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of various species. Eight species or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subspecies">subspecies</a> of seabirds nest on it. The most numerous is the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-footed_booby">red-footed booby</a>, which nests in colonies, using trees on many parts of the shore terrace. The widespread <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_booby">brown booby</a> nests on the ground near the edge of the seacliff and inland cliffs. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbott%27s_booby">Abbott’s booby</a> (listed as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered">endangered</a>) nests on tall emergent trees of the western, northern and southern plateau rainforest, the only remaining nesting habitat for this bird in the world.</p></blockquote><blockquote id="dc2f"><p>Another endangered and endemic bird, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_frigatebird">Christmas frigatebird</a>, has nesting areas on the northeastern shore terraces. The more widespread <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_frigatebird">great frigatebirds</a> nest in semi-<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deciduous">deciduous</a> trees on the shore terrace, with the greatest concentrations being in the North West and South Point areas. The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_noddy">common noddy</a> and two species of bosun or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropicbird">tropicbirds</a> also nest on the island, including the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Bosun">golden bosun</a> (<i>P. l. fulvus</i>), a subspecies of the white-tailed tropicbird that is endemic to the island.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Island#cite_note-93">[92]</a></p></blockquote><p id="995c">Sadly, as I made my visit to Christmas Island at such a young age, I don’t remember it as clearly as I would like. It’s the kind of place that I would love to return to now because I know that I would take more time to appreciate the flora and fauna around me. However, based on the picture below, it looks like Christmas Island tired me out as it was.</p><figure id="9749"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*ZW8fT1Gx7R7l9lxNwYfuew.jpeg"><figcaption>A tough day traveling. Funny that I have a photo of me sleeping but not one of the crabs! Photo Credit: Author</figcaption></figure><p id="66c3">If I were to go back, I would certainly time my visit to witness the crab migration. But for now, I will have to do as most do, just watch it on video, reliving the experience through others’ eyes.</p> <figure id="76d1"> <div> <div> <img class="ratio" src="http://placehold.it/16x9"> <iframe class="" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FFOrQc3lxiBQ%3Ffeature%3Doembed&display_name=YouTube&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DFOrQc3lxiBQ&image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FFOrQc3lxiBQ%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=a19fcc184b9711e1b4764040d3dc5c07&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" width="854"> </div> </div> </figure></iframe></div></div></figure> <figure id="ac3d"> <div> <div> <img class="ratio" src="http://placehold.it/16x9"> <iframe class="" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2Fmw42F2YMRLU%3Ffeature%3Doembed&display_name=YouTube&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dmw42F2YMRLU&image=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2Fmw42F2YMRLU%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=a19fcc184b9711e1b4764040d3dc5c07&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" width="854"> </div> </div> </figure></iframe></div></div></figure><p id="b437">Thanks for joining me in my favorite C destination. I am sorry that I don’t have more photos available to share!</p><p id="eced">The A-Z Favorite Travel Destinations challenge was started by <a href="undefined">Sam Millichap</a> and has now been accepted by many writers. Read some other writers' favorite C’s:</p><p id="f2fb"><a href="undefined">Darren Weir</a></p><div id="0e82" class="link-block"> <a href="https://medium.com/globetrotters/cruising-the-c%C3%B4te-dazur-498e0af3d802"> <div> <div> <h2>Cruising The Côte d’Azur</h2> <div><h3>A to Z of my favorite travel destinations — C is for Cote d’Azur</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*-2etj79y4Vk60F0d7ycKqg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="7a2f"><a href="undefined">Adrienne Beaumont</a></p><div id="0369" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/the-a-to-z-of-my-favourite-travel-destinations-6186e1842143"> <div> <div>

