Marshall Islands

(Republic of the Marshall Islands, Aolepān Aorōkin Majeļ)

General Information:

Location: Central Pacific Ocean
Capital: Majuro (Delap-Uliga-Darit)
Language(s): Marshallese, English
Population: 55,500
Total Area: 181 sq km
Currency: United States Dollar
Curious Alcohol Fact: Imported alcoholic drinks are sold at bars but not common among the locals.
Annual Average Liquor Consumption Per Capita: Not available
Most Popular Drink(s): Coconut milk, cola, coffee

Marshall Islands Travel Video:

Courtesy: Before You Go

The Country

Located in Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands is a group of islands. Situated in the easternmost part of the region, the Republic is made up of over 1,200 islands and islets and are arranged in two groups. These are the Ralik and Ratak. The former means Sunset and is located on the western side while Ratak means Sunrise and is on the eastern side. By virtue of its location, the country is not too far from the Equator and the International date Line while the capital city is Majuro (also known as Delap-Uliga-Darit) and is located on an atoll of the same name. For decades, the islands were controlled by the United States as a constituent of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands until it became independent in 1986. The country is popular for being the site of nuclear testing by the United States especially on the famed BikiniIsland.

The People

With just around 70,000 citizens, the country is one of the least populated not just in the Pacific region but in the world. Most of the citizens are Marshallese and are classified as Micronesians whose ancestors arrived the islands thousands of years ago. Expectedly, most of the Marshallese (as citizens are called) are found in the capital city and the island of Kwajalein. There is also a sizable number of Asians on the islands. Although the official language is Marshallese, English is widely spoken. When it comes to religion, a majority of the people living on the islands are affiliated to Christianity, especially as Protestants.

The Food

Even though the Marshall Islands may be small, you will be surprised with the staggering array of foods that are available for both residents and the tourists coming to the islands. As in other neighboring islands, rice is the staple food on these islands and is usually prepared in a various ways. There is also breadfruit, taro and arrowroot. To provide meat, the islanders consume seafood (especially lobsters, shellfish, crabs and fish), chicken, pork and eggs. Also, there are numerous restaurants where you can get Indian, Japanese, Western and local foods. For me, I enjoyed the local meals to the fullest and I will always remember to recommend a special meal made from fresh seafood, smoked chestnuts and fruits. What I found very interesting with this meal is that the package comes in fresh leaves, and this gives it a special and exotic taste. You must also try out various chicken soups and fried seafood sold on the island –they are simply irresistible.

Drinking

Like many other island nations in the region, Marshall Islands is a place where you can enjoy the fresh and rejuvenating coconut milk. Sweet and delicious, tourists always fall in love with the coconut milk shortly after arriving the country. Apart from the coconut drink, you can also get to drink coffee, cola, wines and beers at the various pubs and bars on the islands.
Sports in Marshall Islands
When the topic is sports, you will always find the Marshall Islands very enchanting. The most popular sports in the nation are rugby and football. There are also many local games and physical activities which can be very interesting.

Story By World By Shotglass
Contact: info@worldbyshotglass.com
©2021 World By Shotglass. All Rights Reserved
Special thanks to our contributors:
Adebayo Ahmed Adebola (Ilorin, Nigeria).