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 | New Caledonia Local Customs | Tips 1 - 10 of 21 |  | ||
Popular Local Customs | Miscellaneous Local Customs Tips | All Tips (21)
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 | Traditional Festivals |    |  |
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 |  on July 11, 2006 |
Festivals offer a unique chance to see traditional costumes and dances of the Kanak. Interestingly, these are not usually performed for tourists, except in a few places regularly visited by cruise ships. If you are interested in catching an authentic festival, start by asking at all three provincial tourism offices in Noumea, and also keep your eyes open while travelling around the country - upcoming events are often advertised on big banners. |
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| Kanak Art | | |
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| on July 11, 2006 |
While no match for the fantastically varied art forms found in Papua New Guinea or even Vanuatu, the Kanak do have their own, distinctive styles of carving. It is still seen decorating traditional homes and is occassionally available for sale, though the best examples are to be found in museums these days. |
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| Christianity | | |
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| on July 11, 2006 |
Like in the rest of the South Pacific, the Church has a strong influence on the life of New Caledonia, too. Two-third of the population is Catholic, and churches are busy on Sundays. If you catch a major religious ceremony like the one on this photo I came across in Koumac, you are in for a rather colorful event! As a side-note, New Caledonia's churches are some of the finest in the Pacific architecturally. |
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| Road-side Honesty Stalls | | |
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| on July 11, 2006 |
Nothing sums up the honest nature of the Kanak people better than the charming little roadside stalls selling fruit, shells and handicrafts throughout the Kanak inhabited areas of Grande Terre, especially along the North-East coast. These simple little sheds display a few items for sale along with the prices (usually very low), and a small box where you put your money. The system seems to work here - nowhere else in the Pacific have I come across it though. |
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| Polynesians in New Caledonia | | |
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| on July 15, 2006 |
The relative wealth and the number of jobs generated by New Caledonia's nickel-mining industry have attracted lots of migrants here from France's two Polynesian colonies: French Polynesia (aka Tahiti) and Wallis & Futuna. Most of these Polynesians have settled in and around Noumea. While they live a non-traditional lifestyle here, Wallisians often dress up in traditional garb (as on the photo) when travelling between Wallis and New Caledonia, and Tahitians often perform their famous dances both for tourists and at local festivals. |
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| Traditional architecture | | |
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| on July 11, 2006 |
Traditional Kanak houses, or "case" are unique in the South Pacific, often reminding savy visitors more to villages of Africa. They have a round floor-plan and a tatched, conical roof, and often carvings on the top and flanking the doorways. Such tribal architecture remains commom in the north-east of Grande Terre and the Loyalty Islands, though these dwellings will almost always stand alongside more modern homes in a village. You can actually stay in such houses here! |
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| Speak a few words of French | | |
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 |  on June 26, 2003 |
I know this is a good tip for every country , but especially in the outer islands just being able to speak the basics is very important, as the further you go away from Noumea the less people will speak English . note: most of the non-tourism industry locals do not really speak english, and definately not other european languages. However at nearly every hotel English and Japanese are understood, at the backpackers the owners speak Dutch - but most people in the outer islands do not speak any other language than French. New Caledonia on a whole is very friendly, in the Loyalty Islands expect people to wave to you - really cool, maybe the friendliest places you will ever go - though that depends on you as well. |
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| Polenesian Dancers I | | |
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 |  on April 18, 2003 |
As part of the Amedee Island day trip, we were treated to a performance of Polenesian singing and dancing. Sure, the whole show was 'specially put on for us tourists, but I really enjoyed it and I didn't feel like it was commercial. It was held in just a simple hut, with simple instruments. |
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| I thought I'd be picking up... | | |
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| on September 8, 2002 |
I thought I'd be picking up cultural tips from French speaking Islanders, but it turned out to be more Japanese shop traders (whose French was accented and difficult for a student). Still, shopping is a universal language. |
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| When you are going to Noumea,... | | |
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 |  on August 26, 2002 |
When you are going to Noumea, you should visit the Cultural Centre there. It is an interesting building. It is between a lots of trees in a park. You have to take the bus to get there. I remember 10 buildings (you can see them on the photo). You can entry there to see some different things of the culture of New Caledonia. There is a museum and something like this. |
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More New Caledonia Tips
| Overview | General Tips Tips: 26 - Photos: 20 |
| Restaurants Tips: 7 - Photos: 5 | Hotels and Accommodations Tips: 20 - Photos: 12 |
| Things To Do Tips: 41 - Photos: 28 | Nightlife Tips: 6 - Photos: 3 |
| Off the Beaten Path Tips: 18 - Photos: 17 | Tourist Traps Tips: 4 - Photos: 2 |
| Warnings or Dangers Tips: 6 - Photos: 1 | Transportation Tips: 22 - Photos: 10 |
| Local Customs Tips: 21 - Photos: 15 | Packing Lists Tips: 10 - Photos: 5 |
| Shopping Tips: 4 - Photos: 3 | Sports Travel Tips: 9 - Photos: 8 |
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