Category: New Zealand & The Pacific

8 BEST Qualities I Love About the Pacific Islands

Post author By Anthony Perez
Post date July 9, 2020
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(QUICK NOTE) My travels have brought me to Tonga, Fiji, Nauru, Tuvalu, Kiribati, & Marshall Islands. (I currently live in Hawai’i if that counts too)

Voyaging across the Pacific Islands has always been a dream of mine, even if I only knew about Hawai’i and Fiji. The Pacific is a vast area of ocean with endless tiny dots scattered across full of life. Tiny dots big with heart, beautiful people, and very rich in culture. Full of endless adventure on a whole new level. I spent three and a half amazing months voyaging across Polynesia, Melanesia, & Micronesia, flying, sailing, hitchhiking, living with families and like a local to best my ability. All that I have done, all the people I have met, and all that I have experienced in only a few months, has changed my life in so many ways that have honestly, made me a better person.

8 – I Never Felt Unsafe Anywhere

I am not saying that bad things don’t happen across the Pacific, but from my experiences, I have never actually felt unsafe anywhere. There was not one person or group of people that I felt had any agenda or intention to harm me or steal from me. Walking Suva at night for an ATM withdrawal was the only time I felt uneasy. However, I was still greeted by walking people and people sitting around with a “Bula”. Safe concerns weren’t actually with people, they were with hostile and violent dogs, namely Nauru and ESPECIALLY Kiribati.

Nauru People — Hitching a scooter ride with a local in Nauru

7 – Living Off the Land & Sea

It is of no surprise that many Pacific Islands are very isolated. Even main islands with frequent flight and boat services rely heavily on the land and sea. But it’s those outer islands that bring things into perspective on how life has been lived up until now. Solar brings power & rain brings water for the shower and drinking. And while corned beef and noodles are a common delicacy, the land and sea always provides. Everything from breadfruit, papaya, pandanus, and most importantly, coconut. And regardless of tide, lagoon or deep sea, sea life is some of the most delicious meals I’ve ever had.

copra marshall islands — Copra in the Marshall Islands

6 – A Sailors Dream

The Pacific Ocean and it’s endless islands is a sailors dream From Panama, the Marquesas all the way to Tonga and Fiji. At least this was the itinerary of my first captain! It was a dream of mine to find a means to hitch a ride on a sailboat. How I would do it, I had no clue! However I did figure out that clue in Vava’u, Tonga. I sailed for 19 days across from Tonga to Fiji and around some of the Fijian islands. By far one of the most freeing and liberating experiences I’ve ever had. To move across the ocean with the wind with no running motor. Watching endless sunsets and the stars at night during night watch. There are many ways to travel the world. But I feel the true way to travel, the ancient way, is going with the wind.

5 – Family is Everything

I asked my friend in Fiji, how does he live off of a few dollars an hour, working many hours a week. He said, “My working job is extra funds. I have everything right here in this village.” It was this quick conversation that allowed me to realize how drastically different my culture is. How we crave more, more more of money and materials. But life in the islands is very simple and family is everything. Everyone plays their part in a village. While one stays home to clean and cook, others gather coconut, taro, fish. Some to provide for the dinner and others for family income.

tuvalu people tuvaluan — Learning Tuvaluan with new friends in Funafuti

4 – No Such Thing as Privacy

As an honorable guest of the many village/home stays in the Pacific, I did most times get provided my own sleeping quarters. But otherwise, I had to understand, learn, and get used to the fact that privacy is nothing like at home. What every island seemed to have in common, is that it isn’t uncommon for family to live and sleep together in the same room. Even sleeping scattered across the floor of the living room. But even for me as an honorable guest, I found heads peaking in to invite me to eat even if I wasn’t fully awake. Or two young boys giggling at me running around my bed. Whatever my sleeping arrangements were, I fully embraced and enjoyed being around people so much more. I’ve couch surfed and Airbnb’d a lot in my travels giving me the experience of connecting with others. But when you do this in the Pacific islands, you becoming a big part of family.

