Round Island Relay

Well, it was an early start this morning in the support vechile for Wan Smolbag’s team in the Round Island Relay. This was stared when Vanuatu got Independence and 3 teams of 10 runners circled the island in a day, which until then, the villages had thought impossible, however, along the way they united all the villages in their journey. 27 years on its still going stong, with teams coming from New Caladonia, Australia and NZ. Our boys were in the lead (of the less competitive teams) for the first few legs but our girls in the team weren’t quite as strong so we ended coming in 3rd in the Mixed teams, and 10th overall which was pretty good! Overall time was 10hr, 15mins, I think the record is about 8.20 and there are still teams coming in now (several well over 13 hours now.) so they did really well…..especially considering most of them ran the gravel road in bare feet or jandals!!! It was amazing seeing the champion guys, doing 3 minute kms in bare feet along the gravel!!!!!!!!!!!! Crazy huh!!!

But a cool day – got a flattie, saw some good bush techniques of how to change a tire (!!!), the driver fell asleep at the wheel (it was a 4am start) and it was a super hot day so testing for all! Good to be involved though!

Festivities are well and truly underway now with all the stalls having big events during the days and nights (mamas running races, island dress competitions, hiphop comps, you name it, they got it!!) Tomorrow we’re having a hockey tournament out at work which will hopefully be fun and then Monday is actually Independence….no gat plan yet….

Then work on Tueday and sailing to the Maskelynes Islands on Wednesday to volunteer at a sailing school (wahoo!!) so am really looking forward to that! I love the fact im going on holiday from my tropical island to a tropical island……maybe this one will be a little bit closer to the paradise we all imagine…???

Will update more on the sailing soon, and more Independence stories!

Much love,

Miri

Opps, I meant they got Independance in 1980...this is the 27th celebration...

Independance

Well, its been a fairly quiet week here...Vanuatu celebrates Independance on July 30th. In 1989 they took charge, booted out the french and british and began forming their own identity. This is when the infamous String bands started as they wanted to foster a unique style of music to Vanuatu, the motto for the new coutry was "Long God yumi stanup" which pretty much means We believe in God, or we stand on God,which is why church and traditional regilious practises have been so well preserved! All schools teach RE, church is very well ingrained in the culture.

Each year though Independance celebrartions are HUGE and lots of bamboo stalls are being set up along the side of the roads where people will sell food to whoever is walking past....all the youth who usually come to the youth centre are busy constructing these stalls and im told for the next 2 weeks work will be dead as all the youth just walkabout in town, checking out everything thats happening! Ill put a photo in my next post when i get my camera back...

SO works quiet...otherwise life is good. Mum sent the dvd of my 21st so it was awesome to watch that and see everyones faces and be reminded of good times!!

I was meant to be biking around the island today for the next few days but last night we had a huge thunder and lightening storm and its raining again now so it was probably a good idea to put it off. But looking forward to when we do do it.

Still planning on the sailing school in the Maskelyne Islands sometime after next week (just gotta keep a lookout for the boat when it arrives int he harbour and then jump on board!!)

Hope all is well at home!
Much love and hugs, hope the Peak 2 Peak went great for everyone involved!!!

Here are a few more pics of the adventures with mum and dad....Mum crossed all cultural boundaries and joined the String Band for a song...it was awesome! Then some of the local boys hanging out at sunset, and me, with Mum and Dad last night for a nice tea out beside the boats...

Been back at work this week which has been good - Leina's away so it full-on!

On thursday I snuck away for the day and went round the island with and dad and some of the other vols who have work on the otherside...It was so cool to see the rest of the island!!! Some really nice beaches, nice bush...half of the island is covered in this creeper stuff which the americans brought in WW2 for camoflague....its works brilliantly, but doesn't let much else grow...

Saw turtles, a WW2 coke bottle museum (classic guy, speaking in an american accent, collecting glass bottles...), and sussed out some possible nap places for a circum-cycle-navigation next weekend!! If i make it through the first day, and then the first halfhour of the 2nd day Ill come back alive!! We're taking 3 days, me and 2 aussie vols so it should be cool!

Saw mum and dad off this morning, and then a big training ride....im starting to seize up...haha

The mighty Yasur Volcano

Facts about Tanna:
Home of the world's most accessible volcano
Home of local Vanuatu coffee (mum and dad saw a coffee tree....)
Over 20 languages throughout the island
Southern most port where yachties can clear customs (for vanuatu)
Has the best cultural tour in all the WORLD!!

Hey All!

Well, its been so fantastic having family here the last few weeks! My cuzzie Trina came for a week to do some filming for VSA which was awesome. She hung out at work with me and filmed what was happening, so that will go in a dvd to show schools, and unis about volunteering. Then Mum and Dad arrived and my much awaited week off work has been so much fun! Its been great showing mum and dad round, introducing them to my friends and workmates. I think they have enjoyed it too! I've managed to get to a few touristy places I hadn't been too so that was nice, some cool waterfalls and - most excitingly - Yasur Volcano on Tanna island!!!

Yasur Volcano -

We were met at the airport by a truck which took us to the other end of Tanna, lots of kids on the road, and small villages every so often. Eventually, we got to the ash fields at the base of the volcano which was such a different landscape. It was like being on the moon....or what the moon might look like....anyway, a quick stop at our jungle bungalows (thatch rooves, holey mossie nets, and damp dirty beds), then it was straight up the volcano for dusk. So we drove most of the way up and then walked the last wee bit right up to the crater rim. As the sun went down and it got darker the volcano became more and more impressive. We had a few really big explosions, which spat out huge bits of red hot rock into the air. It was the most impressive fireworks ever! And just unreal standing so close and hearing the thudding of the red hotr rocks as they hit the ground and you realised just how big they were! Any big explosion was followed by the sound a second or so later, along with a heat rush from the rocks. SO IMPRESSIVE!!! Good adrenalin rush!

The next morning we experienced the most scary/amusing.realistic cultural experience I've ever had, and probably will have. We were led through the bush and then left to make our own way, at which point several traditionally dressed men jumped out of the bushes and pretended we were the first white people they had seen. Complete with clubs, body paint and screaming, it was quite frightening! As we progressed through the bush they acted out how they caught pigs, made food, made fire (rubbing the sticks method), and how they made mats out of leaves....very impressive acting! They never slipped out of character, even as they were discussing which one of us would be the best option for eating...I think they were deciding on dad.....

The only regret is that we didnt stay longer! But a good taste of things to be experienced outside of Vila and the big city here.

My week off has gone far too quick but mum and dad are still here for another week which will be awesome.

More stories soon!