South Pacific Books

Papa Mike's Palau Islands Handbook

Mike Hollywood

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The Republic of Palau is the westernmost archipelago in Oceania; it is renowned for it’s pristine lagoons and immense marine diversity. Palau’s marine community features over 800 varieties of hard and soft corals, over 1,500 fish species and over 100 varieties of sponges. Its waters feature two species of endangered turtle the green and hawksbill turtles as well as the most endangered marine mammal, the dugong. There are over 800 islands within its territory with over 50 marine lakes within those islands, each supporting its own diverse marine microclimate. The skies above Palau teem with over 140 varieties of birds representing 41 families and 16 endemic bird species. Palau natural wonders are world-renowned and it’s clear waters host an assortment of dive sites that are considered by experts to be among the finest on the planet. This guidebook is written in a relaxed style, full of helpful information, presented with a touch of humor and the author’s personal opinions. You will enjoy the lighter side of this well researched guidebook as you discover the natural beauty of these islands.

• The only guidebook devoted entirely to Palau, allowing more in depth coverage than other titles encompassing all of Micronesia.
• The most extensive and up to date listing of accommodations of any guidebook of the region, including photos, Website listings and E-mail addresses.
• Complete Inter-Island flight schedules and island ferry boat schedules.
• Extensive coverage of activities on each island. Diving, Fishing, Snorkeling, Kayaking, Surfing, Tours and Cultural Events.
• Over 40 maps and pictures.

Samoan Islands & Tonga (Multi Country Guide)

Paul Smitz

Amazon Price: $16.49 List Price: $21.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Lonely Planet Amazon Marketplace: 43 new & used starting at $8.45

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

LP is always very useful 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 11 people found this review helpful.

I have never liked how LP guides are arranged but have found them to consistantly have the best information [not perfect but better than other guides.] I wish they had not included Tonga as I am not going there and always travel as light at possible. The binding is not condusive to removing unwanted pages but I will remove the Tonga section anyway. I say, 'buy it!' but don't get bent out of shape should some info not prove to be correct.

Editorial Review:

Samoa, an idyllic travel destination in its own right, also contains the strongest and proudest of Polynesian cultures. US Samoa is an opportunity to see the melding of two cultures and the unique result, plus a chance to visit the "home" of Polynesia, in the mystical Ta'u island group. Tap into Apia's buzzing cafe scene or Nuku'alofas kava ceremonies. Whatever your island scene, take this bestselling guide along!

o A TRIPLE TREAT of Polynesian destinations: the kingdom of Tonga, the independent nation of Samoa, and the territory of American Samoa
o ELIMINATE THE GUESSWORK - whatever your accomodation choice, make your decision based on honest, opinionated reviews
o LEARN THE LOCAL LORE with expert culture, history and other background chapters written by authors who have actually lived here
o GET ACTIVE - or not: everything you need to know about snorkelling, diving, sailing, hiking and more

Lonely Planet Samoa : Independent & American Samoa (3rd Ed)

Dorinda Talbot

List Price: $14.95 By: Lonely Planet Publications Amazon Marketplace: 14 new & used starting at $2.95

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

The only book you'll need 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This book has everything you need to know when travelling to Samoa. Nothing is missed and you should be able to plan a long or short stay in Samoa. Everything is as described in the book and nothing is really out of date. The only problem is that some of the maps lack detail to be useful, however quality maps are available in Apia.

Very thorough coverage 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 4 people found this review helpful.

This book is PACKED with information! It is also a really great size (smallish) to tuck in my travel bag and take along to be sure not to miss anything on my first trip to Samoa. :o)

Great Travel Book 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This travel book on Samoa is full of information to help one maximize a trip to Somoa. It has some great descriptions of Samoan history and places of interest. I am worried though. I am worried that if ever go to Samoa I will not know how to properly act. The author of this travelogue time and time again warns the reader about Samoan cultural mores which should be followed. But I am afraid I will forget some of them and be a shameful traveler.

Editorial Review:

23 Maps

South Sea Tales (Oxford World's Classics)

Robert Louis Stevenson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Stevenson's retelling of Pacific island legends & stories 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Towards the end of Robert Louis Stevenson's life in the late 1880's, he had to move to the Pacific islands for his health. He managed to visit many of the most famous locales while there, including Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, the Gilberts, the Marshalls, and many besides these. He listened to and recorded both native legends and sailors' stories, besides creating a few original stories of his own.