Options

   <h2>The A to Z of My Favourite Travel Destinations</h2>
            <div><h3>So many C places I’ve loved…Copenhagen, Cádiz, Carcassonne, Chester, Conwy, Canterbury…but I think Córdoba is my most…</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*WS4fddDxOCDYu1BoS5jTtQ.jpeg)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><p id="ca3d"><a href="undefined">Anne Bonfert</a></p><div id="cdaf" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/my-southernmost-destination-in-the-world-the-cape-5c271986457a">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>My Southernmost Destination in the World — The Cape</h2>
            <div><h3>The A to Z of my favorite travel destinations</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*KszmsG5tC7TSsfJS3Nf4JA.jpeg)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><p id="9f93"><a href="undefined">Sam Millichap</a></p><div id="eadf" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/a-to-z-of-travel-destinations-ed4d604df4db">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>Cologne is for Cathedral, Carnival and Christkindlesmarkt</h2>
            <div><h3>A year spent living in any country gives you plenty of time to explore like a local</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*erXHe9wQnwe1ULT4o0mU0g.jpeg)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><p id="350a"><a href="undefined">Jerry Dwyer</a></p><div id="9e44" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/my-favorite-a-z-travel-destination-carson-city-638ad6e24d85">
        <div>
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            <h2>My Favorite A-Z Travel Destination — Carson City</h2>
            <div><h3>How my genealogy hobby led to our world travel</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*uH-APnUehOi69d01hUdw5Q.jpeg)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><p id="f3fa">And <a href="undefined">Dan Carlson | Meandering Naturists</a> just jumped on board with his A:</p><div id="f87c" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://readmedium.com/a-z-travel-naturist-edition-a-is-for-aqua-dome-in-austria-90bcfe28543b">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>A-Z TRAVEL — Naturist Edition: A is for Aqua Dome in Austria</h2>
            <div><h3>Nothing says naked in winter like a visit to an Austrian spa</h3></div>
            <div><p>medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*iP0PaWoBWDZwGBCD5VOjPg.jpeg)"></div>
          </div>
        </div>
      </a>
    </div><figure id="a214"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*IDlDKuxoG0gmCX-cVp-Utw.png"><figcaption></figcaption></figure><p id="9a31"><b>To read all of my favorite destinations, check out this list:</b></p><div id="e740" class="link-block">
      <a href="https://artisticvoyages.medium.com/list/67ac0e5657ba">
        <div>
          <div>
            <h2>A-Z of My Favorite Travel Destinations</h2>
            <div><h3>The publication Globetrotters has an informal challenge going on where we write an article about our favorite…</h3></div>
            <div><p>artisticvoyages.medium.com</p></div>
          </div>
          <div>
            <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*ca277bc47f392c819cc437a5f74bf6b180b31a62.jpeg)"></div>
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    </div><p id="7cb9"><b><i>If you like my writing, consider subscribing to Medium through my <a href="https://artisticvoyages.medium.com/membership">referral link</a> (I will earn a small commission). You will get full access to my writing plus thousands of others! Plus sign up <a href="https://artisticvoyages.medium.com/subscribe">here</a> to get my articles by email!</i></b></p><p id="5480"><i>Join our adventure by hitting the links below!</i></p><p id="eb9b"><a href="http://www.artisticvoyages.com/">Website</a> | <a href="http://www.instagram.com/artisticvoyages">Instagram</a> | <a href="http://www.facebook.com/artisticvoyages">Facebook</a> | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/artisticvoyages">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://www.patreon.com/artisticvoyages">Patreon</a>|<a href="http://www.youtube.com/c/artisticvoyages"> YouTube</a> | <a href="https://artisticvoyages.medium.com/">Mediu</a>m</p></article></body>

TRAVEL | DESTINATIONS

C Is For Christmas Island — My A-Z Of Favorite Travel Destinations

A small Island in the Indian Ocean.

As I pondered a C destination for the A-Z challenge, I came up with a few different places that should be mentioned. First and foremost is the town I grew up in, Canmore. However, I just wrote about Banff in my B choices and Canmore is just next door.

So it seems silly to get into all of that again.

I then considered that I have been to Capetown, South Africa which was a pretty cool place to visit. I have also visited remote islands like Cocos Keeling Islands and Chagos in the Indian Ocean, plus I’ve spent many holidays in the Caribbean.

But at the end of it all, the most unique C destination that I have been to is Christmas Island. It’s an island that many have not seen, and it was a very cool experience to visit there.

This stop was part of the around-the-world sailing trip that I did in 1994/95.

Christmas Island is an island located south of Indonesia and just on the other side of the Timor Sea as you enter the Indian Ocean. It is a relatively small island that measures just 135 square kilometers (52 square miles) with a population of 1843 that was last counted in 2016.

Adorably, its main settlement is named Flying Fish Cove.