https://vimeo.com/user22679966/review/435007477/b37bfe0743

3 – Less Technology, More Connection With Culture

I admit it, I spend a lot of time on my phone. Maybe not like most stereotypes, but social media sometimes takes me prisoner. If not, I do a lot of reading about things from movies to new places to travel. But it should come to no surprise that wifi is horrible to non existent across the Pacific Islands. You’ll find that in most corners of the Pacific, people play around on technology playing games to watching movies. But as far as connectivity, the last means to do so if with an unlocked phone to access local cell towers. But even this experience was hit or miss half of the time. This distance from connecting with the world via laptop and cell phone really did allow me to connect with the world in person. So much that when I did have good wifi and cell service, I found myself getting tired of being on my phone, and would rather go for a walk and talk to someone. It honestly, felt amazing to branch a bit back in time like how things used to be, more moments to embrace…less technology.

things to do in tuvalu — Joy riding in Funafuti, Tuvalu

I Kiribati Kids in Tarawa — I-Kiribati Kids in Tarawa

2 – Different Cultures, Same Warm Hearted People

Traveling across the Pacific and giving myself the time in each place has allowed me to fully observe all of the differences between the countries. From language, how people drink kava, to how much auto tune is used in music (some places want me to kill myself). But the one quality that islanders have in common (at least from the 6 countries I have traveled) is that they all share kindness. Marshallese people are seemingly rough and unapproachable, but even here I found myself connected with people willing to buy me food or give me rides. Aloha is the word for love in Hawai’i. Give aloha and receive aloha. That concept applies to just about everywhere I’ve been. I showed love and kindness and received anything from a ride, food, to offers to stay with family.

local people of hawaii — Time with locals on Big Island, Hawaii

Being shown around Vava'u Tonga with new friends. — Being shown around Vava’u Tonga with new friends.

1 – Trust & Honesty is Everything

The most important quality I got out of this entire voyage is that I feel much happier as a person. And that is the result of enjoying honesty and a kind heart to it’s fullest potential. The people in the Pacific are some of the kindest spirited people I have ever met. And because of the amount of time spent with people, of course this kind hearted ness rubbed off on me. Actually, it is who I am now. I’ve been told more and more as time went on with this trip that I was a good man with a good heart. I realized that in order to have a good heart, one must be an honest person. From money to any mistakes I may have made. Honesty leads to a cleansed spirit and soul and just like showing a good heart, you with me treated with love and kindness. I know this sound insanely spiritual but it’s a simple way of life that is easily achieved by just being a good person. Pacific Islanders live this way and is common from Hawai’i all the way across to Tuvalu, Tonga, and even to the Maori in New Zealand.

I have strived to live a simple life invincible to obstacles of life stresses, taking it moment by moment anticipating the best yet preparing to handle the worst in a positive fashion. For the first time in my life I feel comfortable, with life. Who would have known these tiny islands would have such big hearts, powerful enough to has such a long term effect on this young traveler. I’ve learned many things on this voyage and I’m happy to know that these qualities will forever travel with me, to pass on to the rest of the world.

General New Zealand & The Pacific Tuvalu Voyages

A Week in Tuvalu: 5 Reasons You MUST Visit

Post author By Anthony Perez
Post date April 10, 2020
No Comments on A Week in Tuvalu: 5 Reasons You MUST Visit

“Tuvalu mo te Atua“

For a country that popped up on my radar in such a short time span, one year that is, I would find my self in love with a place way before I would arrive. There is only one other country where this has happened and that was in Greece. Until this day, I long desire a return to a country I spent nearly two months in. But for Tuvalu, I discovered in some time before leaving for New Zealand from Hawai’i. A time where I was barely making my way back on my feet from my achilles surgery. My original Pacific Island plan would have been: American Samoa > Samoa > Fiji > Kiribati, > Tonga. Tuvalu wasn’t even a place I heard of, like most people. But that time spent off of my feet recovering allowed me to discover unique group of low lying Polynesian islands in the Central Pacific. My curiosity was awakened!

