Heavy rainfall through December 2008 and January and February 2009 caused flooding in the Solomon Islands, particularly on Guadalcanal and Savo Island, where homes and bridges were destroyed. In Guadalcanal, nine people were reported dead and more than a dozen missing.
A state of emergency was declared in the Marshall Islands, in the Western Pacific, after they were swamped by huge waves three times in two weeks in December. Hundreds of islanders’ homes were destroyed or flooded and plantations were ruined. The capital, Majuro, rises only a meter above sea level.
The five Caribbean islands that make up the territory of the Netherlands Antilles, in the West Indies, have voted to change their status and, as of Oct. 10, 2010, no longer will be one political unit.
Curaçao and Sint Maarten will govern themselves as autonomous countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
A key leader of the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, based in the Philippines, was among those killed by Philippine troops on a remote southern island in February. The militant leader was involved in the kidnapping of 21 people from a resort in Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia, in 2000.
Because of possible reprisals, the US Department of State is urging caution in areas of eastern Sabah, including the town of Semporna and the islands of Mabul and Sipadan.
13 days/11 nights, Oct. 10-22, 2010, includes folk dancing with choreographer Lee Ottherholt plus four-day island cruise. Highlights: Athens/archaeological sites at Delphi, Epidaurus/cliff monasteries of Meteora/Mykonos/Kus¸adası, TURKEY/Rhodes. Land $2,985. From New York, $3,495. Single supp., $595. Three-day Santorini extension, $595.
Jim Gold International (Teaneck, NJ; 201/836-0362).
Eight-day/seven-night walking tour of IRELAND (“moderate level”; longest day, four to six hours). Departures through Oct. 2. Highlights: Cliffs of Moher/walk along “Famine Trail”/prehistoric forts on Inishmore, Aran Islands. Land, $2,095. Single supp., $325.
Active Journeys (4891 Dundas St. #4, Toronto, ON, Canada M9A 1B2; 800/597-5594).
Nine-day/eight-night cruise-tour, Dec. 20-28, 2010. (Children eight-plus.) Highlights: Tour Quito, ECUADOR/frigate birds, boobies, iguanas on North Seymour Island/sea lions and albatross on Punta Suarez/snorkel with sea lions and turtles at Santiago Island. From $10,495. Single supp., from $6,995.
Butterfield & Robinson (70 Bond St., 3rd Floor, Toronto, ON, M58 1X3, Canada; 866/551-9090).
Nine-day/seven-night cruise aboard Lord of the Glens. Highlights: Embark Inverness/Culloden Field/Loch Ness/West Highland Railway to Glenfinnan/Duart Castle/island of Iona/Isle of Skye. Cruise only, from $6,290, double; from $7,690, single. Lindblad Expeditions & National Geographic (New York, NY; 800/3973348466).
Seven-day/six-night tour of AUSTRALIA. Highlights: From Brisbane, ferry to Moreton Island and Tangalooma Wild Dolphin Resort/feed dolphins, snorkel, hike/in the Glass House Mountains, stay on a working farm/at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, cuddle koalas, feed kangaroos. Land, $1,675. Children under 12, $1,070. Single supp., $410.
Kumuka Worldwide (Level 5, 387 George St., Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia; toll-free from US, 800/517-0867).
13 days/11 nights. Highlights: Fly to Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA, then to Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve/game drives for the Big Five/in MOZAMBIQUE, stay in beach resorts in Pembo and on Matemo Island and Medjumbe Island. With air from New York or Washington DC, from $7,299. Single supp., from $1,640.
Lion World Tours (33 Kern Rd., Toronto, ON, M3B 1S9, Canada; 800/387-2706).