Nauru

The Solomon Islands National Museum was first opened on June 1969. It is situated in Honiara, the capital, in Guadalcanal Province. It is the only national museum in the whole country at present. Solomon Islands National Museum is a museum, cultural centre, government department or ministry and also houses ww2 relics. The major part of the collection consists of cultural materials with some examples of natural history specimens, World War II relics and archaeological material. The Museum also houses a collection of Audio-Visual material and reference books. Number of items in the collection: over 2,000 items The collection contains items of the following types: Art, Heritage, Photography, Archaeological, Natural History (Animal Specimens, wet and dry), Contemporary, Scientific or Technology, Audio/visual material, Books or Journals, Posters, Pamphlets, Documents or Paper-based items, Outdoor sculpture, art or monuments. http://solomon.spla.pro/en/file.organization.solomon-islands-national-museum.10748.html

Among the many waterfall walks are the popular and magnificent Mataniko Falls. They cascade over boulders and into pools before thundering down into a hidden cave. Take a guide, explore the incredible WWII history and float all the way back to the village. https://www.visitsolomons.com.sb/things-to-do/trekking/

The World War II Guadalcanal American Memorial is located on Skyline Drive overlooking the town of Honiara, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. It was built through the joint efforts of ABMC and the Guadalcanal-Solomon Islands Memorial Commission. It honours those Americans and its allies who lost their lives during the Guadalcanal Campaign of World War II (August 7, 1942, to February 9, 1943). The memorial consists of a 4-foot square, 24-foot tall pylon on which is inscribed: This memorial has been erected by the United States of America in humble tribute to its sons and its allies who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the liberation of the Solomon Islands 1942-1943. There are four directional walls pointing to the four major battle areas. Inscribed on these walls are a description of the battles and a listing of the U.S. and Allied ships that were lost. https://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries-memorials/pacific/guadalcanal-memorial#.WLFBLPkrLIU

The Garden of Sleeping Giant is a beautiful orchid garden started in 1977 by the late Raymond Burr, star of Perry Mason and Ironside TV shows. Originally designed to house Burr’s private collection of tropical orchids, the gardens have developed into a popular attraction after years of flourishing. Raymond Burr loved these orchids just as much as he loved Fiji. The garden contains a vast collection of 30 to 40 varieties of magnificent Asian orchids and Cattleya hybrids. https://www.fiji-budget-vacations.com/Garden-of-the-Sleeping-Giant-Orchids.html

Hot spring water combines with volcanic ash to form a mud bath pool. Mud baths have existed for thousands of years and found in spas around the world including Fiji. The mud bath treatment is used as a way to relieve arthritis. To take full advantage of the therapeutic value of the mud pools you first coat yourself in mud then stand in the sun until it drys. Wash off in the first natural hot spring pool then walk over to the next clear water pool for another cleansing. Both places offer cheap and very good massage. Pool temperatures are warm to hot. https://hotfiji.deals/mud-pools-therapeutic-hot-springs/

Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple is the famous Hindu temple situated in Nadi, Fiji. It is also a largest Hindu temple in the Southern hemisphere and the main deity is Lord Subramanya Swamy. He is the son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi and his brother is Lord Ganesan. The main statue is specially curved and brought from South India. There are three parts in Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple: Lord Muruga, is the main temple; Lord Ganesh is the second part of the complex; Lord Shiva and Goddess Meenakshi Amman is the third section of the temple. The original Sri Siva Subramaniya Swami Temple of Nadi was founded by Ramaswami Pillai in 1913 on the land leased from the native Fijians. https://templesinindiainfo.com/nadi-sri-siva-subramaniya-swami-temple-timings-festivals-and-address/

Добрались до восточного побережья. Настоящая островная жизнь, особенно впечатлили местные жители.

