Day 7

Up early this morning, determined to make the most of our last day and tick the things that we still want to do off the list. After breakfast, we made a quick trip over to Port Vila to shop for a few bits and pieces to bring home. Among other things, Brett and I bought our own snorkel gear. Yesterday we returned the gear that we borrowed from the resort to Tom - Gym, and I saw him give them straigt out again to somebody else. Eeeeewww. I'm not sure about Tom-Gym's future at the resort.
We then went for a Zego ride. A Zego is kind of like a quad bike for the water and is 10 diferent kinds of fun! Our guide, Brownie, gave us a bit of local history as we stopped in different spots around the harbour, but mostly it was about whizzing about feeling like James Bond in a high speed water chase. So, so much fun.
Next we squeezed in another quick snorkel to try out our new gear and then it was off on our finale - a sunset cruise on a motor sailboat. Bubbly and canapes while sailing into the sunset - a perfect end to a perfect holiday. Its hard to believe that tomorrow we will be leaving this beautiful place, but boy have we had a great time while we have been here. Bring on the next trip!

Day 6

We decided to have a chilled out day and hang out at the resort today. There are catamarans that you can take out from the resort, but, given our minimal water sport experience, Brett and i decided that we would book a lesson first.

A wee flag went up in the back of my head when I noted that the guy who came to give us a lesson had a name tag that said "Tom - Gym", but I figured that maybe "Gym" might cover all physical activities, so I didn't really worry about it.

The photo you see here is as we set off and the only period that we actually did any actual sailing. My suspicions were further piqued after about 10 minutes of him fruitlessly trying to have the sail "catch its own wind" while we drifted backwards down the harbour (despite the pretty natty wind blowing) when Tom muttered ''it should go, I don't know why it won't". Uh oh. "Hey Tom" I say, "How long have you been at the resort?" Tom replies (with a hint of panic in his voice) "3....2.....7 months". "Hmmmm" I think, "Note to self, make sure that you check before you take a sailing lesson, that your tutor knows how to sail".

10 minutes later, still drifting, Tom tells us he wishes he had remembered his cell phone. Yup, us too. He tried to whistle up a couple of frinds as we drifted by, but the wind was too strong for the sound to carry. Thank goodness we were still in the harbour and not drifting out to sea! A little while later, we washed up on a coral beach - embarrassingly enough, just outside the yacht club. Brett and I waited with the boat (drawing a crowd) and Tom took off to find help.

30 minutes later, one of the resorts service boats arrived to rescue us and ferry me and Brett back to the island. Tom was left to bring the catamaran back and we saw him still inching his way back up the harbour as we wandered back to our room. None the worse for wear, but with a lesson learned - although not the one we had expected.

After lunch we went snorkelling off the point at Iririki. We found Nemo and his family - safe and well and playing among the anemones.

Dinner was the Seafood Buffet at Micheners on Iririki. During dinner we were entertained by a group of local ladies who performed dances from various Pacific Islands - with very quick costume changes in between. They sure can shimmy those hips.

Last day tomorrow, hard to believe.

Day 5

We managed to get up early enough to be at breakfast at 7 and then headed off in the opposite direction to yesterday in search of the Blue Lagoon. We had been told it was a beautiful spot, but it was a 30 minute drive, so we needed to do it while we had transport.
Brett took the wheel again and off we went, finding the road much better than we had been told it would be…until about half way. Then we hit unsealed roads with more holes than swiss cheese – more unplanned adventure! It was weird fro me too, my natural instinct normally being to grab onto the door rest with my left hand for the hairy bits – but of course in a left-hand drive car, this meant that what I grabbed was the gearstick instead! Had to quickly release it again, afraid that I was going to pop it out of gear, and Toni said that from the rear seat it looked as if I was grabbing for the steering wheel each time. It was a relief for everyone I think when we finally found the Blue Lagoon – just before we were going to have to give up as we would have run out of time to get back (the maps provided are pretty sparse on landmarks, so it is hard to tell exactly where things are).
Thank goodness we found it though, we would all have been disappointed not to have been to such a gorgeous place. The lagoon is a mixture of salt and fresh water and has tropical fish happily swimming in it. Because it is in the middle of nowhere and it was earlyish in the morning, we were the only ones there. We took what little time we had left to take a swim and relax in the buoyant water and tranquil atmosphere. A shame we had so little time, we could easily have stayed there for ages.
Never mind, back to town to drop off the ute and then we headed back to Iriki for a wind down day of reading and napping. This evening we have been to a steakhouse in town and have wandered home full and exhausted again from all of this relaxation. Still, we hope to do some more of it tomorrow. Will keep you posted x x

