VANUATU CAMP 2014
Saturday 6 - Saturday 13 September 2014
Led by Charles and Julie
Words by Joan and Lesley
Photos by Donna
It's impossible to capture in print all the nuances and humour of every day, but the activities were as follows.
Day 1 - Sunday
After a three and a half hour flight to Port Vila, capital of the Vanuatu group
of islands, the previous day, 17 bushwalkers settled into the most comfortable
accommodation at Starfish Cove Resort on the lagoon's edge where we could feed
the fish each morning. We were all ready for a week of fun, relaxation and adventure.
Sunday began with a $1.50 local bus trip into town for local currency and supplies - wonderful fruit and vegie market. The afternoon saw Marle accompany the ladies to town with hopes of listening to beautiful local group singing, but sadly the choristers did not eventuate. Instead our driver gave us a tour of his favourite landmarks, including the site of the Billy Graham style one-week long rally, every night with four large screens around a very large grassed area. An enjoyable and interesting afternoon while the lads stayed at Starfish to put their cards on the table.
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| Starfish Cove Resort Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo |
Local market Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo |
Bob, Sandra and Lyn Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo |
Day 2 - Monday
The morning of our sightseeing tour began with our lovely local guide Isabel,
giving us some most interesting facts about Vanuatu and the history of her newly
independent country from France and England in 1980. As a consequence Vanuatu
now has two hospitals and two gaols, past English and French origins. We were
shown through two luxurious resorts in the Pango area and enjoyed a visit to a
handprint T-shirt etc. factory where several could not resist a purchase. Several
landmarks and Parliament House were pointed out, and coconuts and peanuts
purchased from roadside family stalls much to our delight.
In the afternoon, Stanley, from Starfish Cove, offered to take us for a local walk in the nearby area along a dirt road past large ex-pat homes away from the main road - good choice. All land is privately owned on the island and there is a charge to walk anywhere on private bushland.
In the evening the group thoroughly enjoyed a seafood dinner at Chermiers situated in beautiful gardens beside the lagoon.
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| Group on town tour Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo |
Roadside stall Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo |
Afternoon walk Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo |
Day 3 - Tuesday
An exciting day ahead as we headed to town for the glass bottom boat excursion
out into the bay with three local lads as guides. Most of the group donned
snorkel and goggles and jumped overboard where many more wonders below the surface
were seen. Wet swimming gear gave cause for the greatest ever bushwalker
striptease behind towel screens into dry clothes, and once back on shore after
an exhilarating morning viewing coral, colourful fish and swimming, we headed
back for lunch.
It was a pizza for dinner and an open air movie of 'Divergent' - a movie with a difference - at the beautiful beachside location of the Beach Bar.
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| Glass bottom boat trip Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo |
Underwater world Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo |
Marle, Ann and Lesley Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo |
Day 4 - Wednesday
Another great day of adventure beginning with meeting Jeff, our Canberra born
and bred volunteer guide, who led us for the one-hour bus trip around the
coast followed by two motor boats taking the group for a half-hour trip across to
Moso Island. There we were met by the local pastor and his wife with several
friendly locals to show us to the meeting house for morning tea.
The group then divided into groups - men to help finish roof construction and fixing of a tarpaulin in order for collection of rainwater to flow into a tank - when available. The handymen in action were indeed entertaining as they did their best to complete the job.
Ladies were in two groups - one to learn weaving of pandanus leaf strips into bracelets and the other to learn and assist in yam grating, mixing with coconut milk and wrapping into island cabbage leaf rolls for lunch. We were all kept busy in each group with much mirth and new skills. A surprising and sumptuous lunch, prepared from totally island grown fruit, vegies and chickens, was much enjoyed with grateful thanks to all the friendly locals.
The group was then taken for a walk to the local primary school which would receive our gifts and a further walk to visit a cave around the coastline. Children were keen to practise English with us and were seen also to enjoy their paddling in the clear water on refrigerator doors - the symbol of a simple happy life without a toy shop in every village.
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| Mens work Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo |
Womens work Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo |
Supervisor Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo |
Day 5 - Thursday
The day of the awaited cascade and waterfall excitement began with a half-hour
bus ride to Mele village where we were surrounded by lush tropical bushland and
many bright and beautiful plants - pink and red gingers amongst many varieties
with pink and orange bougainvillea everywhere. Our guide, Maurice, was most
informative as he led us up past clear burbling cascade pools until we reached
the 60m waterfall where we plunged into the refreshing turquoise pool at its
base. Charles, our intrepid leader, vanished with others behind the waterfall
and reappeared none the worse for wear. A wonderful trip.
After lunch Lyn had arranged a half-hour bus ride to the Turtle Conservation Institute for a tour of the work done there with collection and hatching of turtle eggs followed by the rearing of baby turtles for three years before releasing them to the ocean. The tour guide also showed us baby pigs, giant blue coconut crabs and bats, plus the group was able to feed paw paw slices to large 80-year old turtles kept in a large pool for protection - lots of fun for one and all.
The evening was a festive one at a recommended Chinese restaurant in town and a group thank you to Charles and Julie for organising and leading us on this fascinating and interesting camp to Vanuatu.
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| Mele village Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo |
The cascades Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo |
Lyn picks up a couple of locals Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo |
Day 6 - Friday
Our final day and how time flies. The group had two choices of activity for the
morning - either to visit, explore and swim at Iririki Island in Port Vila
harbour or to visit, explore and swim at Blue Lagoon on the east coast. The
half-hour bus trip to Blue Lagoon gave the opportunity to see some countryside
along the way and on arrival we were amazed at the large clear turquoise lagoon
surrounded by lush tropical bushland. The beauty of the setting enticed all of
us straight in for a swim and a certain person could not resist the large tree
rope to swing and splash with much encouragement from others.
The time to return came all too fast and back to Starfish Cove for lunch. We also had a happy report from those who went to Iririki Island for the morning.
The afternoon was the last chance for ladies to do some retail sport in town while the lads put their cards on the table again.
The evening was a highlight with a visit to Ekasup village for a traditional island feast and entertainment including traditional dances by island men wearing their traditional dress of grass skirts and feathers. The variety of local dishes spread along tables covered with large green leaves was a sight to behold in the setting of darkness lit by burning flares. Music was provided by the local band with a wonderful variety of instruments - the water filled bottle xylophone was a huge success as they played various well known tunes and all those present were invited to mingle and dance after first sampling a half-coconut shell of kava. There was, of course, some numbing reaction by several of the group, but dancing prevailed nonetheless.
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| Fun at Blue Lagoon Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo |
Sarah on Iririki Island Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo |
Evening feast Click on thumbnail to enlarge photo |
Day 7 - Saturday
Time to pack, quick trip to town for an ice cream for some or games before
lunch and then, sadly, the last bus ride to town. Past the university, past the
big tree market, past a village and out to the airport amongst the many 10-seater
buses which crowded the roads every day.
Goodbye to Vanuatu, to the friendly people and the beautiful green pet geckos AND a big thank you to Charles and Julie for taking us on this great adventure.
From the scribes, Joan and Lesley
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