Речки и природа

Мелкий городок. Они все так выглядят, если ехать на север. Чем дальше от столицы, тем больше разрухи. Местные жители ездят на невероятных развалинах

Ходили по местным Ново-Каледонийским лесам На побережье, в некоторых местах природа немного напоминает Австралию На пруд ведет дорожка, в конце которой смотровая площадка, чтобы "наблюдать" птиц. Из биноклей. Observatoire du Marais Fournier называется

Встречаем 2023 на deck в Новой Каледонии. Пьем водку

Отель Sheraton в котором останавливались в Каледонии. Очень понравился, стилизованные под местные традиционные бунгало домики По ночам какие-то страшные зверюги бродили вокруг и нагоняли ужас своим рычанием По территории отеля ездили на машинках для гольфа

Adventure Park is Port Moresby’s only theme park and features an assortment of rides and attractions including a delightful Ferris wheel with fine views across the plains at 14 Mile, waterslides, paddle boats, and a colourful merry-go-round to rival Mary Poppins’ adventures. Equally colourful is the display of native orchids found at the National Orchid Gardens at the edge of the Park. The gardens house the largest collection of orchids in the Southern Hemisphere. All year-round, you can explore over three thousand orchid species, unique to Papua New Guinea. Peak flowering season for most orchids is between December and March. https://www.papuanewguinea.travel/adventure-park

Papua New Guinea’s Parliament House is a must see landmark whether parliament is sitting or not. Built in the style of a Maprik Haus Tambaran (house of spirits from East Sepik Province), this impressive building was first opened in 1984 and the grounds are lovely. https://www.papuanewguinea.travel/parliament-house

Wander through the awe-inspiring collections at the National Museum & Art Gallery (NMAG). Here you will see a careful curation of objects from 19 provinces of Papua New Guinea. The earliest collection is by Sir William MacGregor and dates back to the 1800s during early administration of Papua. NMAG was built on Independence Hill in 1975 and opened to the public 1977. It is the national centre for anthropology, archaeology, natural history, contemporary arts, research and conservation. https://www.papuanewguinea.travel/nmag

The Port Moresby Nature Park is a haven of greenery and lawns spread over 30 acres, boasting two kilometres of boardwalk threading beneath a jungle canopy, plus excellent wildlife exhibits, plant collections, and cultural demonstrations. You may find yourself passing by a wedding, a friendly soccer match and a class trip all in one single visit to the park. Bring a picnic to enjoy in the large grounds, under a 'haus-win' with a barbecue area. Or rest a while in the Park’s well-appointed and popular café before browsing the souvenir shop as you leave. Port Moresby Nature Park is open 365 days a year! https://www.papuanewguinea.travel/port-moresby-nature-park

For the best seafood in town visit Koki market, to the east of Ela Beach. Koki is the main seafood market and also sells a range of fresh tropical fruits and vegetables. Wander through the aisles, where you can absorb the ocean breeze and observe the fishermen negotiate with bargain hunters over the catch of the day. We recommend bringing a guide with you when you visit markets in Port Moresby. https://www.papuanewguinea.travel/koki-fish-market

Built on reclaimed land near Ela Beach in Port Moresby’s central business district, this glazed conference facility is a gracious nod to the cultural caretakers of the Capital City, the Motu-Koita people. The iconic design resembles a Lakatoi sail, from the Motu-Koita’s distinctive double-hulled boat, to symbolise international trade negotiations. As you enter the building, you’ll see additional local designs referenced with a giant timber feature wall in the lobby engraved with a stepped traditional tattoo and every last corner of the new conference rooms paying respect to the incredible cultures of our 22 provinces. https://www.papuanewguinea.travel/apec-haus

Looking for the perfect introduction to local Kanak culture? Plan a visit to the Tjibaou Cultural Centre in Nouméa, where art, history, culture, knowledge and natural beauty combine to delight and educate adults and children alike. Housed within beautifully designed buildings and landscaped grounds, the centre sits just minutes from the city, offering a fantastic selection of permanent and temporary exhibitions to discover. A visit to the centre is a must for any Nouméa itinerary. https://www.newcaledonia.travel/au/noumea/tjibaou-cultural-center

В Noumea несколько пляжей прямо в городе. Этот называется Plage de Magenta Длиннющие, долго идти до глубины, но детям нравится, им в самый раз, раздолье Очень красивая лазурная вода в заливе.