A year goes by and with my New Zealand working holiday visa up, it was time for that long awaited trip around the Pacific on two healthy feet. In that total 7 months of working ordinary jobs in NZ, I found a plan that would set aside a budget for all of the island I wanted to visit, including Tuvalu. My travels would bring me across the main Tongan islands, sailing west, and exploring Fiji by boat and on foot. By this time, I had fully adapted to Pacific Island way of life having had the opportunity to village stay in Vava’u Tonga, and two villages in Fiji. Learning words all so sounding so similar and embracing the hearts of people across the islands. Getting off the sail, I had to prepare many onward tickets thanks to Pacific Island immigration rules to my next set of islands, Nauru, Kiribati, and finally Tuvalu.

A New Perspective: Life on an Atoll

I have flown to a small fraction of the world and forever enjoy my window seat. But arriving in Funafuti was by far the most unbelievable sight in my life. Seeing an atoll via photos is one thing, but with your own eyes is indescribable. People’s everyday lives squeezed on land no more than several hundred meters wide and 1.5 to 2 meters above sea level. With threads of king tides and cyclones.

Opening the plane door gave me the opportunity to be greeted by the hottest air I’ve felt in a very long time hence why doing the least amount of things in the open sun from 12 to about 3:30 is probably the smartest thing you can do. But it’s just surreal to be able to hear the calm water of a lagoon and a few steps away, the violent waves from the open sea. Funafuti is built up a bit more than I’ve read which isn’t a bad thing. Electricity is had with solar and water tanks provide….water. An engine on two wheels dominates the skinny road system across the island and fresh fish from the lagoon is the island supermarket.

Tuvaluan Food is Sooooo Good

Speaking of food, I’ve got to say that living a fraction of my life as a fats desiring large amounts of food all the time, I have grown accustomed to eating when it’s time to eat. In Tuvalu, I didn’t find myself eating so heavy. I mean, I’ve been fed endlessly with locals insisting I eat more and more. But the food is simple yet so damn good. While resources are limited, Tuvaluans can manage on their own pretty well not depending too much on imports. Sure rice and other things are brought in. But I never saw locals whipping open tin fish and corned beef for their meals.

The lagoon provides fresh fish like clockwork and oh god it’s so good. I’ve had black marlin fish cooked umu style. I’ve apparently eaten like a Tuvaluan, eating raw fish fresh out of the water. Plenty of tuna (baked), taro, pumpkin, breadfruit, with rice, and once a piece of sausage. They have a few Chinese restaurants but only ate once on my exhausting arrival day. A lot of food can be coconut based too, as I’ve had fresh caught fish mixed with coconut cream, curry and some rice. As for drink, can’t exactly say they have any breweries, but besides Red Horse & Fosters, Kao makes one hell of a natural alcoholic drink made from the branch of a coconut tree. Had 9 cups one night and had to cut myself off to be able to ride home. haha.

The Beauty is out of this world!

I haven’t been to any of the outer islands and will have to leave that for my return trip. But I found Vaiako town and the rest of Fongafale island to be beautiful in it’s own right. There is a charm felt one you get on two feet to walk around and take it all in. And riding around the island was one of the most incredible experience yet. A 125cc Suzuki doesn’t compare to an 800CC Suzuki in New Zealand, but for such a tiny area, it does just fine. I camped out with friends at the west end to a beautiful sunset and decent swim to riding to the near end where the islands rubbish goes.

True beauty though, lies off island and on the islands within the atoll. I couldn’t leave Tuvalu without taking a tour around the atoll knowing I wouldn’t make the outer islands on this trip. So I went to the island council, negotiated 150AUD to one of the islands, and found myself a ride. But because my drivers “though I was a good guy”, they took me into the conservation area for free. We basically toured nearly entire atoll. The water is blue, island is green, and the sand so soft. The pure definition of paradise only this is Tuvaluan paradise. Walking the jungle to visit the remaining American sites from WW2 to snorkeling off of another island. Drinking fresh coconut and taking a “gogo” bird home as a pet. And finally taking cover from the mid day sun having fresh fish for lunch in Funafala village.