Day 4

Today we hired a double cab ute and experienced the roads of Efate first-hand. Brett took the wheel – which meant that I was the front seat passenger – and off we went driving on the right-hand side of the road. It was VERY disconcerting to see traffic coming toward us but feeling like you were in the wrong place, and it is especially spooky making left had turns. So much for relaxing – more grey hairs for me!!
Anyhoo, we set off for the Mele Village Cascades. After a bit of a walk up through the bush, we came to the cascades. Not just a waterfall, but literally a series of cascading drops down the river into blue pools. It was beautiful. Steps have been cut into the rock along the waterways and we made our way to the top where the biggest fall comes out of the bush and we had a swim in that pool. The water was very cold, but it was lovely after the walk. If you swim through one of the cascades, there is a ‘secret’ cave behind it, so that was a wee adventure – it takes a surprising amount of courage to launch yourself through a wall of water into the unknown!
Next it was Tony’s turn to take the wheel and we drove back down the road to Mele Island (also known as Hideaway Island) as we had been told that it had amazing snorkeling. It most certainly did! Literally at your first step into the water, the fish are with you. No more than 10 metres away, the reef begins and the water is so clear that the light is able to get to the coral easily – meaning that the coral and fish colours are beautiful. Brett and I decided that it was the best snorkeling location we had ever been to – and only a step away from the beach, with bar, restaurant and toilets etc – who could ask for more?
There is also an underwater post office just by the reef, where you can dive down and write on waterproof postcards before posting them into an underwater mailbox. They also feed the fish in that spot, so there are a lot of them hanging around.
We reluctantly left the island as the sun was getting closer to disappearing – and managed to hit ‘rush hour’ traffic. The roads are narrow and busy and Brett was very pleased that it was Tony who had to negotiate his way through it.
After freshening up, we went to a restaurant called Chill in Port Vila for dinner where I ordered Coconut Crab. The next thing I knew, the waitress had appeared and tied a bib around my neck! I wondered what I had gotten myself into and then it arrived. What a size the coconut crab must be! Even in bits, it was mounded high on the plate – so plenty to share, which was good because it was delicious.
We have decided that we will get up early in the morning as we want to go to a spot at the other side of the island before we have to have the ute back at 10:15 – here’s hoping we manage that OK.

Day 3

Sorry to report that it has been another amzing day here in 'the happiest place on earth' - sorry for you, not us!

We had an early start to the day for breakfast at 7 as we were due to be picked up from the ferry shack at Port Vila at 8. So began our day with us thinking that perhaps we had booked the adventure tourism outing - we had Michel Schumacher's Vanuatuan cousin pick us up in his Toyota Hiace and perform some low flying manouveres (some of them VERY low flying into the numerous potholes) as we travelled to the other side of the island.

We emerged from a clearing to see a 2 masted schooner upon a turquoise ocean beyond a golden beach. Toni and I both gasped at the sight of it, so sudden and so perfect. And yes, thats what we were there for - our day trip on the ocean.

We were ferried out to the boat on a motorised barge and , once another 2 van loads of passengers had arrived, headed under motor over the channel to Moso Island. We disembarked there to look at the turtle farm that they have there which is devoted to continuing the turtle population.

Next we were back on the boat and motored around to the other side of the island and moored off a beautiful beach. We were ferried to the beach to drop our gear and then those who wanted to snorkel (definitely us!) were taken out to a reef on the edge of a drop off to the Pacific. It was gobsmacking! The water was clearer than when we snorkelled on the Great Barrier Reef so the colours were extraordinary and SO many beautiful and interesting fish and coral. Just magical.

Too soon, it was time to head back in and we had a barbeque lunch before lying in the sun and having a wee bubbly as today's birthday drink (as this is Tony's birthday trip, we must have a happy birthday moment every day you see).

Around 2:30, we headed back to the Coongoola (who was the mother ship for the Sydney to Hobart race in the 50s and 60s) and the crew unfurled the sails to prepare to sail back. Unfortunately, somebody had become sick (probably too much sun and too much beer - some of the Aussies can chug it back!) which meant that we had to take the sails back down again and motor home. Ah well, it was still an amazing day and I'm sure we will still find some sailing time before we come home.

Tonight we are hanging out at home, having been to the supermarket for bread, cheese and choccy. A fab end to a fab day. Tomorrow we are hiring a car to do some more tripping around exploring the island. Will let you know what treasures we find.

We have all been thinking of you, our families, missing you even though we are having a wonderful time. Love to you all from us all xxxx

Day 2

I am writing this, sitting on the balcony of our fabulous penthouse apartment, stopping frequently to take photos of the glorious sunset over the Pacific - one of which I have posted here for you to share. I can’t imagine anywhere more lovely.

