Fai Tira Blog Friday 6st August 2010

Vanuatu  17:44.84S 168:18.64E

 

We’ve had some amazing experience over the last week. Firstly we arrived in Port Vila on the island of Efate in Vanuatu to a display of fireworks, it was their thirtieth independence celebrations. We then flew to the island of Tanna to observe an active volcano and witnessed a natural firework display like none other..

 

This is a picture blog of our last week’s adventure.

 

 

A fine example of the pidgin English that’s spoken here.

 

 

Parliament Park was packed full of colourful locals (It was like this for 5 days) all celebrating their 30^th anniversary of independance from Britain and France who managed the islands as a condominium, locally known as a “pandemonium”!

 

 

All the nationalities were represented by a parade of women in national dress.

 

 

Colourful dresses.

 

 

Ethnic dancing was represented by performances from each of the Vanuatuan islands.

 

 

Another celebration: Pete from Bali Blue on his 60^th Birthday, the same day as Vanuatu’s 30^th. 

 

 

Port Vila anchorage

 

 

We flew to Tanna. These were the first locals we encountered.  They lived a tribal lifestyle in basic accommodation, working for each other and cooking on open fires, obviously a recipe for happiness and contentment.

 

 

Tanna had almost everything, including an authentic sea horse!!.

 

 

A village market under a large Banyan tree.

 

 

Local children with Maria.

 

 

Our first sight of the volcano.

 

 

The billowing smoke signifies the onset of an eruption.

 

 

The journey, with our driver Louie, turned out to be an adventure on its own, with us driving across an ash field and through a winding river.

 

 

Getting closer to the action.

 

 

Close to the edge.  We arrived at the top about 16.30 and left after dark.

 

 

Fantastic firework display.  The noise and pressure waves from these explosions were mind blowing.

 

 

Lava splattered all over the crater but thankfully didn’t reach our vantage point.

 

 

The activity is graded from 1 to 5. We were there when it was at level 2.  Level 3 is a bit dangerous and would result in lava falling close by. At level 4 and 5 they’d close the volcano to visitors and you’d have to observe it from about 2 miles away.

 

 

WOW!

 

 

The only volcano in the world with a post box near the top.

 

 

 

Our accomodation on Tanna..... Nice!!.

 

 

View from our bungalow.

 

 

 

A small Banyan tree. Wait for it!!

 

 

 Big Banyan tree. Probably the biggest  in the world and covering an area the size of a football pitch.

 

 

Here we are with Mansie, our driver and Sam, our tree guide.......... after the Banyan tree tour.

 

 

                         Our proud-looking driver for the day,Mansie.........Turned out to be a great bloke

 

 

 

The magic village tour where we were attacked by the locals.

 

 

 

John became their chief for a short while. Just in case you’re confused, he’s the skinny white one

 

 

Thursday saw Jeremy and I scootering round the island.  We arrived at a run-down resort that had sharks in a pool.

 

 

Sign says it all.

 

 

We stopped for lunch at a bar/restaurant that had hot natural spring water in the swimming pool.

 

 

Nice bike. We travelled 130 km on these, right around the island.

 

 

We met an old guy, Ernest, who saved old war memorabilia, mostly old coke and beer bottles.

 

 

John will produce a more descriptive blog later.

 

Pete, John and Jeremy