Pala OOC

Traditions

Over time, several traditions have come to exist in Pala. They range from island-wide, world famous events, to smaller, less known traditions. Pala also observes the following major holidays: Christmas, Easter, Halloween, New Year's Eve/Day. Islanders may also observe religious traditions of their own. If you have an idea for an event or island tradition, please submit a comment with a description of it!

Pala Carnivale
The largest, most well-known tradition is the carnivale season, which spans the entire month of August in Pala. This is the most tourist heavy period of the year, and the entire city of Gatestown erupts in color and celebrations. Parades happen every weekend, culminating in the largest parade at the end of the month. There are fairs, live events, and the beaches around Gatestown become party central.

The other islands remain relatively untouched, but they do see a larger influx of tourists, too. The partying tends to stay on Empyrean, though, with a few smaller satellite events that take place on Paradise and Angel islands.

Jour de la Mort
The Day of the Dead. Also called Dia de los Muertos, Dia de Finados, etc. It takes place overnight, beginning on November 1st and ending on November 2nd. While it is traditionally a time for families and friends to mourn the dead, in Pala it has become a reason to celebrate, too. Island residents and tourists paint their faces to ward off evil spirits. The main event is the release of sky lanterns to commemorate the dead. The skies above Pala look like they are alive with thousands of glowing jellyfish. After the lantern release, the participants celebrate life and party.

Swim the Follies
This is a rite of passage for many of Pala's youth. The Follies are dangerous for their shallow reefs and their shark population. To "swim the follies" means to be taken out to the cluster of islands at night, and to swim approximately 100 meters in the water, unable to see below you in the water because of the darkness. It's technically illegal because of the amount of accidents and deaths that have occurred, but that hasn't stopped young tourists and residents from giving it a try. If a person successfully completes the swim, he or she receives a wave tattoo and is considered a true Palacian.

Booty Day
September 19. To commemorate the day that the British rooted out the last pirates, the islanders have created Booty Day. Sort of Pala's own Valentine's Day, the idea is that you steal something from a person you like/love/have a crush on, and then gift it to them later. Parties are often thrown, with islanders dressed as pirates, or speaking like pirates. This is a controversial tradition because of the amount of date-rapes, drug-taking, and actual thefts that occur. The island authorities tried to ban it once, but the youth of the island celebrated it, anyway, and the authorities could do nothing to stop it.

Since this is an original setting, I've decided to create this small post so that you can have some resource material, if you're looking for some material that may give you a better visual or reference point. Not all of these are exactly like the setting, but have similar locations.

Films & Television
The Beach
Couples Retreat
I Still Know What You Did Last Summer
Lost
Skeleton Key
Revenge (different setting, but could have similar themes)

Books
The Island by Aldous Huxley (where the name Pala originates)
The Beach by Alex Garland
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Sookie Stackhouse Novels (for some supernatural elements)

Music
Pala by Friendly Fires (where I first heard the name)
The Beach Score & Soundtrack

You can also look at websites and guides for real locations like Hawaii, the Phi Phi Islands in Thailand, Tahiti, Bora Bora, etc.

A cluster of little islands, or islets, between Empyrean Island and Little Eden have a dangerous reputation. The water they reside in is shallow with coral reefs. Anything larger than a small boat risks running aground, especially during low-tide. The islands themselves are rocky, and don't harbor much life beyond vegetation and birds, though the largest island has a healthy population of the Devil's Tortoise.

Because of the vibrant marine life of the reefs, the Follies are a popular feeding ground for sharks, and the few attacks that do happen usually happen in the vicinity. It just so happens that The Follies were also the site of most shipwrecks because of their shallow waters, so it's believed by modern treasure seekers that most of the valuable cargo of those ships can still be found. This makes The Follies an attractive diving spot for thrill-seekers and lovers of marine life. It's common for native teenagers to take boats out late at night and jump into the waters as a rite of passage.

Named because of their close proximity, like two lovers about to kiss, the two small islands served as the British navy's training base in Pala until World War I. The North Island remains a small training base for British Navy soldiers, but the U.S. and other British allies have been known to have soldiers stationed there to receive training in underwater operations.

The South Island is a historical site, open to tourists wishing to visit the museum and the batteries set up to defend Gatestown. There are also old British warships set up for people to board and learn about, though none of them are seaworthy.

The only island to be completely dedicated to one business, it is home to the Atlantis Resort and Waterpark. It was opened by the Baptiste family in conjunction with a hotel magnate in 1998.

The accommodations include six five-star hotels, including the Royal Towers that boast the "Bridge Suite", one of the top ten most expensive hotel suites in the world at $25,000 a night. Harborside Resort has 392 villas and a harbor-front restaurant. The Cove Atlantis is an all-suite hotel opened in 2008. The most popular attraction is the Dolphin Cay right behind it, in which guests can pay to swim with dolphins. All of the hotels have shuttle service to the Atlantis waterpark and there are daily ferries, seaplanes, and helicopters that transport guests to the other islands if they wish.

Beach bums, potheads, and surfers unite here. Angel Island is one of the lowest islands in Pala. It has no large hills, little wildlife, and no major resorts. The way the coral reefs are arranged around the island create the best break in Pala, and it's not uncommon for fifteen foot waves to crash just fifty feet away from the shore. Although surfing can be seen all over the islands, with several different break points, Angel Island's southeastern tip experiences the biggest waves in the island change, which is why it has been dubbed Surfer's Point. People from all over the world come to Pala just to ride the waves at Angel Island.

Cabanas, bungalows, and vacation homes have sprung up all over the island as a result of the constant flow of surfers and tourists. Injuries, and even deaths, are fairly common because of the strength of the waves and the shallow coral beneath them, but the danger makes it even more exciting. At night, the island often becomes a party haven for tourists, and its not uncommon to see lights from beach raves or massive bonfires all over the beaches of the island.

Since Gaspar Baptiste found the islands, the Baptiste name has lived on through descendants of the explorer. The family is very wealthy, with international interests and business dealings, and to this day, a portion of all tourism income goes to them.

The island is private, and guarded by private security, which means it's guarded better than any of the other islands, except for maybe Little Eden. The highest point on the island is 120 meters (393 feet), and sitting on the peak is Baptiste Manor, a massive estate which can see the entire island chain from its vantage point.

The only time Baptiste Island was ever "open" was during wartime. Gatestown had an important port for supplies, so batteries were set up on Baptiste Island to defend against any ships trying to enter the center of the archipelago. The island harbors many of its own secrets, but most people know of the extravagance of the manor, since the family often invites guests to the island and hosts some events for the benefit of the islands. There are horse stables, a golf-course, tennis courts, a helipad, etc. It's a fully functional island, and quite large for a private one.