The islands of French Polynesia form a bright green chain, set against
the blue of the Pacific. Also known as "the isle of love", Tahiti is the
largest of the group of 118 islands. Tropical rainforests, cascading
waterfalls and the two volcanoes rising to a height of 2.000 metres
mark this most idyllic of the islands. Brought to vivid, stylised,
impressionistic life by the painter Paul Gauguin, the islands became
the early 20th-century's idea of a romantic, South Sea paradise. Today
the aura of South Sea romance still touches Tahiti, complementing the
flair and elan of the island's French colonial past.
On Tahiti, there is no need to worry that your holiday might be spoiled
by rain. Even in the somewhat wetter season, which runs from November to
April, there are still plenty of sunny days.
New arrivals barely have the chance to leave the aeroplane before the first friendly Bula!
booms out in their direction. "Bula!" - "Hello, how are you?" is a magical word on the
Fiji Islands. Indeed, there is no better expression of the islander's warm and welcoming nature.
With a cheery Bula!, even complete strangers can win an answering smile from any islander.
What distinguishes Fiji from many South Sea ilses is the unspoiled jungle that covers 65 per cent
of the island. For anyone who is just as keen to explore the interior of the island as the beaches,
there are mountain hikes, boat rides, horseback trekking, rafting and much more to enjoy.
Big Island, otherwise generically known as Hawaii, is the largest of the six Hawaiian Islands.
The scenery on Big Island is astonishingly varied. High up in the mountains, snow regularly falls
in the winter. With its rainy seasons, the east coast is well known for its abundance of orchids.
An impressive dry region stretches across the south, while the valleys of the north are fertile
farmland. Towering over the island are five volcanoes, of which Mauna Loa and Kilauea are still
active.
Off all Hawaiian islands, Maui is said to offer the richest diversity. It became famous mainly
because of the legendary sunset above the Haleakala crater, which captivates even the less
romantic, and because of the Pacific that surges here towards the coast and made the island
a surfer's Mecca. Numerous opportunities on land, rugged mountains from which roaring waterfalls
tumble into the valleys and Lahaina, the former capital of the Hawaiian kingdom, are an alternative
if water sports are not your thing.
