Tag Archives: Island Hammock

Let me tell you about the first time I ever came across the splendor of a coral reef. At the time I was going on a trip to Fiji. In fact, it wasn’t exactly a trip to Fiji but actually a prolonged stopover. I was traveling from Auckland to Los Angeles and they offered me a stopover in Fiji only for only $20. I took the chance immediately because I realized that I will never again have the chance to visit Fiji for $20. I had spent six months in rainy New Zealand and I wasn’t prepared for Fiji’s whether. I just couldn’t stop sweating. It was hard for me to adapt to eighty-degree weather and ninety percent humidity.

I was planning to do basically nothing while I was on the Fiji Island. All I dreamt about was to see the coral reef. I was going to stay a couple of days and to be specific four days. For any case, I took my packable hammock and some books. I spent the first night in Nadi. On the next day, I caught a bus and then a boat to one of the far islands. When I got to the island, I was surprised when I found that they had the hammocks already set up for me.

The island was very small but it was wonderful. It was so small that it took only three hours to walk all the way around the island. Only two resorts were situated on the island and they were next to each other. Rainwater collectors made up for the majority of fresh water available on the island because it was scarce. They switched off the lights at 10 pm and didn’t switch them on until morning because there was a single electricity generator on the whole island. I didn’t have a dive license and I was on the island for a short time so I had to choose a snorkel instead. I had heard many legends about Fiji’s diving but I had to give it up. I was so impatient to explore the coral reef. On the next of my stay on the island, I hired a snorkel and a pair of fins and I rushed to research the coral reef, which was in front of the resort.

I cannot describe how I felt when I dove into the warm water. It was wonderful. It was as if I was in a different world. I saw the coral reef! The coral reef was like an aquarium full of fish of all different colors and sizes. Oh, God, this coral reef was a mere miracle. I felt like I was in a full-sized model of a marine museum. Little neon-colored fish went in and out the coral reef. Large fish were guarding the shelf of the coral reef. Parrotfish were trying to ground on the coral reef. I dived all day long. I explored the coral reef all around the island. In the evening, I had my back sunburned and I couldn’t stand my salty hair. However, I was convinced that the next morning I would be exploring the coral reef again. Continue reading →

CRUISE… BEACHES… ISLANDS… FISHING!

Bay of Islands largely consists of around 75 islands scattered in the bay & several townships sprinkled along the coast. So what is it that makes it special?

Paihia proudly claims the title ‘Gateway to the Bay of Islands’ as indeed this is the central tourist hub and where you’ll find the majority of accommodations and amenities. Paihia is largely driven by the tourist trade and there is no shortage of souvenir shops and tours on offer.

Despite being overrun by tourists in peak season Paihia maintains some sense of dignity and really is beautiful and a great place to base yourself while you explore everything the area has to offer.

There are plenty of activities on offer and you’ll always find something to do whether that be a Bay of Islands Cruise… Fishing Charter… Scenic helicopter flight or Jet boat ride which sends you full throttle across the Bay of Islands at breakneck speed!

If you’re looking for more excitement then Bay of Islands can accommodate with Jet ski… Para sail Rides… and there are no less than 2 companies that will let you skydive over the beach.

Because of the Islands in the Bay, Paihia beaches are sheltered making for excellent swimming and water sports. You’ll find kayaks for rent as well as mountain bikes and skates. If you’re a fan of seafood Paihia has an abundance of mussels that appear at low tide and the bay is renowned for its excellent fishing with snapper regularly being caught in the Bay.

Dolphins are frequently seen and Orca Whales have been known to visit the Bay so keep your eyes peeled! There is every kind of tour imaginable on offer in the Bay of Islands., superb scenery, wonderful restaurants and accommodations to suit every budget… Happy summer days guaranteed! Continue reading →

A camping hammock is a great alternative to a camping bed for anyone who is camping and they make an excellent addition to your camping and outdoor equipment. When backpacking they are easy to transport and very lightweight. When folded up properly the camping hammock will only take up as much space in your backpack as a tennis ball and weighs only approximately 18 ounces. And when unfolded and hung correctly the hammock will give you as much sleeping space as any decent sized single bed. And do not worry if you are of the large-sized human being, These hammocks are able to support weights of up to 500 pounds which is more than enough tolerance for the majority of us.

When camping the majority of campers use a sleeping bag and tend to sleep on the floor. Some will use sleeping pads and a fine majority may use an inflatable bed. Now sleeping on the floor of a tent can prove to be rather uncomfortable and if you don’t use a sleeping pad it can be rather cold as well. However with a camping hammock these comfort issues are not a case to be dealt with. With the hammock the sleeper is elevated from the ground and will be kept both warm and dry as a result. There is no need for any insulation from the cold and sometimes damp ground and providing a sleeping bag or sleeping bag liner is used to sleep in when on the hammock, there is no fear of suffering from any sudden drop in temperature during the night.

