Time for another blog update…
The wet season is starting to kick in here in the South
Pacific, and with it has come our first potential cyclone warning – a tropical
low forming to the north of Vanuatu as I type which may or may not turn into a
cyclone over the next 48 hrs. Chances are not, but there’s a small feeling of
anticipation. Rather than a spectacular storm though, it probably just means
humidity that you could drown in and rain, lots of rain!
But to update you on what I’ve been up to in recent weeks,
here is my top 5 (in no particular order):
« Quality sibling time
Phil and Ellie made it here for a week of fun-filled
adventure. Diving (Phil completed his PADI course while he was here),
zip-lining, island-hopping, visiting waterfalls and blue lagoons, and of course
a must-try kava experience in a nakamal (kava bar).
 |
| Sisterly love |
 |
| Some kids fishing out the front of our bungalow, Pele Island |
 |
| Fun on the Blue Lagoon rope swing |
 |
| Lets go diving! |
 |
| Zip-lining through the jungle |
 |
| Mmmm, the taste of paradise! |
* A word on kava: Kava is a popular drink enjoyed throughout the pacific
islands. It is not an alcohol, rather a plant based drink which has mild
sedative and anaesthetic properties. In some parts of Vanuatu, kava was
traditionally prepared by chewing the root of the kava plant and straining it
with water – these days it is usually ground through a mincer or pounded on a
stone. The strength of the kava varies depending on how it is produced, how
fresh it is and what part of the plant has been used – effects can range from a
mild numbness of the lips and general feeling of relaxation, to an inability to
walk or talk until the kava wears off (usually after large amounts). Nakamals
are hugely popular in Vanuatu, particularly among the men (in some villages it
is forbidden for women to drink kava) for an after-work shell - it is often
served in coconut shells, costing 50-100VT or between 50c and $1 depending on
the size of the serving. The taste and smell is somewhere between fermented
cucumber and muddy water, so it is best to hold your nose and skull it down in
one go.
« Slumming it house sitting on the lagoon
For the last two and a half months I have been lucky enough
to have teed up a house sit, only two doors down from where I was living
before. Rosie (housemate) and I have been enjoying the spacious kitchen,
comfortable beds, dishwasher, cleaner, deck with view of lagoon and gorgeous
(if not spoilt and attention-seeking) dog, Gunner. And best of all, saving on
rent! Another week left house hitting here, and then we have another couple of
house sits lined up to take us through until mid January.
 |
| Housemates - on the truck to the wharf for a work trip to Nguna Island |
 |
| Our view from the deck of our house sit |
 |
| Gunner - the most spoilt guard dog ever! |
« Diving, diving and more diving
I have now clocked up 20 dives and over 1000 minutes
underwater – I am loving the coral gardens and flourishing marine life right on
my doorstep, and I’m trying to make the most of it while I’m here – I’ll well
and truly miss it when I’m back in Northam. The local pool won’t quite be the
same!
 |
| More diving! |
 |
| Pristine waters at Devil's Point - a whole underwater world to discover |
I have also booked in to do my advanced dive course next
weekend – in preparation for Caitlin and Cal’s visit in January when we will
hopefully dive the Coolidge wreck off Santo. (For anyone interested, the
Coolidge was a luxury ocean liner converted into a troop ship during WWII,
which sank after being struck by a mine in 1942. It is meant to be in the top
10 best wreck dives in the world).
«
Off the rock for a brief snow change
Late October, Rosie and I left the island for a bit of a
break – a week in New Zealand to catch up with Shaini and see a bit of the
(slightly bigger) north island. A bit of a cooler change compared to Port Vila,
but Auckland put on some beautiful sunny days for us. Some time to catch up
with some old travel friends, amazing hosts (thanks Shaini and Aaron) and some
funny road-tripping times (which may or may not have included planking, wearing
crazy hats, and Shaini dancing around the hire car in the supermarket carpark
to the amusement of onlookers!).
 |
| Hello Auckland! |
 |
| Piha Beach |
 |
| Fun times in Wellington |
 |
| The hire car was taken over by a sheep and an elephant... |
 |
| Brrrr! Cold times in National Park! |
 |
| Snow-capped Ngauruhoe Volcano (I take no responsibility for the most recent eruption of Mt Tongariro...) |
«
A fair bit of work in between
Work has been very busy and continues to be hugely
rewarding. I have been continuing to run the Early Intervention group two
mornings a week in conjunction with my counterpart Knox (who came on board 4
months ago), as well as fitting in lots of home visits and training up staff. I
am also in the process of applying for a scholarship to send someone to India
to complete a course in Prosthetics and Orthotics, and have been liaising with
a surgery team in Australia to try to get a small girl sent for surgery on some
burns scar tissue on her legs. Along with some grant applications and updating
forms and procedures, I’m hoping I can finalise most of these in the three
months that I have left here (I have been told on numerous occasions that
Vanuatu all-but shuts down over Christmas and January – taem blong spel – but I
will try to push through.)
 |
| Crafting with the pikinini |
 |
| Road-testing some electric wheelchairs |
I’m home (to NSW) for a week at Christmas, then the
countdown will be on to the end of my assignment!
Bae mi lukim yufala soon!
