A land of leather-skinned locals and equatorial weather, the archipelago nation of Kiribati can be found strewn out amidst the waters of the Pacific Ocean. The country encompasses over 30 separate atolls, some of which are little more than a jungle-dressed sand bank poking just meters above the turquoise swells. The nerve center of the action is on Tarawa Atoll. Known to many as the site of one of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific during World War Two (the Battle of Tarawa), this site and its near neighbours are still scarred with concrete bunkers and machine gun installations. However, even these haunting remnants of conflict cannot detract from the beautiful beaches that fringe the coast, while gems like the Phoenix Island Protected Area offer up endless coral reefs and fine underwater visibility to boot. Kiribati tour guides also recommend enjoying the homey little bamboo lean-tos that serve up potent mixtures of the local coconut liquor and seafood, while birdwatchers and culture vultures alike still flock to the reaches of Christmas Island and the distant atolls, to seek out warblers and mystic elder councils and more.