Beaches and Islands

The National Parks & Wildlife Department of Thailand announced that the beach at Maya Bay, on southwestern Thailand’s Phi Phi Le island, will be closed for four months starting June 1 to allow the sea environment to recover. This closure is set to occur annually. An environmental survey found that parts of the coral reef around the beach had been damaged and the amount of sea life had diminished.

After the beach reopens, visitors will be limited to 2,000 per day, and boats will no longer be allowed to anchor in the bay.

Nearly four centuries ago, in 1648, to be exact, a structure for birds was built for the lairds of the Hall of Rendall on The Mainland, which is the main island of Orkney, off the northeastern shore of Scotland. The location of the beehive-shaped structure, known as the Rendall Doocot and pictured in our February 2018 issue, was the challenge.

Tropical Cyclone Gita, the strongest storm ever in Tonga’s recorded history, made landfall on the islands of Tonga on Feb. 12 with winds over 145 miles per hour. 

The storm damaged infrastructure as well as multiple buildings on Tongatapu and ‘Eua islands, even destroying the island nation’s 100-year-old Parliament House. It is estimated that some areas may be without power or shelter for months. One person was reported killed.

During the storm, The nation opened up multiple evacuation centers across its islands to house residents. 

At the Ayers Rock Resort (phone +61 2 8296 8010, www.ayersrockresort.com.au), in central Australia, Astronomy Weekend will be held Sept. 14-16, 2018. Many events are scheduled, including astrophotography and lectures on Aboriginal astronomy and astrophysics. 

Entry to Astronomy Weekend is free for guests of the resort. Six hotels are located at the resort, with nightly rates for a double ranging from AUS220 to AUS2,800 (near $177-$2,248). A campground is also available.

In May 2017, my wife, Iris, and I started a 42-day trip to the South Pacific with an evening Air New Zealand flight from Los Angeles to New Zealand. 

While heading to India in October 2017, my travel buddy, Bob, and I had a stopover in Dubai, and we US citizens decided to try the visa-free trip to Kish Island in Iran. Details were scarce, so we went to Terminal 2 at Dubai International (DXB) and started asking questions.

While the office of Kish Airlines (en.kishairlines.ir) was not easy to find (ask around at desk 59 or 60 and someone will point out the door where you can begin the search), persistence paid off. A round trip cost AED735 (about $200), payable in cash, and we left on the next flight.

Held annually on Easdale Island in Argyll, Scotland, the World Stone Skimming Championships (www.stoneskimming.com) attract more than 200 of the best stone skimmers from around the world, along with many spectators. The 2018 event will begin at 12 p.m. on Sept. 23 at a pool in a former slate quarry.

56-day, 55-night tour by sea, air and rail, July 24-Sept. 18, 2018. Four back-to-back summer voyages plus short rail trips. Highlights: Embark ship in Louisbourg, Nova Scotia/through Newfoundland and Labrador for Gros Morne and Torngat national parks/in Nunavut territory, Baffin, Beechey and Devon islands, Prince Leopold Island bird sanctuary/in Northwest Passage, Victoria Island, Gibbs Fjord. From $55,000 ppdo. Ocean One Expeditions (38141 2nd Ave., Squamish, BC, CANADA; 604/390-4900, www.one oceanexpeditions.com).

After enduring three destructive hurricanes in late August and September, the Caribbean region is recovering. Though some islands suffered extensive damage to buildings, infrastructure and the landscape, 70% of the islands in the Caribbean suffered very little damage or no damage at all.