the “Pearl of the South,” Cienfuegos is a vibrant city located on the island of Cuba’s southern coast. A jewel of French neoclassical architecture, this city of half a million people shines brightly against the azure backdrop of the Caribbean Sea. Its European influence is impossible to miss, but Cienfuegos is distinctively Cuban in its heart. Founded by French settlers in 1819, Cienfuegos boasts an orderly and well-planned layout, diverging from the chaotic charm of Havana and other older Cuban cities. It is a city of wide, straight boulevards and spacious plazas, with architectural flourishes inspired by Parisian elegance and grandeur. The cityscape is punctuated with magnificent palaces,…
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Sumbawa
Sumbawa Island, a mesmerizing destination in the Indonesian archipelago, stands out for its stunning natural landscapes and rich cultural heritage. It’s part of the West Nusa Tenggara province and is the third largest island of the Lesser Sunda Islands. The island spans approximately 15,448 square kilometers and is defined by its diverse geography, featuring verdant plains, volcanic highlands, and an impressive coastline stretching to about 300 kilometers. With its tropical climate, the island experiences a high degree of seasonal variation, but it maintains an enchanting allure all year round. Sumbawa’s landscapes are a vibrant tapestry of natural wonders. There are volcanic peaks dominating the island’s topography, with the majestic Mount…
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Moorea Island
Moorea Island, an unspoiled paradise in the South Pacific, is renowned as the ‘Island of Yellow Lizard’ – a poetic description that fails to capture its sheer beauty fully. Nestled in the Windward group of the Society Islands in French Polynesia, Moorea is just a few nautical miles from Tahiti, its more well-known sister. Though smaller and less populated than Tahiti, Moorea has an irresistible charm that makes it a beloved destination for those seeking tranquility and natural beauty. The island is a diverse ecosystem, inhabited by verdant mountains, blue lagoons, and colorful coral reefs, a captivating mix of landscapes that paints a picture of Eden in the mind of…
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We are all Islanders
Island communities have a unique and intriguing history marked by a persistent curiosity for exploration and an innate hospitality towards travelers. The islanders’ past and present exhibit a longing for discovery and a fascination with destinations and vacations, a legacy that continues to enrich their lives today. Historically, island communities, despite their physical isolation, were far from being cut-off. Their spirit of adventure led them to navigate the vastness of the oceans, driven by a desire to discover the world beyond their shores. The Polynesians in the Pacific and the Vikings in the Atlantic, for example, set off on voyages of exploration that laid the groundwork for the modern global…
