Subject:

beach2008

With over one hundred islands in the South Pacific, French Polynesia is home to a slice of paradise. From larger islands like Tahiti, as well as more remote locales like Bora Bora, they all allow you to bask in the sun and get it away from it all...at a price.

A group of islands off the Eastern coast of Australia, the Whitsundays offer a relaxing holiday conveniently situated near one of the greatest dive sites in the world, the Great Barrier Reef. With one look at the aquamarine waters, it's easy to see why this is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Australia.

Located at the far northwestern tip of Australia, Darwin is part beach town and part capital city. You can have your cake and eat it too, as the beaches are pristine and the city is hoppin'.

Image: sektordua.

Tahiti has been spoiled for many years, but Bali is one of the few cultures with origins in one of the great ancient cultures which is still alive. -Arthur Erickson

Just one of thousands of islands (13,000 to be exact) that make up Indonesia, Bali has become renowned a little slice of heaven here on earth. This "Island of the Gods" offers pristine beaches, incredible vistas and a vibrant Hindu culture that leaves you reveling in its beauty.

We've been virtually crossing the globe for the past two weeks, checking out all of the sandy destinations we've longed to see while we're stuck at home in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Last week, we started out in the Mediterranean where we checked out Sardinia, Dubrovnik, and the Cyclades. And this week we've crossed into the Indian Ocean hopping from the island of Zanzibar, through the Seychelles, off to Sri Lanka, to the island of Phuket and we'll end up in Bali later today.

Located in southern Thailand, Phuket enjoys the distinction of being both its largest island and its most popular tourist destination. People flock to enjoy the sand, surf, and to party down. Although it was devastated by a tsunami back in 2004, Phuket has bounced back and remains an awesome place to visit.

Formerly known as Ceylon, Sri Lanka is well known for producing some of the best tea in the world. Unbeknownst to many travelers, it also has some of the best beaches.

While some of the most remote in the world, Seychelles' beaches are also some of the most beautiful. Hidden almost 1000 miles northest of Madagascar, this collection of 115 islands can satisfy even the most seasoned beach bum.

Image: pocarropilla.

"It is not worth the while to go round the world to count the cats in Zanzibar." -Henry David Thoreau

Floating to the east of Tanzania, Zanzibar is a grouping of islands well known for its spices, its monkeys (and cats), and more importantly, its beaches.

The Cyclades are a grouping of Greek Isles, located southwest of Athens and north of Crete. Gifted with ancient history and gorgeous climate, these islands have enough to hook almost anyone.