Rich Culture Surrounds You

It’s not like everything is far in Funafuti, but yet culture surround you. It become you! So much that it doesn’t take much before you are sitting in someone else’s home being welcomed into the family. I loved just people watching everywhere as you seen woman riding on their mopeds in their colorful sulus and ‘fau o aliki’. Because I heard of some things going on at the Vaitupu maneapa, I made my way over to see and ended up getting invited in to join their feast. Next thing I know, I am sitting amongst them while they perform their Fatele, competing two sides to drumming, singing, and dancing. The singing and dancing is just incredible. I can go on with emotions at how happy I was to be a part of something like this.

I thought that to connect with people would have to be on foot as it gives chance for conversation. I was wrong! I rented a motorbike to ride to each end of Funafuti and at one stop for photos, I was invited over for conversation, some fish and fikei for lunch, and some Tuvaluan language lessons. I would stop to say goodbye on my last day and would be gifted some fresh sweets at the airport. In fact, another friend I made that happens to work at the airport would gift me a shell necklace to say goodbye. Funafuti is so small, that it does not take much to make friends at all. The people are mostly shy at first, but alike much of the Pacific, if you show pure kindness to the heart with a smile and wave, you will be taken in as a friend, as family. Being offered food, drink, and sweets all for your company and good spirits. The most inviting, kind, and warmest people I’ve met is on this little island. I can’t imagine the reception of the outer islands.

You Won’t Want to Leave

When you get a taste of something that you end up liking, but don’t get the chance to have more of it, the craving end up being high as hell. My craving to experience more of Tuvalu is exactly like that, I simply wish I had more time and budget to stay longer. Even if I had stayed on Funafuti one week longer, would have sufficed. But had I had extra time and budget, I would have taken that ferry and ventured to the outer islands to experience the true Tuvalu. Hell, I would have applied for a visa extension and stayed in an island or two. Maybe Vaitupu or Nanumea, who knows. All I know is that my experience in Tuvalu was cut way too short. After all this was my dream country and all that I desired to experienced turned out a million times more incredible than I anticipated. I can’t wait to return to fully give the country the true visit it deserves. Fetaui Tuvalu! Until next time <3

Check out my complete voyage on Youtube!

General Kiribati New Zealand & The Pacific

Kiribati: An Adventurers Paradise

Post author By Anthony Perez
Post date March 30, 2020
No Comments on Kiribati: An Adventurers Paradise

Tarawa Kiribati culture — Swimming with local kids in North Tarawa

Mauri, Mauri!! Kiribati was a country I dreamed of visiting for several years. I can’t remember what and why that was? Tabon Te Keekee’s overwater buias or the relics of war still scattered across Betio Island. All I know, is that Kiribati grew from “What the hell is Ki-ree-bah-tee?” to becoming one of my top dream countries. A major itch to go and a curiosity that grew week by week to visit these islands compromising of the Phoenix, Line, and Gilbert islands stretching across the Equatorial Pacific. I knew after some time, that Kiribati was a country of many problems, namely on the capital island of Tarawa and that personal perspective was something I just had to have for myself. It was only a matter of time before I would find myself on a one way flight from Tuvalu to the land of fair skinned people.

North Tarawa

Opposite of Funafuti’s tiny main island is Tarawa, a wide and insanely long stretch of atoll. Only this atoll has two contrasting sides, North and South Tarawa. Beginning my time in Kiribati, I had a nice 4 night layover in Tabon Te Keekee, a “resort” I long desired to stay in since I heard of Kiribati. Although I learned of places to stay across the Gilberts with bias for a fraction of the 120 a night I paid to stay, I found it to be worth my stay. Next to the resort was a small school where I was able to attend culture day rehearsals of dancing and singing. Abatao is also a really nice place to take a walk through many villages passed crooked bridge and at the end to broken bridge for one of the best swims in Tarawa atoll. You might even get lucky like me and have two little kids join you all the way until the end.

South Tarawa

Returning from Nauru, I was ready for the overwhelming experience of South Tarawa. I found a cheap Airbnb for 147 for 6 nights in the village of Teaorereke in an ocean front home beside a family. Teaorereke is far from the airport but close enough to experience Bairiki, Betio, and the unique walk across the long Nippon Causeway separating the two islands. I enjoyed walking South Tarawa as even for a crowded place, kids would still yell out I-Matang. Even on crowded Betio, walking amongst the relics of World War Two, I had kids yell out to me to take selfies or to give me fist bump. But best of all, a local came up to me and handed over a bullet from the war, sadly confiscated at the airport upon departure. Betio island has tons of remains from war but even so, they are scattered around for discovery, not placed on a map for tourism like walking around Pearl Harbor.

