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How
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island ?
Services
in the Isle
Handicrafts
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activities
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Information
Office
Point I :
Just 50m. in front of the church,
in the village square, Vao, is
Point I. It is staffed by a
well-travelled Kunie, Marie-Jeanne,
who, in addition to her own native
language, speaks English, French,
Italian, Czech and Polish.
Office
hours are from
8-11.30am and 2-4pm, Monday to
Friday and Saturday am.
Tel.
(687) 46 10 27 |
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Where
is Isle ? |
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Geography
situation
Map
of Isle
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The
climate |
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The
best season ?
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Flashback |
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April 2001
July - Sept. 2001
October - Nov. 2002
January 2002
August 2002
February 2003
April 2004
September 2004
March-April-May
2005
September 2005
December 2005
March 2006
October 2006
August-September
2007
February - March
2008
September 2008
July 2009
April 2011
October 2012
April 2013
Mars 2014
January 2015
January 2016
October 2016
October 2018
January 2020
May 2020
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Press
(french) |
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Revue
2000 - 2001
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Edition
•
OCTOBER
2016 |
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HILARY
ROOTS (or Cleo)
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•
NOUMEA : Before or After Isle of
Pines
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Whether
you're on a cruise, yachting, or
holidaying by plane, there are some
discreet gems in the capital,
Noumea, that give a deeper insight
into New Caledonia. They're places
to visit on foot, in your own time.
PHILATELY
One subtle, decades-old way to learn
about a country, is to collect
stamps.
Old-fashioned, you might say. Yet
New Caledonia is a philatelist's
haven.
The South Pacific French territory
issues between ten and twenty new
stamps each year, highlighting flora
or fauna, commemorating historical
events and buildings or new
developments such as a recent
powerful telescope, or honouring
personalities who've marked the
island country's development. The
most recent, September 2016,
features biologist, Doctor
René Catala, revolutionary founder
of the Noumea Aquarium in 1956.
Collectors' items, always
accompanied by the issue of a first
day cover, the stamps vary in sizes,
designs and values.
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The
attractively-presented,
philately centre in New
Caledonia's Post-Office Shop, CALEDOSCOPE, is
in the middle of town, a stone's
throw from where most cruise
ships dock. The Philatelists'
corner prides itself on speaking
English and accepts Australian
and New Zealand dollars, as well
as yen, euros and local francs.
Address
: 5 Rue Anatole France,
Noumea.
Open
: Mon. - Fri. 7.45 am - 3.30
pm
or
consult : www.caledoscope.nc
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A
pearly Nautilus shell carved by a
French convict in New Caledonia,
late 19th century. Stamp issued in
May 2016. |
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A
BOOKSHOP
A centuries-old means of learning
about a country is through books.
Browse amongst the broadest
collection of old and new
publications on New Caledonia in
Librairie Caledo Livres, handily
situated on the town's main square,
Place des Cocotiers. If you read
French, all the better, however some
books are in English. Ask either
Patricia or Cathy for help.
Address : 21 Rue Jean Jaurès.
Open : Tuesday to Friday : 8.30
am - 5 pm, Saturday : 8.30 am
- 1 pm. |
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THE
MARKET / Le Marché
The bay next to the central shipping
quay is La Baie de la
Moselle. Here, early mornings
till about 11, Tuesday to Sunday, is
the city's main market for fruit,
vegetables and fish. It's a window
on the multi-ethnic diversity that
makes up New Caledonia's identity -
Vietnamese, Javanese,
Caledoche (mixed blood
Caledonians), Melanesian, Tahitian,
European - the sights and smells of
their produce reveal the authentic
side to local life.
Step into the adjoining pavilion for
a fruit juice, or coffee and
croissant, often accompanied at the
weekend by strumming of a Tahitian
ukulele or two. Here you'll find
various handicraft and souvenir
stalls as well. |
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MARITIME
MUSEUM
There can be an upside to docking in
the austere container shipping
terminal - a wonderful museum
devoted to New Caledonia's rich
maritime history, its explorers,
traders, migrant and commercial
links, as well as shipwreck
adventures. The hands-on,
interactive displays are explained
in English and French and are
particularly welcoming to young
learners.
Visitors to Noumea often ignore or
simply walk right past this window
on New Caledonia, yet an hour or two
here is time well spent.
Address : 11, Avenue James Cook.
Open : Tuesday to Sunday : 10 am - 5
pm.
Adults : 500 fr, Children 6 - 18
& Seniors over 60 : 250 fr.
Note : Aust. & NZ $s accepted. |
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THE
NEW CALEDONIA MUSEUM
Another excellent museum, often
overlooked by visitors and locals
alike, is Le Musée de
Nouvelle-Calédonie - the New
Caledonia Museum, right in the
middle of town, not far from the
market mentioned above. Huge
carvings, ancient rock drawings and
pottery dating before Christ are
some of the local displays. The
second floor features arts and
cultures from elsewhere in Oceania,
then outside, at the rear is a
surprising alley of Araucaria pines
(the species specific to Isle of
Pines) fronting a huge, traditional,
thatched Melanesian hut. An hour or
two can slip by easily in this
engaging museum.
Address : 45 Avenue Foch, Quartier
Latin
Open : Every day, except Tuesday and
Public Holidays : 9 am - 11.30 am
& 12.15 - 4.30 pm
Adults : 200 fr, Children under 12
free, 12 - 18 year-olds &
Seniors over 60 & handicapped
visitors: 50 fr. |
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