Pacific Islands Update

How many surfers have ever shot the Malem break? Not many is my guess. Why? It's too far away from everywhere. Kosrae is quite a hike west of Hawaii. It's more than a hike, it's a .... plane ride about seven hours elapsed time on Continental Micronesia with two stops. However, you don't want to go to Kosrae just for the surfing. I can't believe I just said just when it comes to surfing. Seriously, there are a multitude of things to do in Kosrae. Katrina Adams, hostess with the mostest, at Kosrae Village Dive & Eco Adventure Resort, Micronesia has finally updated her website with a section on great surfing at Kosrae.

Kosrae Surfing

Henua High School, on the shores of Lake Tenganu, the largest freshwater lake in the Pacific region and the venue for a projected UNESCO World Heritage Site, has started an eco-tourism project. Accommodation, built for the school, will be rented to visitors during school holidays. In other news from the Solomons, the Foregin Affairs Minister, Laurie Chan, has signed a grant agreement with Japan for US $6.9 million to upgrade Honiaria International Airport.

In other aviation news, China and Fiji are negotiating direct air links. In the interim, which could be some time, the Government of the People's Republic of China has given Fiji, Approved Destination Status, which says as much about China, as it does about Fiji.

Air New Zealand and Qantas are appealing to the New Zealand High Court to receive permission to form an anti-competitive alliance. The two major South Pacific carriers cite the competitive might of Richard Branson's Virgin Blue for their plea.

Sea Kayaking is a rapidly growing segment of the Pacific tourism market. Sea Kayaking is seen as an excellent activity for enhancing conservation and at the same time by passing the trickle down effect by making it possible for local operators to run sea kayaking safaris due to relatively minor start up and operating costs.

A million dollar update is in the final stages at Maravu Plantation Resort on Fiji's Garden Isle, Taveuni. Four new honeymoon suites, each featuring a private outdoor spa, is part of the upgrade which is focussed on a luxurious spa programme, whcih includes Aroma Therapy Massage, Body Scrub, and Fiji Coconut Oil Treatments, a fitting enhancement for Maravu, whcih means tranquil in Fijian.

On September 4,2004, there will be an inaugral Beachcomber Island Swim featuring Australian Olympic swimming legend John Konrads, who in the days leading up to the event will conduct swimming clinics for local swimmer and coaches. Beachcomber Island lies seventeen kilometres west of Viti Levu, Fiji's Big Island.

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