This an amazing Island. Its circa 120 miles South of Vila which is on the main island of Vanuatu, Efate. The people are so friendly, very shy as its not top of the tourist list...yet! It has an active volcano, Mt Yasur, which the family all visited on the Wednesday evening at sunset, and were astonished that they were able to get so close to the open cauldron of molten lava and were shaken by a few of the bigger tiny eruptions that take place periodically which blow rocks and magma up into the air, some of which falling not too far away from the spectators! Betty chose not to go as it was back along that “dreadful road”, as she describes it. So, Geoff, who had been to the volcano before, and Betty stayed back at the Village at Port Resolution and made a yummy dinner.
Before going to the volcano, we had a great morning snorkelling, then an island style lunch at the local beach “restaurant” ( curry chicken, salad and fruit..) it was interesting..the restaurant was a burre on the sand..nothing in it but some planks for tables and more but lower planks for seating!
On the way to the volcano we visited the Kustom Village to watch the nude namba (being a sheath cover over the men’s penis) dancing! It was fascinating...of another era. The men’s bodies were amazing, tight and terrific; Anna could not drag herself away!
After all that excitement, we headed off at about 11pm to sail all night to Vila, arriving for a swim off Pango point at about 0930 on a beautiful clear bright morning. Finally enough, we had anchored right outside the home of Mandy and Adam Smith (Fitchett) who we visited for a late lunch before proceeding into Vila harbour to moor stern to the wall outside the Waterfront bar and Grill.. a great location..
We had two enjoyable nights at Vila before we sailed up to Havana Harbour where we met up with Charles and Megan ( St Clair Brown) who were in residence at Undine bay..so next day we headed off around to the marina Charles has recently completed and moored..in quite a blow and had a great night ashore at the homestead.
An early start next day saw us into Epi Island for a swim, dinner then another over night sail to Pentecost to try and catch some land diving. We were pretty lucky as we found a little village at the South end of Pentecost called Lanlot, the men from which were building a tower for the next day’s diving. We were in luck!! So, Saturday 4th July saw the Salanjo crew and about three other tourists and boaties sitting on a log in the bush with 7 very brave boys/young men about to dive 25 metres off a rickety tower. It was quite something. The body whips as the vines suddenly tighten and the diver is halted a metre or two above the ground. It was quite awesome. Then the chief’s daughter offered to prepare a laplap (a kind of hungi) for us..so we supplied chicken, onions, kumula (root plant similar to kumura)and she supplied the rest and cooked a great feast..the village band set up and we danced with the youth and children late...a really great evening and locals loved it too. Left after party and sailed overnight to Espiritu Santo, the big island in the north of Vanuatu arriving at Oyster Island in the middle of the day. Oyster island resort is a fabulous little resort in a fabulous lagoon..owned by friends Colin and Marianne Cashmore...and managed by new friends, Robert and Sue.
The next day saw us in Luganville, the boys diving on the USS Coleridge (that was pretty special) while the girls checked the shops and the market...then a drive and a very pleasant afternoon at Champagne Beach.
Tuesday was our last day together..Kate and nick went for a snorkel...or tried to..to find on the way the dinghy somehow got a 20cm tear in the underwater section of the tube!! So with the dinghy then unusable that was the day for them..trying to repair the dinghy for me while Mike, Jax and Anna went into town for a snorkel on Million Dollar point on the way to the airport. It was with a sad heart that I waved goodbye to Nick, Kate and Betty as they climbed into the taxi on the far bank of the lagoon and headed off to catch up with the others at the airport...a great family trip and really memorable.
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