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Published: July 30th 2008
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Photos by Cody Reed
Except spider and volcano photos (taken by yours truly)
My Only Travel Tip: Forget every travel tip you've ever been given, including this one. I keep trying to sit down and describe this final stop in the Pacific Ocean before sailing to Australia, but the moment I try to write about it, I erase it all and try to start again.
So I'll start again.
Up until 5 months ago, I had never even heard of the country of Vanuatu. I hadn't heard of the tiny island of Tanna in its southern waters either until we set our course to it!
It became one of those very rare places while traveling when you arrive with absolutely no expectations, no travel advice, and not one single idea of what you might encounter.
One moment, we were battling the fury of an angry ocean, surrounded by nothing but frothing water and crashing waves, and the next, sliding into a mysterious bay overlooked by frond huts, on a tiny South Seas island dominated by tropical jungle and a rumbling, smoking volcano.
I hesitate to write any more and just let the
photos tell the story. I hate the thought of building up another traveler's expectations about the place.
I want to describe drinking kava (a mild intoxicant made from a native plant root) in the
nakamal under a full moon, walking barefoot along the jungle trails in the middle of the night with our new friends while carrying smoldering sticks as torches, entering primitive villages and exchanging gifts with the chief (receiving namely feathers, vegetables and piglets), or playing soccer with a bunch of shrieking kids on a black volcanic sand beach.. but instead I'll just wait til the stories pour out over a pint of beer back at home one day!
That said, describing the stories themselves is the easy part. Describing the feeling you get when you think you've
discovered paradise on earth is another thing altogether, especially where and when you never expected to find it.
We came for the BBQ... then let the adventure all unfold before our eyes.
- Written while sailing west from Vanuatu towards Australia, on this final 1000 mile stretch of the Pacific Ocean.
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Hazel Webber (Mum)
non-member comment
Paradise - you bet!
Absolutely fantastic Clive, and it was great to see some shots of you, looking well and happy. An experience you will never forget, and we won't either after we have that pint of beer together and really catch up. Thank you for broadening our outlook on life!