The book contains the following stories: The Beach of Falesa, The Bottle Imp, The Isle of Voices, The Ebb-Tide: A Trio and Quartette, and two very short stories. The book also contains a very lengthy literary overview and critique of Stevenson's work, which I would recommend skipping until after you've read the book. Thankfully, it also contains a map, which you will repeatedly refer to.



The Beach of Falesa is about a European trader (Wiltshire) who takes up residence in the fictitious island of Falesa, whereupon he is hoodwinked by a fellow European (Case) into buying a worthless business and marrying an untouchable girl. Wiltshire then determines to unseat Case from his position of dominance among the natives, so he (Wiltshire) can make good on his business and restore his wife Uma to respectibility. This story like the others that follow are true character studies of both human weakness and resolve.



The Bottle Imp is the story of a native Hawaiian who gets his genie in a bottle to grant him his wishes. But though his wishes are made true and he wins the heart of the girl of his dreams, he becomes both arrogant and cursed with leprosy. He is believed to be a devil by his neighbors. Forced into exile with a wife who believes that he doesn't love her, he desperately seeks out the genie once more to cure his illness. Then he can be with her again, but at the price of external damnation. Or is there still a way out?



The Isle of Voices is also a story about greed and lust. One young Hawaiian man (Keola) yearns for a native girl, but lacks the material wealth for a comfortable marriage. So his girlfriend's father magically takes him to the mysterious and frightful Isle of Voices where treasure lies at his feet simply waiting to be picked up. Not sated with slight and trivial wealth, Keola determines to treacherously seize a vast fortune despite being ominously forbidden by the father. However, Keola's plan is overturned, and he is doomed to learn the secret of the Isle of Voices.



The Ebb-Tide is about three washed up derelict sailors of varying criminal aptitudes who take up the job of delivering an abandoned cargo ship to Australia. However, the ship's European company have all died of smallpox, and everyone believes the ship to be cursed. So, Herrick, Davis, and Huish let sail - but to sell the cargo themselves and then take up as pirates. As the trio complete their dangerous moral and legal fall into piracy and murder, they come upon a queer island loaded with wealth. But will they survive what lies ahead?



Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I wasn't engrossed in it. Skip the introduction, or you won't continue reading the book. Go straight to the stories. All the stories are good, but the Ebb-Tide is probably the best.

Editorial Review:

In South Sea Tales Stevenson shows himself to be a virtuoso of narrative styles. But beyond their generic diversity the stories are linked by their concern with representing the multiracial society of which their author had become a member. In this collection--the first to bring together all his shorter Pacific fiction in one volume--Stevenson emerges as a witness both to the cross-cultural encounters of nineteenth-century imperialism and to the creation of the global culture which characterizes the post-colonial world.

Where the Hell is Tuvalu?

Philip Ells

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Editorial Review:

How does a young City attorney end up as the People’s Lawyer of the fourth-smallest country in the world, 12,000 kilometres from home?

We’ve all thought about getting off the treadmill, turning life on its head and doing something worthwhile. Philip Ells dreamed of turquoise seas, sandy beaches and palm trees, and he found these in the tiny Pacific island state of Tuvalu. But neither his Voluntary Service Overseas briefing pack nor his legal training could prepare him for what happened there.

He learned to deal with rapes, murders, incest, the unforgivable crime of pig theft and to look a shark in the eye. But he never dared ask the octogenarian Tuvaluan chief why he sat immobilised by a massive rock permanently resting on his groin. Well, you wouldn’t, would you?

This is a story of a UK attorney colliding with a Pacific island culture. The fallout is moving, dramatic, bewildering and often hilarious.
• A hilarious journey to Tuvalu – a paradise island in the South Pacific and world’s fourth smallest country
• Inspiring story for anyone dreaming of leaving the rat-race behind
• Will appeal to all the fans of Bill Bryson

Tonga Islands by ITMB

International Travel Maps and Books

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Editorial Review:

Folded road and travel map in color. Scale varies. Distinguishes roads ranging from major roads (paved) to other roads (unpaved). Legend includes tracks, parks, accommodations, international/domestic airports, beaches, caves, churches, dive spots, gas stations, golf courses, hospitals/clinics, surfing sites, points of interest, post office, restaurants, ruins/archaeological sites, view points, campgrounds, cliffs, reefs. Includes inset map Neiafu and Nuku'Alofa.

