Vanuatu

Travel Photos»2012 NZ and Melanesia
Espiritu Santo. While Caroline went for a dip in this amazingly blue fresh water hole.... Espiritu Santo. ... and for a swim at Champagne Beach.... Espiritu Santo. ... Stephen went for dayhike over loose bamboo bridges.... Espiritu Santo. ... wading through rivers in caves.... Espiritu Santo. ... to reach Millenium Caves. Espiritu Santo. ... over steep ladders....
Espiritu Santo. ... very steep ladders.... Espiritu Santo. Emerging at the other side of Millenium Caves. Espiritu Santo. A refreshing coconut drink at the end of the hike. Espiritu Santo. Village at start and finish of hike. Lawa Village, Malekula. The village was expecing us: The Elders welcomed us at the specially decorated entrance. Lawa Village, Malekula. Everything was decorated for us, even the coconuts...
Lawa Village, Malekula. ... which were offered to us on arrival, and were extremely fresh and yummy. Lawa Village, Malekula. We were invited to observe 'kastom dancing' (traditional dancing). Lawa Village, Malekula. Not just us, the visitors, were spectators; the whole village came out to watch (the dancing as much as us). Lawa Village, Malekula. Kastom Dancing. To ask for a good harvest, plentiful bounty from the sea and good fortune in general. Lembinwan Village, Malekula. The village beach. Lembinwan Village, Malekula. Village setting.
Lembinwan Village, Malekula. The village. Lembinwan Village, Malekula. The local string band - every village has one. They combine ukelele, guitars, basic base and popular song and it is extremely difficult not too at least start tapping your feet! Lembinwan Village, Malekula. Local mask. Lembinwan Village, Malekula. Boat, zodiac, ship. Pentecost Island. Traditional village welcome. Pentecost Island. We came here to witness an essential part of the annual yam harvest, the 'Land-Diving of Pentecost'. It is a tightly held and carefully observed ritual that is unique to the island. The villagers built steps for us to help us up the slippery slope.
Pentecost Island. The Tower. Men jump off of wooden towers (made only with natural parts) 20-30 meters / 66 to 98ft high, with 2 tree vines tied around their ankles. Pentecost Island. The jumpers look on as everything is being readied. Pentecost Island. For boys Land-Diving is also a rite of passage into manhood. If one decides at anytime to not jump, there is no shame, they'll try again the next year. Pentecost Island. Platforms are set at different heights, with the most experienced diver jumping from the top. Pentecost Island. The jump. Pentecost Island. Every jumper chooses his own vines.
Pentecost Island. According to the Guinness World Records, the G-force experienced by those at their lowest point in the dive is the greatest experienced in the nonindustrialized world by humans. Pentecost Island. The idea is to touch the loosened ground with the shoulders, which will ensure a plentiful yam harvest. Pentecost Island. Again we were as much a spectacle as the Land-Diving was. The whole village came out for both. Ureparapara. Sailing into an extinct strato-volcano, with one side breached by the sea. The pilot boat is doing soundings. The crater is less than 1 mile / 1.6 km across and about 3 miles / 4.8 km long. Ureparapara. The village. Ureparapara. Traditional warriors welcome.
Ureparapara. Kastom dancing. The 2 in the middle stay stationery while beating the rythm. Ureparapara. Meanwhile backstage the women and girls were getting ready for their kastom dance. Ureparapara. Kastom dancing. Ureparapara. Ureparapara. Ureparapara. These women were getting ready to show us the most amazing spectacle.
Ureparapara. They make music and their only instrument is the water. Ureparapara. Waiting for the next zodiac to take us back to The World. Ambrym. Stephen went for a hike up a volcano to enjoy views like this. Ambrym. Yep, it was steep and somewhat challenging. You can see people somewhat in the middle. Ambrym. A look inside the crater. Ambrym. The hikers.
Ambrym. The view. Ambrym. Meanwhile Caroline hiked up the hill to see the sacred kastom 'Rom Dance'. Ambrym. The setting for the Rom Dance. The building is taboo as this is where the masks and costumes for the dance are made. Anyone caught peeking at them before the dance is subject to a heavy fine. Ambrym. It costs 120,000 vatu (about $100) or a pig to buy the right and the knowledge to make a Rom mask and dance in the ceremonies. This is way more than the average income, for the few who have jobs. And then it costs extra each time a color is added to the mask. Ambrym. The costumes, made of dried banana leaves, and masks are destroyed right after the dance. Ambrym. The Rom dance is an initiation dance used in the grade taking ceremonies called Maghe, to enable advancement to higher levels within the tribal social structure.
Ambrym. Tamtams and statues. Ambrym. Port Vila. Sand Drawing. We where given a demonstration in the museum. Each drawing represents a story and is done in one fluent motion (without lifting the finger). Sand Drawing is recognized by UNESCO. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_drawing Port Vila. Colorful markets. Port Vila. Never before given any thought to how exactly peanuts grow... Port Vila. Fruit and vegetabels wrapped in banana leaves.
Port Vila. Take-out at the markets. Also gets wrapped in banana leaves. Port Vila. Abel and Cathy Nako's Nakamal, a place where kava is prepared and consumed. Port Vila. Sunset form our balcony. Tanna. Traditional village welcome. Tanna. The village had been decorated for our arrival. Tanna. Just about all the cars on the island had been mustered to drive us around.
Tanna. Village beach. Tanna. Two statues... and who's that 3rd familiar silhouette? Tanna. Getting ready for the local kastom dance. Tanna. Dancers. Tanna. Every village has their own kastom dances. Tanna. Colorful dancers.
Tanna. We went for a hike up to some mudpools and were rewarded with this view. Tanna. We went on a 4WD sunset trip to the rim of Mt Yasur and that was what we were greeted with on arrival! DSC9836 Mt Yasur is a very active volcano indeed. Tanna. Yes, we really were this close to the rim, about 50-100m / 160-328ft. Tanna. No kidding. Tanna. And Mother Nature treated us to an amazing spectacle!
Tanna. You could feel the blasts as much as see them and it was amazingly beautiful and scary at the same time. Tanna. Tanna. A very fitting farewell to Vanuatu.