Calystaw

I love New Zealand with much of my heart. I truly want to ‘settle down’ there (for whatever thehek that means). Being there is truly like a time out of time

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a dreamlike place. Sure the country has is problems but they are miniscule in caomparison to the average city in America. It is a diverse place full of beauty, culture, and the potential for many, many good times. I lived in New Zealand for one year and I have been back to visit several times. I plan to buy a home there one day!

“A Miserbale Dump” is the way the Lonely Planet descibed the capital city/island Majuro, and I wish to God that I really took thsoe words to heart before I committed to spending a year of my life there. The whole country has been ruined environmentally, economically, culturally, and pyschologically due to the history of U.S. contact there (surprise)

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and of course the nuclear bombings that took place there. The negative affects have had and and continue to have generational impacts in the Marshallese peoples’ health, wealth and attitude. You may be standing on the shore in Majuro admiring the sunset and getting your feet wet when a diaper, refridgerator or beer bottle wash up

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no joke! There is trash and a somber sentiment everywhere you go. You will notcie that there are many Americans who have been there for years and years because they can make American dollars there

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but a large number of them seem to have a cryptic past that they are running from—so beware!

Some of the outer islands are sensational and far more beautiful that Majuro. Kwadjelin is a very typical but obsucre military base (not much bigger than a square mile or so), that apparently has more Ph.D.’s per square foot than anywhere else in the world being the home of the Reagan Ballisitc Missile Testing Base (Star Wars anyone?), and of which the locals have been relocated to the dismal island of Ebeye (less than 1/4 mile away) which is the closest rendition of hell on earth in my opinion. Many folks have been on “Kwadj” for over 20 years (how scary is that) and ‘happily’ continue to live there. Your chances of visiting Kwadj are slim unless you are official military personnel or connections with someone living or working there.

I love Fiji and I have traveled there many times. The people, the environment, the food—you can’t beat it! Fiji falls nothing short of a magical place that offers a beautiful lifestyle. I love the Nadi areas. I prefer the village life versus the touristy establishments. Whne you travel to Fiji you are sure to make friends quickly that will warmly welcome you into their life.