Vanuatu

A SUMMER RAIN SHOWER CAME OVER WHEN I PHOTOGRAPHED THE BOAT ANCHORED OFF LUGANVILLE.

 THE HEAT OF THE DAY SAYS, "BOARDIES AND TEE SHIRT" ALL YOU NEED.

 Luganville. VANUATU.:

 Today we have arrived .It's early morning and we are at anchor off the City of Luganville which is the capital city of Santos Island.  Espiritu Santos is a really lovely Island with many jaw dropping beaches and today is a another really great day as I get to go to on a great trip out of the capital to The Raiwi river .A group of us share a van for the day this enables us to go to the many places that we have heard are good to visit here on Southern Santos.. This is definatly the Island of Palm trees, they are in the thousands on their plantations. and as" Copra" used to be the biggest export these trees are still in abundance.now the major bread winner is tourism. The day is hot and humid with temperature around 34 degrees...but it's not the temperature, it is the humidity that you feel most.

GREAT LOOKING FISHING SPOT ALSO FOR A QUICK SWIM

 The best thing about the tropical regions is the fact that the hot summers weather allows you to wear the minimum of clothes the majority of the time. for me everyday its just "boardies" (Board shorts) and T shirts. Here, I will get a new T shirt for my collection as I truly live in them. I share a van with friends and we arrive at the river after a good look around, .some of us get in the first dugout canoe and we are paddelled up this most peaceful river , it is possible to see the bottom of the river all the time no matter the depth,  fish are in abundance and we arrive at a lovely little lagoon ..the water is so blue...There are a couple of ropes to swing from for some fun in the lagoon. This is truly a magic setting..as we are the only ones here at the this time it is just a great fun experience..the water although a fast moving current is not as cold as I thought that it would be.. I return to Luganville ..look through the markets and have some refreshments. A wonderful day in paradise.

WHAT AN IDYLIC SCENE THIS IS !!

DANE ENJOYING A SWING OUT OVER THE LAGOON.

OUR TRANSPORT TO THE LAGOON...THE CAPTAIN OF OUR OUTRIGGER CANOE...SEE THIS AMAZING WATER.

Vanuatu.

I really like these dugout outrigger canoes.

 Espiritu Santo (Santos ) VANUATU
 Champagne Bay.

 I loved this beach  called Champagne Bay..such a beautiful location.

I awake to find we are off another island...another day another island.!! This time it is the beautiful Espiritu Santos..After a very early breakfast, I disembark by tender and come ashore on this absolutely lovely beach with the clearest blue green water...and I know I keep on saying it, but you have to see it to believe it..This is a great beach just to chill...grab some "stray rays" and just lay on the beach or swim and snorkel..The water is a mix of warm current and cold current...strange one minute it is just so warm and next minute you get a hit of cold current...amazingly refreshing.
 I really love this beach the best so far and am
really enjoying things until an everyday rainstorm
decides to change the scenery. The rain is warm, as is the day, usually around 32 to 34 degrees.
Ideal for swimming and having a few cold cocktails.amazing that people live like this every day..There are lobsters for sale ready to eat on the beach..it doesn't get any better than this..

These dugout outrigger canoes are just the most practical form of local transport in these Islands..

Vanuatu..

The "Pilot boat" shows us the way to our berth.

Hard tedious work "Husking Coconuts." produce market....Port Villa.

No shortage of coconuts..sit under the palm tree in the shade.

local clothing and Arts market.. Port Villa.

 Port Villa. VANUATU

The day is very hot and humid temperature around 32-34 degrees C..as I love to walk around any new place that I visit I soon become really hot and look for cool drink..coconut milk is my favourite..and costs very little.. I go to the Department of Customs and get my passport stamped.. The officer asks how long my boat will be here !!...as he thinks that I have just arrived on my personal sailing yacht and are reporting my arrival.it all seems so casual.Island time takes a little time to get used to...as there is never any hurry for anything...I assure him that I am only in the islands of Vanuatu for another week...and he obligingly stamps my passport.. I find a cool cafe and write some postcards to some of the many friends who have asked for a card from this destination.next thing to do.!!! find the Post Office..