Even on crowded South Tarawa, you will still find culture all around you. Traditional built kiakias and buias with families eating, sleeping, or playing on their phones in them. So that means the culture is even richer on the outer islands? Absolutely. Don’t be surprised if you find people kicking back on in their buias playing games or watching movies on their phones or motorbikes buzzing up and down the main road. Other than that, you will find yourself as the only I-Matang and the center of attention for everyone, especially the kids.

Butaritari Atoll

I spent a week on Butaritari, and was the only foreigner on the entire island. Lucky for me, I happened to be on Butaritari for the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Makin (Butaritari) where the entire island came together to put on the show of a lifetime giving thanks to America for saving their ancestors. The show was touched up with an invitation into the maneapa for cultural dances by some local girls. I’ve got to say, that Kiribati cultural dancing is one of the most beautiful I’ve seen.

Harsh Realities on Tarawa

Kiribati has many problems, from overpopulation on South Tarawa and pollution. There are barely any waste disposal programs but even so, people have no idea where to put their rubbish other than, anywhere but where they walk at home. Betio is one of the most littered places I’ve seen in such a densely populated small area. Kids pee and shit all over the beach and any places where they can drop their pants. The food is delicious but found myself getting stomach sick on a handful of occasions. Dogs are violent and hostile and are most dangerous in packs. I would know so as I was actually attacked by dogs in South Tarawa. And of course, the evolution of the land that disappearing from climate change.

But beyond all that, Kiribati is an adventurers paradise, A nation full of smiling, friendly faces willing to talk to you or take you in as family. Some of the most beautiful children I have ever seen who yell “Hi”, “Mauri”, or repeat “Good, Good, Good!”, begging to take a selfie or jump in many of my photos. A place with zero tourism, and nothing but culture waiting for the right adventurer to come!

Check out my FULL Kiribati Experience on Youtube

Fiji General New Zealand & The Pacific Voyages

The Real Fiji: My Village Stay Experience

Post author By Anthony Perez
Post date February 5, 2020
No Comments on The Real Fiji: My Village Stay Experience

I didn’t visit Fiji with any expectations. In fact, I didn’t know much about Fiji other then it’s a popular tourist destination until a few months until I actually went. Thanks to a library membership in my Auckland home, I picked up a couple of books and gave me the information I needed in order to experience Fiji the way I wanted to. Basically, steering clear and away from all of the touristy places that take up a big chunk of Fiji, namely the Mamanucas, Yasawas, and Coral Coast. I knew that there was a lot to do and that I wouldn’t see it all. But aside from that, I did want an incredibly cultural experience. How I would do so, it would just happen naturally.

I would have never thought that I would arrive in Fiji via sail. My first experience by sail was from Vava’u, Tonga, across some ocean, passing the southern Lau Islands group, into Suva harbour, over to Beqa island and the Mamanucas. My captains plans changed as we were originally going to sail some northern Lau and Vanua Levu but ended our trip in Lautoka. Him continuing on by boat to go home and me on foot. I knew at this point, that the best way to transition from being stuck on a boat to back on my own was to try and do a homestay or even couch surf with a local. Lucky for me, I was able to find a host that allowed me to stay with her family on the outskirts of Lautoka town. I wasn’t the first one invited into the home, so it sort of felt like I was an extra task for the family. Yet they became more friendly and welcoming into the family as time went on, which unfortunately was only for two short days.

My true Fijian experience was a new friend I made via an old friend from many years ago back home. My friend picked me up in Nadi and a few hours later, I was welcomed into his home and village as if I was part of the family. Truly the most heart felt welcome like I was part of the family. I was welcomed with smiles and a proper little kava night to get me relaxed and set for a good nights rest (We arrived late at night.) I will never forget the entire welcome and hospitality I received from the entire village as they came out of their homes to wave and greet me with a smile and “Bula Tony”. News spreads fast in the village as not only is a “vavalangi” staying there but even my name in short was known to everyone. “Hi Tony” being shouted out to me anytime I walked around is still something that touches my heart until this day.

