05 South Pacific Cruise

VANUATU –

We have been in overcast weather all the way from Honiara to Luganville Vanuatu. However, on our side has been the ocean. It’s amazing what a request to “stay calm please” does. (Nice to have an obedient ocean.)

Vanuatu became an independent country on 30 July 1980.

Before that, it was known as the New Hebrides, jointly administered by Britain and France under a unique system called a condominium. Independence in 1980 made Vanuatu a sovereign nation within the Commonwealth.

We crept into Luganville in the early misty hours. When the fog lifted, we were able to enjoy a brilliant tropical morning for breakfast on the outside deck of the ship.

In Vanuatu, blue holes are deep freshwater ponds formed where underground springs rise through limestone rock to the surface. The clear, pure water absorbs longer light wavelengths, making the holes appear vividly blue — almost unreal in colour. Many are surrounded by jungle and accessed via paddling up rivers or through forest tracks.

Our excursion to the blue holes took us along country potholed roads for 45 minutes. The water was blue and crystal clear. We were in a group of 20 – 30, some swam and even Lyn had some time in the cooling water.

Prior to leaving Luganville, the captain advised that he had changed our itinerary due to the buildup of strong storms west of Vanuatu and we would be missing Vila and Mystery Island. It is better to be unhappy and safe than happy and go through storms in the captains view. (Good on the captain.)

This means that we will reach Lautoka earlier by a few days but will have an overnight berth at both Lautoka and Suva. Tropical storms can be devastating and turn into cyclones and “riding” through them is not anybody’s choice.

The entertainment has been varied through the cruise with a request to not film the shows. I managed to get a shot of the last scene last night (naughty naughty).

FIJI

With the adjusted schedule, our arrival through the reef was in daylight around 3pm with a “tie up” around 5:15pm. We are in Fiji now.

As we disembarked, we were welcomed with smiles and offers of massage. Which do you take? What tour excursion is available and where too. We booked a taxi to take us to Fulton University tomorrow, where Lyn’s dad was the Chairman of the Board years ago. Oh! We took a $20 leg massage be fore getting back on the ship for the night.

Fulton University is a new campus away from the coast win a beautiful setting. With over 1000 students, 300 boarders as well as many studying in their home countries around the South Pacific. The lecturers go to those countries for intensive classroom sessions during the school year.