Trekking Greener Grasses: "GONE FISHIN"

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

"GONE FISHIN"

Well, not really! I am attempting to get settled in Kone. Nathan starts full french immersion on Thursday morning, and we are presently living out of the Koniambo Hotel. I hope to be in the house Monday or at least thats when the furniture arrives. I watched the poles go up for my internet line today which will allow us to be here more often and to facilitate Davey's online schooling. Tomorrow I will have some pictures for you. (finally!)
In Novemer we recieved a small air freight shipment of bikes, sports equipment, clothes etc. The remainder of our freight arrived in December via sea freight and is being container stored in Noumea which will be delivered monday morning 8am to Kone. Actually the house is in Pouembout 10km south of Kone for those that utilize Google earth.
It is after midnight, so I am off to bed. Good to be back!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...: WELCOME BACK
We misssed you. Can't wait to see the after pictures of your home.
Mary Deardorff
Davenport, Iowa; February 20, 2008 1:01 AM
David said...: Thanks Mary, I'm off to work!; February 20, 2008 7:37 AM
Anonymous said...: David,
I sure hope you aren't working to hard. Glad the storms stayed clear of NC.
How long will you be ling in NC?
Mary Deardorff; February 23, 2008 1:35 AM
Ana said...: Muito Belo!; March 9, 2008 3:56 AM
Kloggers said...: Hi - fascinating blog. I hope that you get the Internet sorted out soon - it's a lovely window on the world for us all!; March 23, 2008 7:27 AM
sean.hanna said...: We're interested in moving to New Caledonia too and were wondering if you found a satellite internet company that works there.

Thank you,

Sean
California; March 29, 2008 4:49 AM
Anonymous said...: please send your mailing address so we can send you an invitation. hopefully it gets there before you leave to come to canada.
rusty737@shaw.ca
russ and nicole; April 3, 2008 1:48 PM
Anonymous said...: We need news...nothing since Feb 20th!! Dave you're slackin'

Cynthia & Wally; April 4, 2008 3:49 AM
Dieta said...: Hello. This post is likeable, and your blog is very interesting, congratulations :-). I will add in my blogroll =). If possible gives a last there on my blog, it is about the Dieta, I hope you enjoy. The address is http://dieta-brasil.blogspot.com. A hug.; April 5, 2008 5:39 AM

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New Caledonia Background

Background

Settled by both Britain and France during the first half of the 19th century, the island was made a French possession in 1853. It served as a penal colony for four decades after 1864. Agitation for independence during the 1980s and early 1990s ended in the 1998 Noumea Accord, which over a period of 15 to 20 years will transfer an increasing amount of governing responsibility from France to New Caledonia. The agreement also commits France to conduct as many as three referenda between 2013 and 2018, to decide whether New Caledonia should assume full sovereignty and independence.

Economy

New Caledonia has about 25% of the world's known nickel resources. Only a small amount of the land is suitable for cultivation, and food accounts for about 20% of imports. In addition to nickel, substantial financial support from France - equal to more than 15% of GDP - and tourism are keys to the health of the economy. Substantial new investment in the nickel industry, combined with the recovery of global nickel prices, brightens the economic outlook for the next several years.

Climate

New Caledonia has a semi-tropical climate, modified by southeast trade winds. It is often hot and humid. The islands are subject to tropical cyclones, most frequent from November to March. During winter (April to August) the daytime temperature is around 22 degrees. The water may still be warm, but it often feels too cool to really want to go swimming.

Noumea is a popular port of call for people sailing around the Pacific. Though most dare not sail during cyclone season.

People

The people of New Caledonia are multi-cultural with 42.5% Melanesian, 37.1% European, 20.4% other in population. The official language is French but at least 33 Melanesian dialects are used. The prominent religion is Roman Catholic with 60% practicing it.

Where is New Caledonia?

New Caledonia is the third largest island in the Pacific Region after Papua New Guinea and New Zealand. The island is situated about 1,500 km from Australia and same from Figi, 1,700 km from New Zealand, 5,000 km from Tahiti, 7,000 km from Japan, and more than 20,000 km from our home in Canada.

The Mainland

The mainland is where most people live, and which is the richest area of New Caledonia, is divided lengthwise by a range of mountains, Various species of trees can be found in these mountains.This unusual relief, very much like a backbone, divides the Mainland into 2 very different areas:

The East Coast, humid and open to the trade winds is a fertile, exotic land with lush tropical vegetation, green valleys, beautiful waterfalls, rivers, … and authentic Melanesian huts along the roads.

The West Coast, a drier, temperate zone. There are fewer coconut trees but "niaouli" trees grow by the thousands and the endemic wildlife is rich. It is "cattle country," shaped by people who live at the pace of their cattle. There is an abundance of beautiful beaches too.

Unlike its volcanic neighbors, New Caledonia is a fragment of an ancient continent which drifted away some 250 million years ago. Its flora and fauna evolved in isolation, and are now quite unique: 3500 recorded species of plants, three quarters of which occur only here; 4300 species of land animals, 1000 species of fish, 6500 species of marine invertebrates.

Five hundred kilometers long, fifty kilometers wide, New Caledonia offers an endless variety of landscapes, from some of the best white sand beaches in the Pacific to spectacular mountain retreats.

Surrounded by a 1,600 km long coral reef, New Caledonia also boasts the largest lagoon in the world. The reef can be as close as a few kilometers from the coast in some places and as far as 65 km in others - with an average depth of 40 m.

The Territory of New Caledonia consists of the Mainland, the Isle of Pines to the south of the Mainland, the Loyalty Islands to the east of the Mainland (Maré, Lifou, Tiga and Ouvéa), the Belep Archipelago in the north west and numerous islands and islets: Huon & Surprise, Chesterfield, Walpole, Beautemps-Beaupré, Astrolabe, and the Bellona reef, … a total surface of 19,000 sq km (16,372 sq km for the Mainland alone, which is 400 km long).

Trekking Greener Grasses

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

"GONE FISHIN"

9 comments:

New Caledonia Background

About Me

Counting from Nov./07

Where is New Caledonia?