I arrived with a stomach virus so I was awkwardly using the toilet quite frequently, but was always asked how I was by many people. Like I said, news spreads fast. Even had one woman sit me down to pray for me. Speaking of prayer, I could not miss out on a Fijian Sunday without going to church. I was dressed in a nice blue bull shirt and sulu and joined one of the several church services in town. Despite trying to sit on the floor amongst the village, it was strongly insisted by the pastor, that I sit in the only chair there. As awkward as I felt, it was important for them to have me be comfortable as a guest even though I was perfectly fine being a Fijian. On my second to last day, my young friends walked me over to their nearby “Golden” river to enjoy a nice river swim and yes, even a bath as they brought soap to have, a bath. I was certainly well taken care of everywhere I went because even joining another family for soccer on tv, I was still offered lunch and juice to fill my semi sick stomach.

Another day was well spend joining up with my host who worked at the nearby Yatule resort after he got off. After a nice refreshing swim in the ocean, my host popped in the sea, speared some fish, set up a campfire, and smoked the fish. We sat next to the fire squeezing out as much lime as we could, mixed in some water, chili, and finally our smoked fish to have what’s called, Wai tom-tom. By far the simplest things you can eat yet insanely good.

Another major highlight was the insanely high amounts of kava my body was able to take in. 40 kava bowls on kava night and can’t believe I lasted that long. It started off with contributing $20 FJD into kava at the tiny store (someone room in their house with common good + kava) and being instructed how to enter the room. Walk in, sit at the back and at the end of the kava round, walk over to the elders saying “chilou” repeatedly (excuse me) and introducing myself and after doing so, sitting back down in the back. Eventually I was invited to sit closer to the chiefs, and finally, in the spot of where a chief would sit. Not sure if it was true, but was told that I was sitting in place of a chief and that I am an honorable guest as the chief for the evening. Hell of a responsibility for someone who can’t speak Fijian but what an honor man, haha. I walked in slightly nervous and intimated to being fully comfortable and taking in my everyone in there. I shared many stories about my life and my travels which everyone was interested in. And eventually telling endless jokes that spread around to jokes being made with everyone. Like explaining what a lady boy is and one guy so kava’d out that he called them “girl boys”. By kava number 38, I was certainly feeling the effects of fatigue and a desire to sleep. Kava night like a true Fijian at it’s best.

My departure would come soon, fast, as I had to book an onward ticket getting off of the sail. I gave myself a week since getting off the boat. Seemed like enough time. But, turned out to be too short staying in my Fijian home away from home. The villagers were as sad if not more sad then I am, as they kept asking me when I was leaving to wish me a proper farewell. The proper farewell, was drinking fresh coconut via tree climb and coconut skin snack at the edge of the village. Once my ride arrived to Sigatoka, the kids waved “bye Tony” until my car disappeared. It’s been only a few days and I miss my Fijian family and my home away from home. I know this feeling is going to last a very long time. The warmth and care I received from this village is like nothing I’ve experienced before and is why I won’t forget it. Fortunately, there is much more of Fiji to experience and explore which adds on to even more of a reason to return, and that, I can’t wait for.

BULA VINAKA!!!

Tags fiji, pacific islands, south pacific

General Nauru New Zealand & The Pacific Voyages

Nauru: A Small Island Nation With Big Charm

Post author By Anthony Perez
Post date February 1, 2020
No Comments on Nauru: A Small Island Nation With Big Charm

A tiny dot in the Pacific is a common phrase to define most of the small islands in the biggest ocean in the world. But tiny Nauru seems to really define that very well. I mean the island is near round and is small enough to drive around in 30 – 33 minutes by car. Where can you say you drove around an island nation like here? Nauru is an island that popped up on my curiosity about two to three years before actually arriving and one thing that stood out to me for years, was it’s incredibly ridiculous visa process. Many emails, document and photo uploads, and lots of time later, I finally arrived with my one month visa despite only going for 5 days. Yea they totally make you book accommodation and roundtrip tickets first before going.

