May 28, 2015
Meteorologists, in order to help predict El Nino conditions, use, among other things, the SOI – Southern Oscillation Index. It looks at the atmospheric pressure in Darwin compared to Tahiti.
We have a similar index on Legacy – the HICTF Index (How’s It Compare to Fiji). On this index, 300 means drop everything and come at once. Zero means stay in Fiji.
We’ve had a special scientific instrument constructed to measure this index, based on our current location. The blue needle represents the index according to Rich. The purple needle, according to Cyndi. Here is the current reading for New Caledonia.
Various factors will alter this reading:
Kuto Bay, not the greatest place on earth, lowered it a bit, as did the expensive and unappealing lunch buffet nearby (we passed on it, but they did have amazing umbrella drinks – didn’t pass those by).
A very rough rounding of Ile Moro lowered it a bit, as did sand-throwing local children and persistent, strong winds. (Cyndi points out that Fiji also has uncooperative winds also and so maybe I should adjust the mechanism to ignore this factor.)
The amazing trees we walked among today raised the reading somewhat, as did the glorious beach we landed on.
We’ll post a picture of this instrument from time to time in hopes it’s useful for those considering this destination. Don’t make any concrete plans based on this early reading as there’s a lot we haven’t done yet and the index may change drastically.
-Rich