This morning, we were awake at about 6:30 (NZ 7:30) and eased into the day with a cuppa and a book on the balcony, a quick dip and then a leisurely brekkie. Then it was over the harbour to check out port Vila. The market was amazing – fresh produce known and unknown and colours and noise everywhere. The market is apparently open 24 hours – just in case you need a lettuce at 3am J

We wandered up and down the main street – astounded at the amount of traffic – and then before you know it, it was time for a drink again. We found a great spot under an umbrella at a harbourside café and had a wee gin / beer. As we were deciding what we would do next, we got chatting to a guy who had a boat moored beside us and it turned out that the boat had dropped glass walls in the bottom and he was getting ready to do a fish spotting and snorkeling trip. Seemed like a great idea so we headed back to the island to get our togs etc and he picked us up from there.

Unfortunately, the wind had been blowing a bit, so the water was a bit stirred up and the glass viewing was a little disappointing. When we got to the snorkeling bit though it was awesome. We were given baguette to feed the fish with – holding it in our hands while we were in the water. The fish rushed it! Sometimes confusing bits of body for bread which got a few squeals out of me and Toni – but didn’t seem to bother the fish.

After what seemed like too short a time, it was time to head back to – you guessed it – try out another bar. A quick one this time, then back here to freshen up and write this before heading back to dinner.

…Just returned from dinner in the Michener Restaurant – another lovely experience. What a setting – very much as you imagine a luxurious pre-war colonial restaurant, which is (I guess) what it would have been in James Micheners time here. We watched a display of native dancing, ate a delicious buffet, drank a bottle of wine – doesn’t it sound awful! Not!!!

Tomorrow we are up early, off on a day trip on a sailing ship to snorkel with turtles and lunch on a sandy white beach somewhere in paradise. We will let you know how it went when we update this in another couple of days.

Day 1

Well folks, if you want to find somewhere for instant unwind, this is it. What a fabulous place - so beautiful, friendly and relaxing.

We arrived yesterday morning to fab weather and had an ‘interesting’ taxi ride to the jetty in port Vila Harbour. There is so much traffic and such bad roads and they drive on the right side of the road, which made it feel pretty hairy! However, the driver was very friendly and welcomed us warmly – setting the trend for everybody else that we have come into contact with here.

We were picked up and ferried across the harbour (about 500m) to the jetty on Iririki Island and our holiday began. We knew this because we were met by guys who insisted that we were not to carry our own bags, stating “your holiday has begun”. Tipping is not practiced here, so they aren’t just trying to get a bit of extra dosh either – they mean it.

We were greeted with drinks, and a flower behind the ear for me and Toni, then we were driven by golf buggy to our apartments on the opposite side of the island. Wow! We feel like the beautiful people! Two floors, modern and spacious. Downstairs, lounge with big flat screen TV, office areas, dining area, fully appointed kitchen (including laundry), bathroom with shower and toilet and a spa outside on the balcony. Upstairs, bedroom with a full wall of closet, big flat screen TV, bathroom with shower, toilet and spa bath and a chaise lounge outside on the balcony. They are built about 20 metres up from the water so the view is unimpeded and beautiful. Spacious, clean and cool – in both meanings of the word – AND a bottle of Moet in the fridge as part of the package. Truly this is something special. The guy who brought us to our room was really thrilled that we were excited about how gorgeous it is (as you can imagine, we did a lot of oohhing and gasping as he showed us through – not ones to hold back when we are excited), everybody seems really proud of what they have to offer and they love it when we love it too.

After unpacking, we wandered down to the pool area and had some lunch and cocktails – we figured that since we had been up since 5am – 3 hours earlier than normal – we needed to add 3 hours to the time (2pm) to determine ‘body’ time. Therefore, it was 5pm ‘body’ time and acceptable cocktail hour. So I have had some of the ‘have one for me’ cocktails and will make sure that I fit the rest in before the end of the week. We chilled by the pool, reading and ‘rehydrating’ for the afternoon and that was a great way to ease in to holiday mode. We relocated to a restaurant on the island, just in time for cocktail happy hour, and stayed for dinner on the deck looking back toward Port Vila. It was a perfect, wind free island evening – and as it was Sunday evening, fabulous singing (and a very long sermon) wafted across the water to us. The bill was a bit mind blowing though – the 1 NZ dollar is worth about 64 Vatu, so the dinner and drinks bill for the four of us was 13,625.00! Takes a bit of getting your head around!

About 8:30, we found ourselves knackered from a day of traveling and lying about and headed off to bed and fell asleep to the sound of waves gently lapping the shore below us.

Vanuatu here we come!

Only 3 sleeps to go! This time next week we intend to be lying on a beach after an exhausting morning lying on a beach recovering from the night before eating and drinking at a restaurant on a beach. Sigh...will try to find time in this busy schedule to post the odd picture of us lying on a beach. (Internet access dependent of course)