An explosive holiday in Vanuatu

With Nat away on work till Christmas and Air Pacific offering half price flights in the region, I took the opportunity to visit a totally new country for me – Vanuatu.

The pictures tell most of the tale, but I had an amazing time exploring this fascinating country of 85 islands and 150 languages!

The national language is Bislama – or Pigeon English. Written down you can quickly figure out what things mean, and it has some amazing phrasing.  A piano is called “Big Fella box, you kil em, it blong noise” Roughly translated is: White mans’ box which when you hit it, it makes a noise. Another favourite is the name for bikini top or bra – Basket blong titi…

The star of the show was the volcano on the island of Tanna. The reason for my trip and it didn’t disappoint as the lava shot into the air and the ground shook under our feet. Terrifying and totally terrific.

Another highlight on Tanna was being part of the weekly John Frum celebrations. John ‘from’ America is said to a solider who visited the island during WWII and gave the people western goods. Since he left several villages on Tanna have developed a new religion based around John Frum as their god who they pray will return to save them soon.

Iz Klosed.

View back to Port Vila.

The dive boat - I did three dives during my hols and the water was the clearest I've seen anywhere. Like glass...

A bass box being played - he varied the notes by pushing or pulling the pole with great skill.

The WWII 'Museum'.

Traditional outrigger canoe.

Collecting coconuts for a walking thirst-quencher.

A view of the volcano - Mt Yasur.

Walking on Tanna was lovely down lost tracks.

People live in traditional huts on Tanna.

The John Frum village during the day.

Note the knife being carried by the kid on the left. A lovely toy.

The water here was the temperature of a hot bath. Gorgeous!

A mighty banyan tree - see the people for scale...

My home for four nights.

Kustom dancing.

The girls took a keen interest in the young boys who were part of my small group.

Spot the odd one out!

Face paint from the custom dancers. At the end the ladies came over and rolled their faces across mine to tranfser their paints.

The first eruption. Glad I bought some spare underpants.

The John Frum celebration - you could see and hear the volcano in the background doing it's thing making it all very surreal.

John Frum seems to be a good excuse for a party every Friday to be honest!