Vanuatu - Images From Various Islands and Villages in Efate

Vanuatu consists of 82 islands and each one is distinct. I live in North Efate the mainland with gorgeous coastal regions, friendly villagers, our first tar-sealed Ring Road (main road around the entire island) and endless gardens with fruits and vegetables. Capturing the beauty of Efate is not difficult to do because, with the exception of the capital of Efate Port Vila, the rest of the country is relatively untainted by tourism or the Westernization that we see in most foreign countries. The images below are just a few of the places I've been bless to see with my own eyes. Enjoy a Touch of Vanuatu!

First up NGUNA Island. An island North of Efate. The photos below were taken on the top of a dormant volcano that is now used to hike and grow gardens. The view from on top is breathless on a clear day.



Next up, the island of EFATE. My home until November 2011.


Afta we have PENTACOST....


Than we have MALAKULA the first island I visited after Efate for my "wokaboat" aka walk-about visiting mid-service volunteers. And where I discovered the first blender! Fresh mango margaritas here we come!

Visiting the Island of Pentacost

The Nangol Tower in Pangi.
Hand-made by the vilage men/boys. Women are not allow to touch it. If touched by a female they will not use the Tower for jumping as its considered cursed.

Every year between April and June several villages practice the traditional custom event called Nangol or Land Diving on the island of Pentacost. Back in the day Nangol was practiced during Yam Season to ensure a good harvest. Nowadays, its focused on bringing in the tourists. Either way the villages reap the benefits of exposing "white folks" to their culture and making money by entertaining us. The basic concept is boys and men build a giant tower about 100 feet or higher and take turns jumping off of different tiers or planks. The youngest (age 7 is when boys may begin jumping) will jump from the first plank and every boy/man thereafter jump from a higher plank. The last and highest plank is left for the eldest and most experienced jumper. When they land they actually hit the soft dirt. It looks hella painful and some of the guys grabbed their crotch in pain after jumping. That's can't be good for their little soldiers, but that's custom for you. Honestly half naked men singing tribal songs and jumping from a 100 foot tower is hot in any country... I don't care who/where you are! I was blessed to hang out with my friends/Peace Corps Volunteers and their families for 5 days in Southern Pentacost. We watched a group of 7 men/boys dance and land dive...it was wicked cool.

Before watching Nangol we helped Erica De Los Santos' primary school in Pangi to celebrate the end of Term 1 with games, painting little girls nails, playing football and eating alot of island kaekae (food). We also visited the village of Ranwas where Katie Gobel resides, which I must note is absolutely gorgeous....think Lord of the Rings meets the Pacific. We walked for 4 hours of what I can only describe as hell because the previous day I had some sickness perhaps from the water and was so dehydrated the next day. I don't ever want to die from dehydration in the middle of the desert is like being hungover, but worse. blah! We also visited Lauren Bower's village in Point Cross, which is situated on top of a steep/slippery/muddy hilltop thanks to endless rain during the week. Of course I fell on my bum going downhill and I had a 60-year old woman help me. She could walk down a slippery hill barefoot like nobodies business...now that's talent!We also participated in Lauren's school's Term 1 festivities with a make-shift Slip n' Slide that the kids loved, but one Abu (Grandma) seemed to dislike because her grand kids were a muddy mess after a few turns down the slide. She was smacking them with a tree branch everytime they ran back up to slide back down. I was rolling of laughter at her face. It reminded me of the days my mom would smack us with a "switch" from our neighbors tree....Guess getting a smack down with a tree branch is Universal.

Enjoy the pics!

Zoe and David (PCV from Fiji who was visiting Vanuatu) hanging in front of Erica's house. In the background is the Pangi Primary school, which is under construction.

In route to Point Cross, Pentacost. The waters look calm, but as we reached "the point" of the island it was rough. Another 15 minutes on this tiny boat and I would been sick to my stomach!

PCV Jennifer paints a Pangi student's nails for 50 vatu. Pink was the favorite color for most girls.

Erica sets up a game with the pikininis in Pangi

Erica's famous bush cabbage soaked in coconut milk. Utensils not included or required.

PCV Ryan chills with his Ipod dock outside of Erica's custom house in Pangi.

A 7-year old Pangi pikinini boy readies himself to jump.

A teenage Pangi young man jumps from the second tier.

Hanging out in front of the Tower waiting for the jumps to begin.

The top plank is jumped by the eldest man.

Absolutely amazing what these men do!

The Pangi men and boys dance before each jump.

A Pangi boy dances his best moves while his friend/brother watches.


Climbing up one of the many hills in Point Cross. This one is in good condition.


Point Cross will never be the same thanks to the PCV Slip n Slide (courtesy of PCV Mariel)


Sandra, my boy BOB and Laura returning to Pangi from Point Cross. (Bob is a worldly traveller!)

All My Purple Ladies

Top: Some of my Purple Ladies in front of their dorm. They are too cute!

Gwenneth Wotas, the Purple Ladies' Prefect, holding the Purple Banner during Onesua Week on campus.

What can i say about my girls....they are a fantastic group of young ladies with a great sense of humor ...once they come out of their shells. Although they are extremely shy when it comes to speaking up in class or to strangers after we warmed up to each other I found them to be just like American teenagers. When we are together during our monthly movie night, our Thursday night dinners or at a sporting event they are absolute sweethearts. Like American teenagers they love to listen to music, watch movies and if you really want to hang out with them I simply play mymusic videos on my laptop-- they are glued to the monitor after that and we talk about fashion who's better Rihanna or Beyonce. The love the music videos "Telephone" and "Video Phone". Although the outfits worn by most female artists are scandalous in comparison to the long skirts and t-shirts we wear. They love the latest fashion, but can't believe we can walk in such high heels!

I didn't ask to be a House Mistress (which is basically another word for Resident Assistant) nor was I thrilled when I was told I was assigned to be one. That's one of the things I dislike the most about living on campus of a boarding school..folks just assume I have time to be a teacher, yearbook editor, facilitator of workshops, academic committee member, and lets not forget sports coach (which I respectfully declined). Ni-Van women like all women of color work their butts off on campus and these girls are no joke. Since I've accepted the position I've learned that being a House Mistress was an opportunity to do great things with a great group of girls. I wish I had the resources and money to do more activities with them, but they are appreciative of all the little and big things I can do with them.


One of our many nights at the Purple House. I taught the girls how to play "the Human Knot" and "Pin the Clothes on the Naked White Man" a version of Pin the Tail on the Donkey...without the donkey... and after we watched Dreamgirls in the middle of their "hallway". The few perks of being the Computer Science teacher is that I have control of the projector and projector screen.

ESSA Games at Korman Stadium (Port Vila) The Purple Ladies and our supportive posters brighten everyone's day! WE ARE OPC!