21st Century Complete Guide to Tuvalu - Encyclopedic Coverage, Country Profile, History, DOD, State Dept., White House, CIA Factbook (Two CD-ROM Set)

U.S. Government

Amazon Price: $25.00 List Price: $25.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Progressive Management

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Editorial Review:

Completely updated and revised for this new edition, our unique electronic book on two CD-ROMs has an amazing collection of the finest federal documents and resources about Tuvalu, providing encyclopedic coverage of all aspects of the country. This disc set provides a truly fantastic reference source, with over one hundred thousand pages reproduced in Adobe Acrobat format! There is complete coverage of newsworthy material about Tuvalu, including U.S. relations, Peace Corps, Asia-Pacific Economic Update, agriculture, and more. This incredible and comprehensive series on the countries of the world contains material from the State Department, Department of Defense, White House, and cabinet agencies including Agriculture, Energy, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. There is complete information about geography, people, government, the economy, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues. In addition to the nation-specific material, as a bonus we have included reports about every country on the globe, with 271 nations, dependent areas, and other entities identified by the Central Intelligence Agency. The CIA World Factbook is considered an invaluable world encyclopedia reference book. This incredible two CD-ROM set is packed with over 100,000 pages reproduced using Adobe Acrobat PDF software - allowing direct viewing on Windows and Macintosh systems. The Acrobat cataloging technology adds enormous value and uncommon functionality to this impressive collection of government documents and material.

2007 Country Profile and Guide to Kiribati and Christmas Island (Kiritimati), Tarawa - National Travel Guidebook and Handbook - Battle of Tarawa, Agriculture (Two CD-ROM Set)

U.S. Government

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Editorial Review:

Completely updated and revised for this new edition, our unique electronic book on two CD-ROMs has an amazing collection of the finest federal documents and resources about Kiribati, providing encyclopedic coverage of all aspects of the country. This disc set provides a truly fantastic reference source, with over one hundred thousand pages reproduced in Adobe Acrobat format! There is complete coverage of newsworthy material about Kiribati, including extensive USAID coverage, Peace Corps, Battle of Tarawa in World War II, Tarawa memorial, USS Tarawa, agriculture, Kiritimati (Christmas Island), and more. This incredible and comprehensive series on the countries of the world contains material from the State Department, Department of Defense, White House, and cabinet agencies including Agriculture, Energy, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. There is complete information about geography, people, government, the economy, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues. In addition to the nation-specific material, as a bonus we have included reports about every country on the globe, with 271 nations, dependent areas, and other entities identified by the Central Intelligence Agency. The CIA World Factbook is considered an invaluable "world encyclopedia" reference book. This incredible two CD-ROM set is packed with over 100,000 pages reproduced using Adobe Acrobat PDF software - allowing direct viewing on Windows and Macintosh systems. The Acrobat cataloging technology adds enormous value and uncommon functionality to this impressive collection of government documents and material.

Time & Tide: The Islands of Tuvalu

Peter Bennetts, Tony Wheeler

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

stunning 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

beautiful photographic documentation of a nation that may soon be lost to global warming. an intimate portrait of a country and its people, culture and spirit.

simple review 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Mr Bennetts and Mr Wheeler chronicle the unique world of island life with a gentle touch of objectivity whilst acknowledging the charm of 'place' and the potential of subjective reaction by a reader. This book is a beautiful reminder that there are places other than your workstation -bigger skies than the ceiling grid and underfoot textures more surreal than nylon carpet. ENJOY!

Editorial Review:

Tuvalu is a Pacific nation of low-lying coral atolls and islands whose existence is threatened by climate change and rising sea levels. This book shows what will surely be lost as sea levels rise: the unique culture of Tuvalu, and an eco-system irrevocably erased. A moody and evocative portrait of a tiny island nation.

Diving and Snorkeling Guide to Palau (Lonely Planet Diving & Snorkeling Guides)

Tim Rock, Francis Toribiong

List Price: $14.95 By: Pisces Books Amazon Marketplace: 12 new & used starting at $3.65

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Don't Waste Your Money 1 out of 5 stars.
10 of 14 people found this review helpful.

Like all the Pisces dive guides I've read, this one is superficial and poorly illustrated. Don't waste your money on this lightweight and useless pamphlet masquerading as a dive guide.

very helpful in my u/w photography 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 6 people found this review helpful.

very helpful in telling me what to expect at various sites so i could decide which lens to put into my housing. Camera preparation cuts into my vacation time...and these books help get ready. So i always study them before i go. always.

Editorial Review:

8 Maps