Vanuatu.

Just have to have my coconut milk drink.!!.

 Port Villa.: VANUATU.:
 After sailing all night we arrive in the Port Of Port Villa.. Vanuatu in The New Hebrides.
 As it is a major port The "Port Pilot boat" is to show us to our berth and The boat quickly docks .I.have breakfast and go ashore. This is for me excitement and  I share a "Taxi Van"  with six other people as The major township is some kilometers away from the port..I am quite happy to set out around the town and try a local coffee ..It's good.and look at local markets.
    I go to the local bank and Exchange some dollars for local currency..Now I'm off to the markets which I had passed previously.....Here, there is a large range of vegetables , local produce and tropical fruits...and my first stop is to a woman "Husking " coconuts and she quickly cuts the top off one for me to drink.. I absolutely love coconut milk and drink when ever I get the chance..Typically I spill it all down the front of my shirt...bummer... The market holds many different things and I love to watch the locals do their weekly shopping and tie it up in banana leaves to protect and to carry home.I find it very interesting just watch the locals and the simplicity which is their everyday life.

Packing up the groceries.

Husking coconuts...for sale and ready to eat and drink..

The absolute beauty of living in this part of the world and the colours that are so wonderfully vibrant in the tropics.

Vanuatu.

A mental picture one has of a perfect Athol with a surrounding Reef ,with an amazing lagoon for swimming and snorkelling.

The colours here of the lagoon within the reef are absolutely breathtaking. This is known as a" MAKATEA"  a reef of fossilised coral surrounding this island and most amazingly turquoise colored  blue lagoon..

Mystery Island.: VANUATU.: NEW HEBRIDES.:

HAPPY NEW YEAR. The first of January 2015.. and look what I see the first  thing in the morning of the first day of New Year!.....WOW!!!.  Outside my cabin balcony is the most amazing looking Atthol surrounded by the white breakers on the amazing circular Reef..OH !!! This is Known locally as a "Makatea" being a reef of fossilised coral surrounding this island.
       Look at the colour of the Lagoon within the reef.!! The most wonderful blue..This is Mystery Island The second stop on our journey..This is truly the pictures that you see in the glossy travel brochures..and always doubt their authenticity. The Island can only be reached by tender from the ship, as we must anchor quite a way out.. This is very popular with divers and snorkelers as the fish and turtles are in abundance here..also the Island has a magnificent golden sanded beach. This is definately a scene out of  James A Micheners "Aventures in Paradise" or "Tales of the South Pacific" marvellous..

New Caledonia.

 Noumea : NEW CALEDONIA.:

The City of Noumea is a very pleasant place to visit., with its very tropical setting of Palm trees and lovely colorful tropical plants and flowers. I found the people to be very helpful as my spoken french was not so good and nevertheless after all day it did improve somewhat..and as this was just the stay for the day I was quite happy to wander around the city with my camera and take some photos...send some postcards to friends..and must say the Lady at The Philately shop was more than helpful with my stamps for post.This was a souvenir card posted home.

Australia.

By the time we steamed up the harbour the sun had set and was dissapointed not to be able to get some nice photos of the harbour.

Taking it easy and having a "coldie.".. Where are my sun glasses...So Bright.!!!

Sydney.:  AUSTRALIA.:
 When The Pacific Jewel let go of its lines and slipped out of White Bay  The sun was setting.and we watched how close we were going under The Harbour Bridge it was getting quite dark and the chances of getting some nice evening photographs of Sydney Harbour had passed...Having departed late the ship slipped down the Harbour and through the Sydney Headlands out into the Pacific Ocean.
We were on our way with a two day cruise ahead to The French Islands Of New Caledonia..and The  Loyalty Islands. Then to The Islands of Vanuatu  (New Hebrides ). These Islands were to be some of the best swimming and most wonderfully attractive with their beautiful palm tree lined beaches and clearest blue water I had seen outside The Great Barrier Reef.