The camping hammock has been slow to catch on as a useful piece of camping equipment but nowadays it’s popularity is increasing many fold amongst the outdoor set. Enough so for manufacturers to invest in a little research and design to come up with many more models for us to choose from. As well as being used to sleep in the camping hammock can be quite versatile and be used as a seat or even as storage space for food and equipment in any tent.

So when you next go camping give the hammock some consideration. They are extremely comfortable to sleep in, versatile in their use and are certainly easier to carry around in your backpack than a sleeping pad or inflatable mattress. They are not expensive to buy and when you are not using them for camping you can even set them up in your own garden to relax in and enjoy a long summer evening. Continue reading →

Well I guess I’ll start off by saying that history is an iffy subject. There are many opinions involved and many opinions left out. Some things are better left to our gut feeling which is almost always the best path to follow.

If you look in a dictionary you may see many different variations of the word hammock, depending on the version you look at I presume. This indicates how long it took the English language to figure out how to spell the word. The origin of the hammock swings I believe dates back to pre-Columbian antiquity, somewhere between southern Brazil and central Mexico. The hammock swings would be an ideal option for these types of climates. Just the fact that there off the ground with the wind being able to blow through and all around you would make one feel more pampered from the hot sun.

When the serendipitous tides brought Columbus to the New World, he saw hamacs of cotton on the Island of Exuma, near San Salvador in the Bahamas.* This would then catch on as a trend to the navies of Europe. One naval man in his Sailors World book, says: “Hammock: A swinging sea-bed, the undisputed invention of Alcibiades; but the modern name is derived from the carribs..”

These hammocks played an enormous role in the seventeenth and eighteenth century warships. First off the warships require a considerable amount of people and there habitations were limited to a narrow space in their sleeping quarters. The hammock swings allowed them to crowd the beds together as close as possible, sometimes as close as 14 inches. They strung the hammocks from one side of the ship to the other nearly throughout the whole length of the ship allowing the only passage through by leaning beneath them.

Another benefit of the hammock swings was the ease of taking them down in case of an emergency. When they were to battle with the canons they would have to quickly remove all the hammock swings and be ready for whatever it was. So these hammocks would allow the 3 decker ships to sleep 800 men fairly comfortably and then be ready to clear instantly for action.

The hammocks were also used to bury the deceased in the deep-sea below. They were sewn into the hammock swings and weighted with shot. They would have whatever ceremony they had and then dumped into the deep abyss.

Then late in the nineteenth century, more comfortable hammock swings were imported to Europe and the United States from Brazil and Mexico. They improved the style of the hammocks and then later on started using different materials for different levels of comfort and durability. We now have many varieties of hammock swings. They have seemed to become a symbol of leisure in our day. The gentle rocking motion seems to calm one down and help put your mind at ease. Continue reading →

Fiji island holidays are a popular choice for those looking for a great reason to sit back, relax and soak up the sunshine. Many people travel to Fijian islands every year and whether they are travelling by themselves, as a couple, with friends or with family there is plenty to do to keep everyone entertained.

Fiji consists of many small islands and townships and whilst many people choose to simply book into their resort of choice and relax by the pool with a cocktail and a good book, there are those who prefer to get out and explore what is on offer. Here we talk about some things that you might like to consider doing on your Fiji island holidays.

VITI LEVU

Viti Levu is the largest island in the Fiji island group. Nadi, Suva, Denarau Island, Lautoka and Rakiraki are all situated on this island. Viti Levu is also home to the Coral Coast mentioned below too.
Here you can enjoy:

- Captain Cook Cruises
- PJ’s Ultimate Sailing & Snorkelling Experience
- Sri Siva Subramaniya Temple
- Municipal Handicraft Centre
- Colo-I-Suva Forest Park
- The Mana Spa
- Tomb of Udre Udre

CORAL Coast

The Coral Coast consists of places such as Sigatoka, Pacific Harbour and Namatakula.

Here you can enjoy:

- The Sigatoka River Safari
- Kula Eco Park
- Tavenui Hill Fort
- Aqua-Trek Shark Encounter
- Arts Village
- Dannys Village Day Tour

VANUA LEVU

Fiji’s northern island and second largest is Vanua Levu which is home to Savusavu.

Here you can enjoy:

- Tui Tai Expeditions
- Rock’n Downunder Divers

YASAWA ISLANDS

Situated in the western division of Fiji the Yasawa Islands and is home to Eight Month Beach.

MAMANUCA ISLANDS

The Mamanuca Islands consist of Mana Island, Beachcomber Island and Qalito Island.

Here you can enjoy:

- South Beach
- Sunset Beach
- Sea Trek Fiji
- Castaway Island Day Trip

Which activities you choose to participate in will depend on how long you are visiting Fiji and where you base yourself. As mentioned above many just enjoy doing nothing but relaxing on the beach in the sun or by the pool at their resort. Whatever you choose to do is completely up to you, a Fiji island holiday is the perfect opportunity to create some great memories, take some fantastic photos and do all the things that you love or have dreamt of doing for some time. Continue reading →