Bright Vila lights
Kokamo's Pacifc Meanderings
Tom and Rachel
Sun 1 Aug 2010 21:14
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Kokamo is snugly moored at
17:44.8S 168:18.7E
Incredibly we've nearly
been in Vanuatu's capital, Port Vila, for a week. The sail from Erromango
was a slightly frustrating ordeal, with multiple gybes through the night (timed
to make sure whichever one of us had just gone to bed, had to get up to help
switch the genoa pole around). But the decision to leave when we did
proved right, as although we caught the beginning of a 30 knot blow, the seas
had not yet built up to the 5 metre swells which boats arriving more
recently have reported.
In Vila it has been
party time with Vanuatu's Independence Day being on Friday. As it was
the big 30 since the combined 'Condominium' of Britain and France ended in 1980
- the celebrations have been going on literally all week.
The parks are full of
food stalls, and a big stage has played host to everything from a String Band
competition...
 a Mother Hubbard
dress competition (see Rachel's Erromango entry
to understand what these ubiquitous dresses involve), reggae acts.
traditional dances and the Prime Ministers speech.
All lots of fun,
although I've been suffering from drinking too much kava (above) on
occassion...!
It's also been fantastic
to catch up with friends here. Especially JJ and Namus, the translators
from the two Meet the Natives series, who are currently living near town.
Yesterday we all went out for a sail and big lunch down the coast, which they
enjoyed - JJ has awarding himself the title of 'Captain.'
 Tomorrow, we're leaving
the boat (for the first time since the beginning of April - might feel a bit
strange!), and flying back to Tanna for a week. We're going to stay in the
village of Ianalaol with some of the guys I filmed with - it
will be great to see them all again properly, and interesting to indulge in a
bit of village life without having to film it for once...
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