Vanuatu's about 3 hours flight from Sydney,Australia. It comprises 83 islands, about 200,000+ population and is an independent nation with own central bank and currency vatu. It's where bungee jumping got its idea from when movie maker went there and saw native islanders jumping from platform with vines tied to ankles.

Vanuatu (1995) 200 Vatu - Commemorative Note

While looking up some currencies, one currency caught my attention in Bloomberg's forex conversion calculator. The currency is shown as "Heard and McDonald Island - AUD". Quote Wikipedia "...... about two-thirds of the way from Madagascar to Antarctica, or 7718 km due south of Rajapur, Maharashtra, India. They have been territories of Australia since 1947, and contain the only two active volcanoes in Australian territory, one of which, Mawson Peak, is the highest Australian mountain. The group's size is 372 square kilometres (144 sq mi) in area......

The Chatham Islands may just be your destination you like total isolation and total wilderness. Located east of the South Island, the ‘Chathams’, as they are affectionately known, is approximately a 1 ¾ hour flight from Wellington or Christchurch!

Chatham Islands (2000) 15 Dollars - This is play money only, not legal tender!!

Fridtjof Nansen (1861 - 1930) was a Norwegian explorer, scientist and diplomat. Nansen was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922 for his work as a League of Nations High Commissioner. Read Feature Article

Norway (1977) 10 Kroner (front) - Portrait of Fridtjof Nansen

On January 11, 2008 Sir Edmund Hillary passed away at the age of 88. The New Zealander was the first person to conquer Mount Everest, the higest mountain in the world in 1953 together with his friend Sherpa Tenzing Norgay.

He has been an icon and shining example of a rugged adventurer and is the only Kiwi immortalised on New Zealand's 5 Dollar banknote while he was still alive in 1992.

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