Screenshot by author from Googlemaps.com

According to Wikipedia, Christmas Island was named by Captain William Mynors who named it on Christmas Day in 1643. However, the island wasn’t settled until late in the 19th century.

A feature of Christmas Island that has helped to put it on the map is another C word — Crabs. Christmas Island has 20 different species of crabs living on it, but the most noteworthy is the Red Crab. Each year, around this time (November) they begin a huge migration that is described here by Wikipedia:

The annual red crab mass migration (around 100 million animals) to the sea to spawn has been called one of the wonders of the natural world.[91] This takes place each year around November — after the start of the wet season and in synchronisation with the cycle of the moon. Once at the ocean, the mothers release the embryos where they can survive and grow until they are able to live on land.

This gives you an idea of how many there are! Photo by Raphael Bick on Unsplash

Unfortunately, we didn’t visit Christmas Island at the right time to see the migration, but on a hike into the jungle, we could see them climbing all over the trail and on rocks and trees.

In one instance I remember walking on a wooden gangway and seeing random claws coming up and over the sides of the wood, aimlessly pinching the air. It was certainly a little bit creepy and almost apocalyptic.

In looking through the photographs that I scanned before leaving Canada, I sadly can’t find any of the pictures that I took of the crabs, but I do have a picture of this waterfall that we visited on the island.

Christmas Island is also a haven for seabirds. Wikipedia states:

The island is a focal point for seabirds of various species. Eight species or subspecies of seabirds nest on it. The most numerous is the red-footed booby, which nests in colonies, using trees on many parts of the shore terrace. The widespread brown booby nests on the ground near the edge of the seacliff and inland cliffs. Abbott’s booby (listed as endangered) nests on tall emergent trees of the western, northern and southern plateau rainforest, the only remaining nesting habitat for this bird in the world.

Another endangered and endemic bird, the Christmas frigatebird, has nesting areas on the northeastern shore terraces. The more widespread great frigatebirds nest in semi-deciduous trees on the shore terrace, with the greatest concentrations being in the North West and South Point areas. The common noddy and two species of bosun or tropicbirds also nest on the island, including the golden bosun (P. l. fulvus), a subspecies of the white-tailed tropicbird that is endemic to the island.[92]

Sadly, as I made my visit to Christmas Island at such a young age, I don’t remember it as clearly as I would like. It’s the kind of place that I would love to return to now because I know that I would take more time to appreciate the flora and fauna around me. However, based on the picture below, it looks like Christmas Island tired me out as it was.

A tough day traveling. Funny that I have a photo of me sleeping but not one of the crabs! Photo Credit: Author

If I were to go back, I would certainly time my visit to witness the crab migration. But for now, I will have to do as most do, just watch it on video, reliving the experience through others’ eyes.

Thanks for joining me in my favorite C destination. I am sorry that I don’t have more photos available to share!

The A-Z Favorite Travel Destinations challenge was started by Sam Millichap and has now been accepted by many writers. Read some other writers' favorite C’s:

Darren Weir

Cruising The Côte d’Azur

A to Z of my favorite travel destinations — C is for Cote d’Azur

medium.com

Adrienne Beaumont

The A to Z of My Favourite Travel Destinations

So many C places I’ve loved…Copenhagen, Cádiz, Carcassonne, Chester, Conwy, Canterbury…but I think Córdoba is my most…

medium.com

Anne Bonfert

My Southernmost Destination in the World — The Cape

The A to Z of my favorite travel destinations

medium.com

Sam Millichap

Cologne is for Cathedral, Carnival and Christkindlesmarkt

A year spent living in any country gives you plenty of time to explore like a local

medium.com

Jerry Dwyer

My Favorite A-Z Travel Destination — Carson City

How my genealogy hobby led to our world travel

medium.com

And Dan Carlson | Meandering Naturists just jumped on board with his A:

A-Z TRAVEL — Naturist Edition: A is for Aqua Dome in Austria

Nothing says naked in winter like a visit to an Austrian spa

medium.com

To read all of my favorite destinations, check out this list:

A-Z of My Favorite Travel Destinations

The publication Globetrotters has an informal challenge going on where we write an article about our favorite…

artisticvoyages.medium.com

If you like my writing, consider subscribing to Medium through my referral link (I will earn a small commission). You will get full access to my writing plus thousands of others! Plus sign up here to get my articles by email!

Join our adventure by hitting the links below!