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Lookout over Port Vila and Iririki Island
This was taken from the park across from the Reserve Bank in the back streets of Port Vila The first day of the cruise ship arrivals... our mission? ...to get as far away from them as possible!! After almost a week here in Vanuatu, we were both feeling quite an affinity for the people, culture, and the fishies. We were sure the arrival of over a thousand cruise ship patrons was going to ruin this peaceful, friendly township. We were of course, quite right, but more will be said later. Our task was to get ourselves away from the well-trodden main street, and its well paraded tourist area. We accomplished this by hiring a scooter, of the style anyone who has been to Thailand knows a lot about. Scott went to sort this out, while Kate headed off to the markets for a few last minute items. Kate ran into Estella (see yesterday's blog), and purchased many an extra tablecloth, sarong, etc. Back she walked to find Scott psyched up and ready to go. Now, as people who have primarily lived in NORMAL countries, we're used to driving on the left hand side of the road. Unfortunately, due to WWII, and a sporadic history of US servicemen being based in Vanuatu, the tradition is to drive on any side
Monument opposite the Reserve Bank
This monument is in the park across from the Reserve Bank in the back streets of Port Vila. We don't speak French so we have no idea what it's for. of the road you like, swerving as you feel necessary, and if you've had a few too many coconut shells (of Kava), try and stick as close to the right hand side of the road. Luckily Scott's well versed at swerving across the road, and sometimes sticking to the lawful side of the road. After a shaky and dangerous start, we were on our way with 4hrs to jet around in. We went hooning up the back hills past Parliament and the museum. The museum didn't open until 9am so we went for a ride through more of the backroads of town and to some of the lookouts. We then drove out of town towards the airport then headed down some roads along the water and past a college. We then drove back through town to Breakas Resort. Saw our first conspicuous kava bar (though didn't go in). On the way back we stopped at a couple of galleries but they were all shut. Went back to the Museum (which was now open). Drove around town a little more then headed out to the Tuskers Brewery but it appears they don't have a tour (couldn't even see an entry to
Our fearless driver
S in the Oh So Stylish helmet on the scooter. K wasn't brave enough to take the driver's seat. the place!) so we continued down the road to the Seven Seas Brewery. There was a Ni-van working there who said hello when we entered this most deserted establishment, but then just hovered around us while we sat there. Sensing we were after a drink or some service, he disappeared out the back a couple of times. We asked if he worked there and he said yes but that he wasn't working the bar so we waited a little bit longer then he disappeared out the back again and when he came back, he said that the bar would open this afternoon. So we jumped back on the scooter and headed back to town (stopping on the way for a lemonade, made at the local softdrinks factory). We returned to the scooter place 15 minutes ahead of time but we'd seen everything we'd wanted to see and our rear ends were sore from sitting on the scooter for so long so we said adios to the scooter and headed on our merry way. We headed off to Olympic Takeaway for a bite of lunch, but the place was inundated with loud, obnoxious 'cruisers'from the ship nearby. It really disgusted us
Port Vila
Over near the cruise ship terminal. to hear a loud Australian woman ask if the takeaway shop "took Aussie Dollars". It made us sit back and think about how so many westerners act so arrogantly and in such a self-important manner in other countries (where we are in fact guests!!!), and the impression it must leave these places of what westerners are like. With this, we felt the need to get as far away from these people as quickly as possible. We made a quick trip to two tour companies about travelling to the outer islands, and then retreated to Iririki. We were booked in for a 3pm snorkel tour on the far side of Iririki Island, but arrived at the beach just on 3pm, to find the boat putting off on its way to the other side of the Island 😞 The guy at the beach tried to call them back but they didn't hear him so instead, we grabbed snorkelling gear and snorkelled off the beach and around the jetty. We did still see some beautiful fishies, and of course lots more photos were taken.
At last 6:30pm arrived, and the much talked about Melanesian feast at Iririki. The feast started with an introductory
Breaka Beach
You can just see some of the waves breaking offshore speech by one of the locals about their customs, the ritual of kava and the three rules for drinking kava - 1. Do NOT smell it, 2. Do NOT sip it and 3. Do NOT taste it! We were then all invited to line up and try it. It didn't taste anywhere near as bad as we had expected (though it wasn't that good either, and we suspect it was watered down for the tourists 😉). After the tasting of the kava, we made our way to our seats as the kastom band Futuna Fatuana started up. They performed songs throughout dinner and then later did some kastom dances, explaining what each dance was for and when it was performed. Some of them were rather... interesting. To us, the dances performed after the welcome drinks on Monday night seemed more genuine than the ones performed at the Feast, and the singing we experienced on the boat was much more natural and enjoyable.
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