28 PORT VILA, VANUATU,NVVV - 16/17.1.2009 - 285NM - 2:54

Round the World Flight with HB-PON 2008/09
Rolf Martin FRIEDEN & Manfred Melloh
Sat 17 Jan 2009 11:40
"17:39.7S 168:14.6E"

New Caledonia was a pleasant surprise for us and we had indeed an interesting
stay there.
Nice and interesting country, friendly and hospital people!

http://blog.mailasail.com/comanche.hb-pon/75/image/jpgtvEpaHfPrb.jpg

Noumea, the capital with its harbors.

Mid morning we departed from Magenta, the downtown airport and headed first in
southerly direction to Ile des pins, then north easterly over La Roche Island,

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Ile des pins with its airstrip

then across to Tannaa, one of the most southerly Island of Vanuatu, with its active
Volcano Mount Yasur and on to our destination Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu on
Etafe Isalnd.

Port Vila with its natural harbor and its airport Bauersield played a key role in WWII
when the Americans established their Naval and Airbase here to fight the
Japanese, which occupied the Solomon Islands north of here.

http://blog.mailasail.com/comanche.hb-pon/75/image/jpgxipQGgrWe0.jpg

Port Vila International airport, the ex US World War II airbase for B25's and fighters

Today Saturday we explored the Island with a small four wheel car and drove 140 Km
right around.

http://blog.mailasail.com/comanche.hb-pon/75/image/jpgOkXSzDrACl.jpg

Le Meriden Hotel entrance at Port Vila

Interesting visiting was the WW II museum and the US Fighter support airfield on the
eastern part of the island.

http://blog.mailasail.com/comanche.hb-pon/75/image/jpg0DQ9byvZFt.jpg

Ocean Liner in the natural harbor of port Vila

Weather permitting, we will head on to Nandi in the Fiji islands tomorrow Sunday.