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Risks and dangers
hibis, only
the reality. ON THE GROUND One can walk naked feet
everywhere if one wants : there are no snakes nor of scorpions !
There is a scolopendre well, but there or it
saw, you will be in shoes (forest, bush). On the lawn at the
edge of water,
be quiet, but as everywhere (including in
Metropolis) avoid stagnant water in the
shade.
- Unfortunately
there are cockroaches
! but they generally are
"treated" in Noumea, as well in private houses. Therefore, they are
still there and when the pulverization car runs, they sometimes be
fleeing inside as we could see on the inside wall of our hotel ! - Unfortunately,
there are ants
;
"electric ant" or " "honey
ant" for its
color, in New Caledonia and "small ant of fire" in
Tahiti/Polynesia
(Wasmannia auropunctata), whose
bites are painful ; it is said as
"awkward" and it's progression is watched.
IN THE GREAT
SOUTH : the
south of Nouméa consists of vivid yellow-red iron
chromium, in the shape of small grains extremely rolling and
cutting. Car
Hirers prohibit to leave the roads tarred because of the indelible
colour which is likely to mark the cars
(*); but beware of the
dog !! not for
its jaws, but for the colour it could have after!! Think at your
clothing, and prudence in the turns, even in the four wheel drive
car because some of them "drew" straight " forward in a turn
! You are on rollers !! (*) that's horrible
?? I saw this warning
when renting the car : don't scratch your car with a
scouring pad !! (I don't tell the name which was some
"scot...). Yes, some people try to cope with the colour of
the car in this way.. ON THE OPEN AIR - Unfortunately there
are mosquitos,
but they generally are "treated" in Noumea, as well in touristic areas.
However, in the
nature, they could be terrible; Experienced :
We never
were inconvenienced, even at the sunset, at Noumea, Papeete,
Bora. We perhaps had chance. If you travel by night in the
"bush", or in less touristic islands, take precautions (I
remember a breakdown the night in a pass who left us a
burning memory, fortunately without incidence for
health). The special
and expensive cream recommended and bought in Tahiti was
never useful, neither in Bora-Bora, in Tetiaroa, nor during
our stay in Nouméa or in the surroundings (Great
South and Island of the Pines). Polynesia: one sees sometimes
Polynesians covered with ugly and deep wounds on the legs,
sort of furuncles ; information obtained, they are infected
punctures of mosquitos - and not the corals as I believed -
because they scraped thelselves to the bone and Polinesians
do not cure themselves too much. Scars and spots on the skin
are frequent. - There are also
bees and wasps
but no accidents have been reported to my knowledge as in metropolis,
where the danger is much more significant than for the snakes, about
which one speaks much more. IN THE SUN islets ("îlots", or "motu" in
Polynesia).
SECURITY : Do
not wander around anywhere in the evening, especially in the
big cities (Tahiti, Nouméa) because of unemployment,
alcohol, sometimes hazardous control of certain conductors, especially on
weekend. Avoid the
isolated places (Tahiti). Alcohol, but hard drugs too are often at
the origin of the problems. In Tahiti, the rape is perhaps not
considered by Tahitiens as we consider it ourselves !! ; in
Caledonia, the natives also have a similar some problem when
they are drunk. Practically no really
frightening disease in PAPEETE, Nouméa, nor
elsewhere. In Nouméa, the mosquitoes " are treated "
by vaporisation in the streets. The hot and wet season
is more favourable to these small animals, which are are
particularly annoying just after nightfall. In the "bush" and
in some islands or "motu", it is better to protect oneself
against mosquitoes with a repellent and a mosquito coil. There
are also "nono", but only in two Marquesas islands and in
a few Tuamotu islands (could be terrible).
The frightening "gratte" (=ciguatera), is very rare :
prohibited fish species of fishing, hygiene and freezing
have reduced the risk. One treats it with antibiotics I
believe. The disease comes from certain algae which cover
the died corals, after having passed by fish, either
directly, or by their predatory. In all cases of
sudden fever, itching, sensitivity to water, consult without
delaying, even after your return.
First of all check out both the fuel level and the engine :
I'm not kidding, the failure is more frequent than one
could think (*).. Have signal rockets on board. Don't come back too late
(after the sunset) Two engines is more reassuring.
