Cute little corner on the edge of the planet

I’ve been flying around in Google Earth lately, usually just before bedtime, and I really don’t need to emphasize how much the combination of Google Earth and Panoramio can tell more bedtime stories then a smiling grandma, or a turned on TV set… What is weird here is my preference to browse remote areas, far away from the usual tourist attractions, far away from the city bright lights… Deserts in Utah, small towns in Alaska, Japan suburbs, small island nations, etc. – they all have a story to tell, and just by watching some of the nearby Panoramio photos (probably uploaded by their enthusiastic inhabitants) gives me the impression of how similar our lives are, and yet how exciting their overall simplicity can be. A while ago, I discovered a small island nation named Tuvalu. Nobody has probably heard of it, but here’s a hint: the .TV TLD was assigned to this country, but since it only has about 12,000 citizens, the government decided to lease it for use to the major domain registars, so that TV stations can get a piece of the action. (e.g. www.twit.tv)

This nation consists of a few islands, but the one with the main capitol on it (Funafuti) is what grabbed my attention. It’s surrounded by nothing but salt water, and yet a fully functioning city thrives within! Electricity, phone lines, the internet  - the works. All that on a small speck of dust on the world map. The only means of travel to this little island is by boat, or by a small plane, which reminds me - Funafuti has an airport, and the runway takes a big chunk of it’s main territory for just being there. But it’s still a necessity, since all of the major supplies are usually transferred by air.

Moving outside the city, passing the police station, the local elementary school, the city hospital (take a look at the Panoramio pics, it’s *actually* a hospital, I kid you not), etc. is a narrow road, with a few houses surrounding it… What is the big deal about this? Well, the ocean is in everybody’s back yard! The narrow path in the Funafuti suburbs is so narrow, that on some parts, the water comes splashing down on the road pavement itself! “Hey neighbor, wanna do a barbecue and have a dip after work?” Now that’s a sweet neighborhood!

What’s even more interesting is that I could basically walk to the other parts of the island on foot during low tide! I can imagine that everybody feels as if they are about to sink, or that they are living on a boat, but that’s still living. In my humble opinion, that little dot on the face of the planet should be a main tourist attraction for anybody who literally wants to leave it all behind and enjoy him/herself, and also help out this small country take care of itself – it surely doesn’t need much to get it humming, as it has already proven. If I ever get a chance, I won’t hesitate to visit this oasis in the middle of the ocean.

Coordinates for Funafuti, Tuvalu: 8°31'29.66"S 179°11'46.98"E

3 comments March 2nd, 2009