The Melanesian Port Villa Port Vila

... imprints in our hearts. A trip to Vanuatu is like stepping back in time, an opportunity for one to cast off the shackles and complexity of modern life, to experience the blissfulness of simplicity, to renew their faith in humanity, and to return to a communion with nature. For most of us, it remains a destination quite far off the beaten path, but with a bit of courage, the intrepid traveler will reap its abundant rewards.

... talking to a couple this morning who stopped by Jess and Sam's for some help with their boat, and it turns out they know the people on Fifth Season who are coming to get me. They told me that Fifth Season is a very nice catameran, so that should mean some comfortable sailing :) They also know some people in Pepperell and have been there to visit, small world. Anyways, I'm still just hanging out in Vila. I went to a kava bar the other night ...

Happy Birthday Kim! It was a great day and all about Kimo fun. We started off with some yummy breakfast and surprised her with an island tour on buggies. Shawn, Rosemary, Keith, Kim, Greg and I went off to the buggy fun. The buggy ride started of with me hitting a curb, embarrassing! We continued on when Greg's buggy broke down. We stopped a little bit and continued on going through the jungle of trees to the beach. It ...

... island had a resort, lots of aussie holiday makers, but the other was where they had some dormitories and self catering, but it was completely empty. So I was paying about a fifth of the tourists but had a private bay and large house all to myself. It was a great way to end a holiday independent style. It just goes to show that the quality of your holiday has very little to do with how much it costs, and far more to do with your intrepid instincts to get off the beaten track.

Today we had our first day of training in mangaliliu. The first 2 sessions were language and they were pretty useful. The highlight was that the training was conducted outdoors right on the beach! We were literally 10 ft from the water. What a class room setting. For lunch all the mamas prepared dishes together for the group. We were all starving ...

... trip & one that I'm sure will never forget. From Tanner airport myself & a couple from Australia were picked up by our guild/driver Jack, & taken to our base Le-nakel Cove for the next 24hrs. Upon our arrival we were greeted by a local family who would be looking after us. As a welcome gift we were given a flower necklace & then shown to our hut accommodation. After a fruit platter lunch, I walked down into the village to take in my new ...

... the Australians most similar to North Americans. They do take after the British too, in my opinion, but the fact that their country is relatively young, quite big and prosperous has offered them opportunities that are more similar to what most North Americans have had. Talking with different ladies, it was clear to me that many have an attitude of "if you really want to do something you can" which is not the case in most parts of the world. Ladies ...

... The school bell is an old rusty gas canister which the kids take it in turns to bang on with a rock to signal the start of school, breaktime, restart of classes etc. You can see the school bell in the photo of the classroom for 3 and 4. They are the rusty containers on the right hand side. Stationery is something which most kids seem to have plenty off, there is a massive amount of tip-ex or white out as they call it, and the kids seem to delight in having to use ...

... Esly to pick us up, he shows up and we're off to Hideaway Island again. We finally have a bungalow - yeah! It's more like a small home, right on the water, and we hang out and watch the sunset with a spectacular rainbow and have more delicious cooking and return to go to bed. We bring back two fist-sized hermit crabs and watch them walk about and finally take them outside. The stars are great.

... in Vanuatu I found myself a cab and went straight to the Luron Guesthouse with thoughts of at least half a good night's sleep. When I got there of course there was no-one around, no note left out, nothing but the sign above the door said Luron Guesthouse. Having spotted a couple of cockroaches scurrying around I decided to pitch my tent in the garden. I woke up this morning to go and explain who I was etc. only ...