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Very detailed travelogue on visiting the remotest inhabited islands in the world: Tristan da Cunha and St. Helena, as well as S. Africa, Malaysia and Singapore, and Indonesia. Very informative, full of tips, history, what it was like to visit and stay there, indexed by country. Visit my webpage for this and other downloadable travelogues: http://www.tcp.com/~lgreenf
These are fascinating islands. Tristan has only 238 people, all with same 7 last names.
Remotest Islands in World St Helena, Tristan da Cunha + S Africa Malaysia, More
Larry2006-05-27 03:40:04
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harbor improvements, allowing
others to come in to fish -- but it was a big mistake, as there was a lot of
overfishing).
Besides the RMS, the SA Agulhas research vessel, and the two fishing
ships, about 4-5 cruise ships a year call on Tristan, with most stopping for
1-2 days... budget negotiations on the island are quite easy, as the island
is self-supporting with the fishing royalties and high interest from the £3
million... there are 5 working satellite phones on the island, with the
first having arrived in 1994 (before which only radio was used): 2 lines on
INMARSAT "A" (including the one internet account for the island, as this is
the fastest -- albeit most expensive connection), 2 "M" suitcase phones, and
1 "Mini M" phone (the local payphone). If someone wants to call overseas,
they have a choice of using the radiophone to Cape Town (cheap, but crackly
and not private), the Mini M phone (at US$2.56/min) or using INMARSAT "A"
(£4-£5/min).
While St. Helena has a high unemployment rate, there is full employment
on Tristan (seen to by the Island Council). The Council is made up of 11
members (8 elected and 3 appointed), of which at least one must be a woman
(though Bryan was happy to see a few women on the Council) -- the one who
receives the most votes (and opts to take on the job) is appointed Chief
Islander (currently Jimmy Glass). Members serve a 3 year term, the Council
has 6 committees (Education, Health, Agriculture, Natural Resources, etc.)
which advise it, and each October the 11 different government departments
submit what they need to the Council and Administrator for approval... all
in all, 140 people work for the government at least part time, 25 work at
the fish factory full time (about 100 more join in on fishing days), and the
rest are pensioners, teachers, housewives or kids... 25% of the island
population
...
See photographs from:
Indonesia Gallery
,
Malaysia Gallery
,
Saint Helena Gallery
,
Singapore Gallery
,
South Africa Gallery