Built in the 1970s, the museum of New Caledonia asserts, in the late 1980s, its vocation as a museum of society and its objectives as to the enhancement of the Kanak civilization and the preservation of its heritage. Since then, this museum exhibits one of the most beautiful collections of Kanak art in the world, including monumental, and the most complete from the point of view of the themes it allows to address. In view of the Kanak collections of major European museums, the place occupied by the New Caledonia museum in the international museum world is particularly impressive. https://museenouvellecaledonie.nc/le-musee/presentation-du-musee

Seat of the archdiocese of Nouméa since 1966, Saint Joseph’s Roman Catholic cathedral was built between 1887 and 1897 by a penitentiary workforce and following the construction plans of a former convict named Labulle. Consecrated in 1890, before the end of its construction, the cathedral is laid out as a 56-meter-long Latin cross, with a 36-meter-large transept. 15.5 meters high, the building's south west facade presents two 25-meter-high towers on both sides of the porch. Both towers, the buttresses and the bay frames are made of cut stone, the other walls are made of lime-rendered rubble stone. https://www.newcaledonia.travel/au/noumea/saint-josephs-cathedral

Located in Port-Moselle , a stone's throw from the South Province Hotel and the Government of New Caledonia, this covered market is made up of five hexagonal pavilions capped with blue tiles. Fishermen land their fresh fish directly. There are all locally grown fruits and vegetables, flowers, and many other products from the country. The market is also the rendezvous of artisans who offer multiple objects of costume jewelry or decoration. It is also one of the top tourist spots in the city, especially at the weekend with a background of ocean music. The inhabitants of the city find themselves there traditionally to buy their fresh products, but also for the pleasure to meet. On Saturdays and Sundays it is recommended not to arrive too late in the morning to find what you are looking for and enjoy the colorful atmosphere. https://www.noumea.nc/decouvrir-noumea/marche-de-baie-de-la-moselle

Город Nouméa, столица Новой Каледонии, и наверное единственный более или менее крупный город. 95 тысяч жителей, если верить Википедии. Местами наплохое благоустройство, дорожки, парки, урбанистика - вот это вот всё ... На waterfront, видимо, живет народ побогаче.

Located at Anse Vata bay, the Lagoons Aquarium in Nouméa hosts a variety of corals, fish, crustacean and marine mammals, with some demonstrating the endemism of the New Caledonian aquatic wildlife. Entirely renovated in 2007, the aquarium is today one of the most popular tourist attractions in Nouméa. The Aquarium des Lagons with its multiple different tanks, you can admire a collection of phosphorescent corals unique in the world. The aquarium also boasts a garden featuring a turtle pool. Throughout the year, the aquarium organizes very popular “nocturnals.” They allow you to observe the night-time behavior of the fish and to attend fun awareness-raising workshops on conservation of the lagoon. https://www.aquarium.nc/en/

Formerly named the Duck Bay (like the island located just opposite) because of its swampy side, the Anse Vata neighbourhood now has the same name as the adjoining bay and the 2-kilometer long sandy beach bordering it. Located between the Lemon Bay (Baie des Citrons) and Val Plaisance, it is bounded by the “Rocher à la Voile” on the one hand and the Pointe Magnin on the other side. This South neighbourhood of Noumea, part of the living heart of the city, really looks like a real see side resort. There is a holiday atmosphere and this area is popular with tourists who find here all activities and infrastructure they need: shops, restaurants, water sports, most major resorts and two casinos ... all in one holiday setting at the edge of a wooded beach. Sea activities such as windsurfing are highly successful thanks to the exposure of the bay to the prevailing wind. Many sporting events also start from this place. https://www.explore-newcaledonia.com/noumea/anse-vata-bay/tabid/3992/offreid/f1df6245-6263-407b-8297-bfc40f2b9aca

The Amedee Lighthouse was France’s first metal lighthouse and it boasts a unique history. In 1861, due to the many shipwrecks of boats entering the lagoon, Paris ordered a lighthouse to be built for Noumea. Mr. Rigolet, a French engineer from the Eiffel Tower workshops in Paris, started to work on this outstanding monument in 1862. According to one of the clauses in Mr. Rigolet’s contract, the lighthouse had to be assembled outside his workshop in France. For two years, the lighthouse towered above Paris, standing 56 meters tall. After that it was dismantled and divided into 1,265 pieces, weighing 387,953 kilos in total. It was then transported along the Seine River to the port of Le Havre for the final stage of its long voyage to New Caledonia. The Amedee lighthouse is indeed a unique attraction and one of the tallest lighthouses in the world in the world’s largest lagoon. https://amedeeisland.com/amedee-lighthouse/

