Cocos (Keeling Islands) Part 2 - WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Airing Date: Jun 19th, 2006
Take in the breathtakingly beautiful sunsets or admire the kaleidoscope colours of the lagoon and fringing reef. Imagine yourself swimming with the dolphins or snorkelling with the manta rays. Catch your own catch of the day whilst lazily cruising around in the glass bottom boat or perhaps take a trip to one of the many isolated islands in the southern atoll when the tides are high...
The Cocos (Keeling) Islands (CKI for short) are located in the middle of the Indian Ocean some 2750km north-west of Perth, and 900km west south-west of Christmas Island - its' closest neighbour. Cocos in the humid tropical zone, however, their tiny size means that they don't tend to attract the big rains, hurricanes or high humidity that visit other places (such as Christmas Island). Well, so the locals say anyway! They say that the narrowness and flatness of the islands mean that the clean sea breezes keep the air moving and the temperature fairly steady. And if you're wondering why they have the Keeling bit in brackets - there's another Cocos Islands in the world (in the Caribbean), so this differentiates them.
Unlike most holiday island destinations the Cocos (Keeling) Islands don't have huge resorts, shopping centres, restaurants, gift shops or many organised activities. If these are high on your list of priorities, then perhaps Cocos may not be the holiday destination for you. Tourism on the Islands is uncomplicated and simplistic which enhances its beauty and the islands' uniqueness. West Island is ideal to explore by push bike or by hiring a vehicle where travel is done along palm fringed roads and tracks which take in the natural beauty of the Island. Stop along the way to enjoy the peace and tranquility of this unspoilt tropical paradise.
Swim at Trannies Beach, one of the two most popular swimming beaches on West Island, or when the tide is low, treat yourself to a reef walk from Scout Park to Pulu Maraya, a small uninhabited island located at the southern end of the atoll. Just a ferry ride across the lagoon is Home Island where the majority of residents are Cocos Malays. The first group of settlers brought to the islands were predominately Malay with a number of people of Chinese, Papuan and Indian descent. The people came from such places as Bali, Bima, Celebes, Madura, Sumbawa, Timor, Sumatra, Pasir-Kutai, Malacca, Penang, Batavia and Cerebon.
The society that exists today has been held together for eight generations by its very isolation, shared economic endeavour, strong family loyalty, a deepening commitment to Islam and their unique version of the old Malay language of the East Indies. Theirs has been a world sealed off from the outside by geography, politics and language. Few outsiders have lived among them and very little has been recorded of their cultural practices and traditions.Sample the wonderful, spicy Malay cuisine at the local restaurant or take a picnic lunch and sit under the canopy of one of the huge Calophyllum trees that grace the foreshore. As the Cocos Malays are devout Muslims, please dress conservatively to avoid offence.
While on Home Island you can visit the local Museum and become familiar with the chequered history of Cocos (Keeling) Islands and all the details relating to Australia's first Naval victory: the sinking of SMS Emden, a notorious German raider. Oceania House, the former residence of the Clunies-Ross family, is also here.
Further Information
11 night package from $1458 a person, based on twin share. Price includes taxes. Subject to fluctuation. Conditions apply.
Includes return flight from Perth & accommodation.
Island Bound Holidays
(08) 9381 3644
1800 804 420 (from outside WA)
Prices correct at 19/6/06
Qantas one way to Perth from:
$271 ex Adelaide
$284 ex Melbourne
$301 ex Sydney
$353 ex Brisbane
Prices available online and include surcharges, fees & taxes, subject to fluctuation. Conditions apply.
Prices correct at 25/5/06
www.qantas.com
