What can I say? I’m in Vanuatu! It’s a long story – not that long but too long for an expensive internet café. But here I am, and the ultra quick summary: Lots of pretty butterflies, lizards, millions of very friendly rainbow coloured fish. Staying in a very laid back rural area, walking and busing which means we get to see things we’d miss if we were doing taxies and tours. It’s warm, but not unbearable. I don’t normally like hot places, but I keep thinking hmmmm, this is actually quite pleasant.
Love the fish the most – I’ve never been snorkeling anywhere tropical before! My prescription goggles are awesome. Some of the fish look like holograms.
We’ve met some of the locals, including a friend of a friend who is a teacher, and we’re invited to her daughters birthday (9 or 10?) on Saturday.
And THIS is the photo I would have taken if I hadn’t slid on a rock and fallen into the pool at the bottom with my camera. So now I have a waterproof disposable camera, which sucks for close-ups and in many other ways is inferior to my beloved camera, but hey, waterproof! Photos of fish!
Hi Fionnaigh
I hope you have an excellent time in Vanuatu - I'm intrigued in how any story, long or short, ends up there. Penny has me under strict instructions to organise another get-together, so I'll see you next year. Bring your fish photos.
Elizabeth
Posted by: Elizabeth S at December 21, 2006 07:03 PMHa!
You go girl.
Sorry about the camera. I recently dropped my cellphone down a pit latrine here in Uganda, and there ain't no way I'm going down there to get it back...
Malcolm
Ah, yes . . . water and cameras. Travelling with others in Rio my bag got stolen/dumped for my wallet on Copacabana beach. Reliably unsafe. The next day we went to a very safe beach. It was 21 years ago, but I can still remember lying on the beach, toes to the surf, camera beyond my head, when a wave swept over us both. Pooee!
Have a great time in Vanuatu. I rarely get myself beyond 2 wee city bus zones and you've gone and gotten yourself in the Pacific :) Enjoy.
... you've gone and gotten (your sweet self) TO the Pacific, I meant. Continue enjoying.
Posted by: Pamela at December 22, 2006 09:36 PMForgot to share that the temperature here in my flat is 12 C. Bitterly cold southerly winds outside. Hat, wool trousers, socks, thick sweater, thermals and a hot water bottle (on lap) all engaged. Last night I thought the wind chill made it the temperature down to about zero. Just imagine how annoyed Wellington Christmas shoppers were this evening after work, slogging through thick crowds in such abusive weather!
Posted by: Pamela at December 22, 2006 09:43 PMSounds fabulous (except for the camera). Taking local buses in foreign parts gives you a view of the culture you don't see elsewhere.
Posted by: RUTH at December 28, 2006 11:45 AMHey Fionnaigh,
I'm hoping you can help me.
I loved the starlight star bright new lunch box story as a child you referenced here:
http://www.stonesoup.co.nz/ecoqueer/archives/001550.html
I sing starlight star bright with my son every night and we always end with a new lunchbox. :) I just can't remember the name of the book and would love to pick it up off of alibris.com (I actually bought stone soup this way too). Can you remember the name of the book this story was in? If I remember correctly it was one of like 4 stories in a book.