These impressive blowholes in the village of taga on south-west savaii are wave power in its purest form, as they propel a roaring jet of water hundreds of feet up into the air. They are particularly worth watching when locals throw coconuts into the holes and these are blasted into the air as well http://www.samoa.travel/activity/alofaaga-blowholes

This spectacular waterfall in south-eastern savaii plunges from the rainforest deep into a fresh-water swimming pool. The Afu Aau Waterfall also known as Olemoe Falls, is a spectacular waterfall in south-eastern Savaii that plunges from the rainforest deep into a fresh-water swimming pool. Access is on a dirt road which is maintained by the village. Entrance fees are collected at the Samoan fale about 650m from the main road and visitors are encouraged to park their car here and enjoy a 10 minute walk to the pool and waterfall. http://www.samoa.travel/activity/afu-aau-falls

Papase’ea sliding rocks are situated in se’ese’e in the faleata district approx. 15mins drive from apia. Brave mother nature’s waterslides and slide down these naturally formed rock slides, worn down by thousands of years of running water. Toilets and change rooms are available. Open mon-sat. http://www.samoa.travel/activity/papaseea-sliding-rocks

The enchanting colonial homestead will give you an insight into the life of one of the most-loved adventure authors Despite his stories of swashbuckling adventure, Robert Louis Stevenson had been a sickly man and had contracted tuberculosis. It was while he was in his twenties someone suggested he find a South Pacific island to live on, where the warm climate would ease his poor health. Stevenson loved to travel, once saying, "I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move." But it was 10 years after that advice that he and his wife sailed to the Pacific and settled in Samoa. TB-ridden Stevenson and his family lived in Samoa for the five years prior to his death. Known to the Samoans as Tusitala or Teller of Tales, the author of the Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Treasure Island and Kidnapped was intensely involved in the lives of the local folk and their plight to reclaim their cultural identity. The Stevenson homestead is now the home for the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum. The informative forty-minute guided tour of the mansion and Tusitala’s many authentic personal belongings is highly recommended, especially of the library where he penned 14 tomes in just four years. The beautiful Botanical Gardens at the base of Mt Vaea and surrounding the homestead make for an informative and stunning stroll. You don’t have to be a literary groupie to enjoy the scenic walk through lush rainforest up to the top of Mt Vaea where the famous Scottish writer Robert Louis Stevenson rests in peace. Just outside of Apia, the panoramic views over the city and bay are will give another perspective of the capital of Samoa. You have the choice of two routes to the top of the hill – a 45-minute track or, take the shorter but more strenuous half-hour trail. Whichever way you chose, go early in the morning or late afternoon, as the midday heat can be stifling, especially in the height of summer. This is the kind of place you won’t want to leave in a hurry, so pack a picnic and don’t forget your insect repellent and water bottle. http://www.samoa.travel/page/visit-the-robert-louis-stevenson-museum

Along the main east coast road, 45mins from apia, you will find piula cave pool located at the piula theological college in the village of lufilufi. It’s a beautiful crystal clear freshwater spring pool and cave that originated from an old lava tube. Explore the underwater cave that connects to a second cave. Day fales and toilet facilities available. Open mon-sat: 8am-4pm. http://www.samoa.travel/activity/piula-fatumea-cave-pool

The Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest and longest coral reef system, stretching for 2,300km from the tip of Cape York in the north to Bundaberg in the south. Comprising 3,000 separate reefs and some 900 continental islands and coral cays, it’s one of the world’s great natural wonders. Home to over 1,500 species of fish, abundant marine life and over 200 types of birds, it’s also one of Australia’s greatest conservation successes. A World Heritage Area since 1981 (the world’s first reef ecosystem to be recognised by UNESCO), it is highly protected and one of the best-managed marine areas on Earth https://www.queensland.com/en-au/explore-queensland/great-barrier-reef