Blogs from Vanuatu, Oceania - page 4

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Oceania » Vanuatu January 13th 2012

No new year hangover for me but think Martin's bottle of Sake may have had an effect. Little slow to start this morning for both of us. Mystery Island is our shore trip today which is in the southern end of the islands that form Vanuatu. It is uninhabited as the local people from the nearby island of Aneityum consider it taboo. There is a landing strip on the island used in WW2 for the allied forces. The P&O Princess Jewel is the largest ship to enter into the lagoon. I went across for a swim and left Martin drinking a coffee and having flex time in the room. Again we used the tenders to go to and from, deck 4 to board and a temporary jetty set up to receive us. The locals must love ... read more
Busy tenders
Welcome
Southern Vanuatu

Oceania » Vanuatu » Santo » Luganville August 25th 2011

Getting a good night’s sleep in the bush is always a tricky thing. Depending on one’s level of jet-lag, adjusting to an early bedtime can be difficult. When there isn’t much in the way of electricity after the sun goes down and your day begins at sunrise, the prospect of staying up past 7pm seems like a tremendous feat. Once you do get to bed, it can be difficult finding the proper body position to fit the uneven ground or occasional cement floor. Regardless of how diligent you are about tucking in your net or zipping your tent flap, there will often be that one persistent mosquito singing a high-pitched lullaby in your ear while desperately looking for some small patch of exposed flesh. If you do manage to find a moment of solace with the ... read more
Workshop Faculty
Material Prep
Sunday Dress Parade

Oceania » Vanuatu » Efate » Port Vila August 20th 2011

I've dragged myself to write today's blog, and yesterdays blog for what I can remember of it - well most of it was spent in the office so not much to say! I think there will be more periods where i'm just unable to write a blog every night, mainly due to being too tired or just too busy. So I might do it every other day or so. Yesterday (19/08/11) consisted of waking up at 6am again (naturally) packing my bags, having breakfast in my room, sorting out a few things with important things in safe pockets/distance from me and so on. I then checked out from the over priced hotel, 7,500 vatu per night. Which comes to something like £40-50 per night! Really isn't as cheap as i expected it to be at all. ... read more

Oceania » Vanuatu August 18th 2011

Well where to start.. maybe waking up at 4:30am? My own fault really, going to sleep at 7pm. I can never sleep long these days for some reason, shows i'm ageing I suppose! I snacked out on a few things on waking up and went back to bed, I then had a really deep sleep and awoke to my alarm at 6. I wanted to make a good impression being right on the dot for work for when the geohazard office opens, which is 7am. I loathed around for a bit and then went to the office at 6:55am, the office is literally a block away from where I am staying so no need to leave too early. I got there for 7.. which I was expecting it to be open as usually you do get ... read more

Oceania » Vanuatu » Santo » Luganville August 18th 2011

Well everyone…it’s been a month since the last entry and a great deal has taken place. Of greater significance, however, is what has NOT taken place. Please try to remember folks, this is Vanuatu, and we first-worlders need to be able to roll with the punches. If you’re not interested in the dreary prose, here’s the short version: The construction of the Sele Clinic is being put on hold at the request of the Ministry of Health, but against my personal desire. I want to do what’s best for the greater good and most economically efficient for our donors, but I feel terrible about not finishing the clinic this year. However, what you want and how you feel are rarely in agreement. If you’re strange enough to enjoy my ramblings, here’s the long version: I’d like ... read more

Oceania » Vanuatu » Efate » Port Vila August 17th 2011

So today I touched down in Vanuatu (17th Aug) it's some time in the evening here... must remember to change time on my phone. I feel like i've been travelling for years. It was so good to finally have a shower and brush my teeth after finally putting my bags down. Flight from London to Dubai went fine. Dubai to Brisbane was fine, I just didn't remember how long it took.. it went on forever.. was at least 12 hours flying.. the good thing was that it wasn't fully booked and i managed to secure 3 seats to myself next to a window... so yeah I was able to lie down and get a fair amount of sleep. Might go off on a rant now but I hate Australian customs, it's the most fuss in the ... read more

Oceania » Vanuatu » Efate » Port Vila July 17th 2011

Hello again everyone! Today I find myself back in Port Vila in the hospitality of good friends and familiar faces. Project MARC's 2011 season will officially kick off in a couple weeks, but Dr. Hilbert and I are here early for prep and planning of our August expedition. Keep up with us here for further updates on our progress with the expeditions or follow us on Twitter for blurbs from the bush! Thanks for the support and for keeping interested in Vanuatu! ... read more

Oceania » Vanuatu » Efate April 15th 2011

Turtles, turtles everywhere! The Kustom owners at Chrystal Blue Lagoon sure know a great location when they see it. We spent the day out there and discovered a turtle hatchery full of very cute little babies. We swam and snorkled in the lagoon and got up close and personal with lots of colourful sealife. Exhausted and ready to eat, the over-water restaurant was calling. Friendly staff happily prepared the most delicious seafood platter, freshly caught in the waters below. The other Gypsy taste tested Vanuatu's famously tender organic beef, BBQ’d to perfection … he wasn’t disappointed. Established and managed by local ni-Vanuatu Kustom owners on Turtle Bay Beach, just 20 minutes drive from Port Vila, Crystal Blue offers conference facilities, restaurant, workshop and a chapel (just in case the tropical ambience gets you in the marrying ... read more
Crystal Blue 2
Crystal Blue 3
Ray in the lagoon

Oceania » Vanuatu » Santo February 7th 2011

I joined Project MARC in Vanuatu for the first time in August 2010 on the recommendation of a good friend and previous volunteer; although I had travelled a great deal in the past, I had no idea of what to expect or of the truly unique experiences I would have there with the Ni-Vanuatu people. I was taking time out of British doctoring, ready to get away from the tick-boxing and medical bureaucracy often rife in Western training. I was keen to get to the heart of a community project, help in anyway possible regardless of role and be part of a something that had significance on a very local level. Becoming involved in building the Joseph Mape dispensary on the West Coast of Santo was just that. From days' treks through the bush recruiting manpower ... read more
One of many..
Carrying the load.
The Bricks

Oceania » Vanuatu » Efate January 27th 2011

Here are some more pictures! Better UW ones! enjoy, Stefan... read more
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