A Day at The Port Vila Races

I managed to get the 737 coming in to land on race day. The biggest event in Vanuatu of the year held every year in July and usually attracting crowds of up to 10,000 people.

He's Green

Found this little fella in the corner of the fare this morning.....

Sebastian, meet Jimmy...

Too be a bit different here is a shot starring Sebastian ( one of my twins) meeting the husband of my nanny for the first time. They had a ball.....

Kayak and a Fish

Two paddling with one lad out the back fishing, what a life! Off the Efate Coast in one of the best fishing spots around

Arriving for lunch in style

Lunch at Kakula Island today, what a magic spot combined with the best way to arrive....

Departing

The Departure gate at Bauerfield International Airfield in Port Vila

Fare

A bungalow at the Port Resolution Yacht Club, simple but an oh so pretty location....

The Turtles Hatched!

These little fellas hatched right on our beach at home, about 150 of them.....

Coming in to the beach

Another top Santo day. Just coming into the beach for a snorkel from the boat.

Heli fun

took a ride to le Lepa Island and landed on the beach for lunch. Hat Island in the background.

Washing in the River

Fun in the surf

This bloke was having a great time in the rain and temporary sea swell at Eton Beach

Pineapples

Produce at the local markets

Getting the Shot

Acclaimed New Zealand photographer, Len Birch, setting up to catch the late at Tamanu Beach Resort. He got the shot, another amazing Vanuatu sunset.

Coconuts

North Efate Coconut plantation with the main road, a typical driving experience around Vanuatu

Wharf

Ferry preparing to load items to be shipped to the Northern Islands like Santo.

Pele island

Preparing for a Fish off the beach at Pele Island

Fun in the sun

Finn and "Diesel" the Vanuatu Husky playing at the beach

Gone Fishing

Visiting Australian Navel vessel in the Port Vila harbour. Look closely and you can see the two crew fishing from the back of the ship with a couple of rods. I want a fishing boat like that.....

Mooring

Vessels of all shapes and sizes moored in the harbour including a container ship and gas supply ship in the back corner of the photo.

Erakor Island

I took this shot a few years ago and it is one of my favourites. Featuring Erakor Island Resort, note the snorkel boat in the bottom right corner. 

Mt Yasur

standing on the crater of an active volcano, once the sun went down it really started to look spectacular

Port Resolution - Gravestone

I came across this gravestone whilst visiting the Port Resolution Yacht Club and Bungalows on the furthermost tip of the island of Tanna.

Yum

Iced Chocolates at Refresh cafe

Cruiseship Day

The Pacific Dawn bringing over 2000 visitors to Port Vila for the day. A huge contributor to the Vanuatu economy.

Oyster Island

The famous Oyster Island Resort, another Vanuatu Icon

Pangona

friends of mine have built a pool on the mainland edge of the coral at Pangona. You can see the trench in the ocean in front of there property where a 1.5m moray eel likes to hang out. We snorkel there a lot and have him observe us whilst we look for Nemo.....

Port Vila Harbour

I managed to snap this shot as we were coming in for final approach in the helicopter. The harbour always has some great colour

BBQ

Another meal fit for a king on the weekend. Port Vila is very social and always a dinner party or lunchtime get together on the weekend.

Banana Boat

Used to transport between the close islands, this "banana boat" as the locals call them, was on the return leg between Pele island and the mainland (Efate), a distance of about 3-4km. Very reliable and economic to run, they take about 8 passengers with some small cargo only.

Waiting for a lift

Waiting for the island boats to take them off the main island and back to the outer island villages after a day/days shopping in Port Vila.

Off Home

One of the staff from Le lagoon Resort paddling home........

Copra Dryer Again!

A lot of people have asked how it works in direct emails so here is a shot of the outside of a Copra Dryer. Basically heat the beams underneath with wood fires and its takes all day to dry a batch. This is a photo taken from outside and you can see the wood bundles beside the fire hatches.

Copra Dryer

A wood fired kiln used to dry the coconut into copra for export. One of the bigger agricultural exports in Vanuatu and how many local Ni Vanuatu make there living.

Swimming Hole

Lots of small swimming holes/inlets are along the coastline, these couple are 20 minutes out of town at Narpow Point

Fishing with the Boys

Fishing with the legendary Kuvu. Unfortunately on this trip it was Fish 4- Fishermen 0. Maybe next time.......

Golf with a view

Not a bad place to play a round.

Kakula

The Villa under construction at Kakula Island.  The project is now on hold but its a stunning location.

Road Side Attraction

A famous stop off point in the visitor circuit around the island.

Transport

The only way to get to some of the beaches in the islands

Visitor

My 4 year old boy found this little friend on his tree swing.

Clothesline

The average weekend clothesline in Port Vila always contains a set of trunks and bikini

Keeping the feet dry

Another picture perfect day, leaving nothing but footprints behind.

Oyster Island

Entrance to the famous Oyster Island Restaurant

Hair Braiding

Plantation

 

Night of The Turtle

 A turtle preparing to lay eggs in front of our house. Another unique Vanuatu experience for us.