Blogs from Port Vila, Efate, Vanuatu, Oceania - page 5

Vanuatu is a country we didn't know very much about so were itching to get there and explore. What we did know is that the third world country is melanesian, not polynesian, their official language is French though most people speak pidgin English, and that it has been voted "happiest country on earth". We were welcomed at the airport by a local string band singing songs about Vanuatu. The songs were fantastic, although they gradually all began to sound very similar. Not to worry, this did not detract from the enthusiasm of the eight male singers and musicians who sang of their beloved homeland, keeping time with a consistent left to right stepwise dance. They wore custom dress, ususally a long colourful smock, and floral head dress. Their instruments included a bass string instrument fashioned out ... read more

I've crawled my way out of the bush and am refueling in the Capital for a bit. All is good. We have the land and a rough action plan to start the RTC, apparently I should be proud. I"ve been voted on to a PC Committee - Women in Development/Gender and Development. Which I'm sure all my female friends will be proud. Ok so you know you can contact me while I'm in town (if you hadn't know, it's been my sister updating my blog. ) - Christa... read more

Yesterday I was officially sworn in. Training is over and I am apparently ready for just about anything. Including the cyclones which are hitting us like mad this year. (Cyclone is hurricane downunder, and I think they spin in the opposite direction like the toilets... no kidding) ..So one week in the capital and then I'm off, 6mos without internet so please WRITE... I'll continue to write my sister and she will be the one to update this blog. Ok hope everyone is well... - C... read more

I thought I was pretty luck to score a couple of months in Fiji, but I somehow also managed to score a (work) trip to Vanuatu. From the outset it has to be said that Port Vila is a beautiful city, so laid back with such naturally stunning surroundings, I slipped into an automatic state of relaxation. If work wasn’t nagging on my mind I could have had a fabulous trip, but alas duty called so unfortunately clear sunny days were spent in the office. But the afternoons, with vibrantly coloured sunsets and a drink in hand, were all mine. The trip started with an ungodly wake up at 4am, on my birthday no less! Well I soon made up for that, as I sat on the plane (still half asleep) the lady next to me ... read more

So I was lying up in the cockpit just a bit ago thinking about some emails I want to send when I get into town in a few days. One of them was to a friend I’ve been meaning to email the last two times I’ve been to the internet. I want know if they went to Buffett this summer or not. I started thinking about the rest of the email. All the usual. “What have I missed? How are things?” blah blah blah. To which I know the response would have the other usual questions. “How is the trip? How is sailing? Where are you going next?” and “When are you coming back?” It was this last question that got me thinking. “When am I coming back?” Well, no time soon. But in reality I ... read more