Nauru is a weird place with many differences from what I’ve been used to in the Pacific islands. It also might as well be an extension of Australia. Imports are from Australia, watched morning news from Australia, and a large group of Nauruans live in a town basically for Nauruans. It was a country insanely rich with phosphate but intense mining ran the country dry of it’s number one resource over the span of 100 years. For a small country drivable in about 33 minutes based on GoPro video, it’s visa process is very similar to that of a soviet county on the eastern side of the iron curtain. It took me weeks before I could get my visa sorted to enter the country, not to forget my initial email months in advance just to get some things clear. Let’s just say, that internet resources, the email from immigration, and the visa application itself all contradict each other. One asks for only return flights and hotel bookings, passport bio page, proof of occupation, and Pacific Island travel itinerary. While another asks for additional things like recent passport sized photo, criminal, and health record.

But the island charm is found beyond and behind on that political nonsense. Especially the false information the news portrays about the refuge center on the island. Truth is, the refugees are welcome with open arms by Nauruans until they find a place to call home in the first world. Hell, I got a haircut from an Iranian and had a nice long talk with a Nepalese man. Any who, after sending my life of paperwork through, waiting a week for an invoice asking for 50AUD, and sending that through, I finally got my one month visitor visa granted despite only going for 5 days.

ACCOMODATION

For a country that makes you prove hotel booking and with few options, accommodation sorting can be insanely expensive. Fortunately for me, I found myself in an Airbnb right next to the airport with a small family, the kind of stay I prefer to be in as it gets me more connected with locals. Plus, hotels are lonely as hell. $400USD for 5 nights is way more than my budget allows but it’s the cheapest option on the island. Flights can also be expensive for this tiny island depending on where you come from. But lucky for me wanting to travel to Kiribati allowed me to enjoy the cheapest option of a $300 roundtrip from Tarawa. (Note: The only way to book and have a no cancellation fee was through Expedia.)

Things I Did

Once you are settled on the island and get a whole passport page and 1/4 taken up by immigration, you find the pure innocence nature and beauty of tiny Nauru. Walking over to Gabab beach at the end of the runway are families and tons of kids enjoying a nice swim in the ocean with two active lifeguards with the backdrop of the old phosphate cantilevers in ruins. Off of the main road you can check out the islands tiny Buada Lagoon. Hiding from some rain got me the chance to hitch a ride with a local to show me what was an old Japanese prison within the pinnacle rocks. “Topside”, are tons of gun placements and bunkers in pretty good condition at 80 years old. I met a group of guys drinking on the beach who would take the day to show me the insane mining that destroyed the islands center, but a few caves for a hell of an adventure. Had kava with a local family who arranged for me to join their boys noddy bird hunting topside. Oh yea, I ate two of those caught just because. Hitched around the island once and without even trying, rode around the island 5 additional times.

The People

From all that I experienced on Nauru, the people are absolutely friendly alike many of the other islands I have been to. Unique in it’s own way, but with people who are willing to go out of their way to help you or take you in for food and drink. But a reputation Nauru has had for a long time in regards to people is the obesity problem at being the most obese country in the world. The reality is, Nauru was once the most obese nation, but I would say Tonga is up there. People have acknowledged the sad truth and have been proactive in keeping active and fit playing Aussie rules or running the perimeter of the runway.

As for the island, the litter problem is really bad. But beyond that, Nauru is lined with some beautiful beaches. Up the northwestern corner to Anibare beach, where massive coral rocks shoot right out of the water always ready for a beautiful photo to be taken. The drive around the island during sunset will give you some beautifully lit shots of the coastline. Even chilling by the airport to watch the planes come and go is a fun thing to do. Topside is probably one of the hottest places I’ve ever been to in my travels but World War exploring without the bothers of crowds and tourist is an experience of it’s own. Nauru is a complicated place full of unusual politics and and an unfortunate recent history, but once you get passed the tedious visa process and get that passport page and 1/4 taken up, you’ll find that this tiny island is full of heart and full of charm.

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Check out my FULL Nauru Experience on Youtube

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