If
you have gasoline, of course. (*)
During our
stay, foreign people very experienced were located by a military
aircraft on a small island next one of the Loyautés
islands. It was what we call a big miracle. They were saved
thanks to the military staff who know these facts and look
closely the sea ; of course
they ran out of fuel !! SHELLS : do not walk on
the corals without reasons nor without shoes; You are likely
to be a destructor of nature and you can be seriously
wounded, either while slipping, or while crushing down a
coral "plate" straightforwardly up to the groin. The corals can
involve wounds which infect deeply (the Tahitians rub lemon
on their wounds). By the way, let also alone
the muraena, the fish surgeon, lion fish.. Nothing will jump
to your face because all the animals flee initially if you
do not drive back them.
The katuali
sea-snake, called "tricot rayé" (stripe knitting) in New Caledonia is
part of them. Preferably put on a diving suit with
hood (because of the jellyfishes with long poisonous
filaments (physalias); I felt once of them but it was light: a friend of me was badly stroke on
its back, half paralysed
and panicked. Fortunately, he was "paddling" in the good
direction, towards the shore. BE WARY OF THE
CURRENTS ESPECIALLY CLOSE TO THE CHANNELS (PASSES)
Information
- Hints, experienced
Risks and
dangers
Other
sites
(health, press, customs, sites information..)
It bites like all the ants but spade (dart) to inject its venom. This
ant exists for a long time but it seems to have proliferated a little
everywhere, in the gardens where it falls from the branches one passes
very close to or shakes, in "the bush" (New Caledonia). The culture of
the coffee-trees would have been given up by the kanaks partly because
of this small plague. Let us quote also the ant of Argentina
(Linepithema humile),
present in New Caledonia but not yet in Polynesia, very devastator.
With the precise details of Eric, Tahiti 2007.
- Flies and bees (Tahiti, Moorea
and Bora Bora); introduced by accident from the USA, the "pissing
flies"
(Cicadelles or Homalodisca coagulated),
who had made their appearance in Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora,
installed in the trees of which they pumped the sap until they "pisss"
a sticky liquid, are not any more to be feared after the
introduction
of Californian micro wasps particularly fond of them.
(Marianne, May 2004 and Le Figaro 06 2005). With the precise details of
Eric, Tahiti 2007.
Small islets
in new
Caledionia generally
have a superb vegetation but
rather short and they won't offer any
shelter from the sun. Don't forget at least your caps and
either
your sun tan cream ; keep coating thick every three
hours at the beginning. Amid
the sea, the sun is reflected from everywhere, even in the
shade. A towel could be appreciated to covers back and
arms. If you
want being enjoying your stay there, don't care of others people. You
would avoid staying at home suffering
Illness : dengue (mosquitoes), nono (sand
flies), ciguatera or gratte, in french
(fishes).The
news : New Caledonia, July 2001: the media
announced that a significant number of people have contacted
the "dengue" (see "WORDS at "dengue"), of which some
seriously. Is it an evolution ? this illness is told an
emergent one (spreading slowly). But don't worry too much in
touristic area.
The
last epidemics made some deaths, in Polynesia as in New
Caledonia (for this last case, the dengue made several
deaths in April 2003, especially in the north of the
territory, but tourists are not concerned in theory ; click
above on "Dengue"
The danger is rather
at sea and in the sea, while sailing, swimming or diving.
BOAT : general precautions of the experienced
navigators and
even much more due to the reefs that are rather frightening.. : be
wary of the tides because with one meter less, you don't
come back or crash. Learn well marines maps and enquire near
competent person.
DIVING : do not touch what you cannot identify, especially if that
looks like a stone. See lagoon
life
Hold the "cones"
you collect by the bas, the tip well pointed in front
of you because
some can launch tiny but frightening poisoned stinger, just
like the corals themselves. And do not put them in your pants
!
When
you are close to
the reef barrier, near a pass (channel), always check your drift compared
to the reef or the coast while letting you floating without
moving ; the current can be more strong than your flippers
(I have lived such bad experiment and a group of friends of
mine were thrown out of the reef with their
boat.
The tide plays
a determining role in the force and direction of the streams
in the pass. Before venturing there, enquire also after the
shift of the tides according to the place ! See
"experienced
stories".
Moreover
sharks appreciate sometimes to stay
there.
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