Forgive me friends for it’s been a long time since my last blog confession. I find there’s only so much I can write about how fun it is to live here and what a great time I’m having without you all sending me hate mail. To know and see what that looks like just check out my pics on my facebook page. As my world adventures continue I thought I’d write a survival guide to this great place so you can come and experience paradise for yourselves and be a little more prepared than I was when I first moved here. So here we go...
Driving
To set the scene for you all there are no road lines, speed signs, road name signs, seat belt rules, traffic lights or traffic police here in Port Vila. Well that’s probably not entirely true because there are police here you just don’t see them. And that’s not because they are sneaky it’s just because they’re not around. So basically what you’re left with are roundabouts, 2 lane streets turning into 3, 4 or maybe 5 lane streets (depending on the widths of the cars), crater size pot holes and intersections with no give way signs. This is what I like to simply refer to as organised chaos. Road rage simply doesn’t exist here. As soon as you start beeping at someone you think has wronged you that person will just kindly wave at you as if they are your best friend. The jokes on you because that is the way the Ni-Vanuatu greet each other to say hello as they drive by. And I wish to say this for the record; Do not be scared when being a passenger in my car. I maintain that my driving skills have not deteriorated since moving here they have simply adapted to the Vila road experience!Road registration
Car registrations expire on the 1st January each year for everyone. The funny part is that you get until the end of Feb to renew it. This impending experience had got me quite nervous and I was anxious to fix a couple of things on my car. This resulted in my dad hunting down a head light cover from Japan. When a certain horrible nature disaster occurred all parts stopped arriving which means I’m still waiting for the head light today. So naturally I thought that I would be without a car come March 1st or be driving an unregistered vehicle. I even had a fake receipt from a friend to prove the head light was ordered so they knew I intended to fix it. I was a bundle of nerves until our hotel driver came back from the road worthy test with the stamped certificate to say the car was in good condition. What a relief. I then drove to the transport office to pick up my 2011 sticker and really took notice of cars around me. Rust buckets, as we call them back home, zoomed around me like bees. It was then I realised the registration process isn’t as strict as it is in Oz which shouldn’t surprise me as nothing here is. Moral of the story – as long as your car runs and your lights work it will pass the road worthy test.
Emergency services
In my first week here I was told ‘if you ever need the Police just go and pick them up. If they don’t turn up it’s because their cars probably don’t work’. Enough said.
Food Shopping
Unless you want to pay $12 for a can of tuna that expired 4 months ago you’ve got to be very careful what you buy when shopping at the local supermarkets.
Recreational Activities
There is so much to do here it’s awesome. From scuba diving to parasailing to abseiling and buggy riding there is something here for everyone and I’m committed to ticking most things off the list. Or if you’re like some of my friends you’ll be content to find a bar close to the water’s edge and lounge around for half a day in the crystal clear water with a beverage in hand. If you’re trying to picture yourself doing that then good because just know that that’s where you’ll find me most Sunday afternoons.
I’ve now had two experiences on a 6 seat sessner plane. Once to Tanna Island and the other to Penecost Island. Considering there are approx 83 islands here I feel that I haven’t really seen a great deal. I’m 3 islands down and am planning a trip to a 4th (Santo) later this year to dive the President Coolidge which is apparently one of the top dive sites around the world. These trips are a must to get the true Vanuatu experience. Health
I found it strange to be on a first name basis with the doctor here but when you go to the doctor more times in 12 months then you did in 10 years back home I suppose that’s bound to happen. During my ‘blood poisoned ankle’ phase I dragged my dad along for the Vanuatu private hospital experience. Needless to say his eyes bugged out of his head when he saw the hospital but he remained quiet and composed and held my hand while I got my tetanus booster. My advice is to not let your Aussie insurance lapse as you may need to head home for medical attention during your stay!
Vanuatu Government
In the past month alone we have had the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers change 3 times. There is some crazy rule that says as soon as a new Government is formed the Opposition can put in a vote of no confidence. Now both parties are in court trying to determine who can run the country. So with no one actually in Parliament my question to the universe is ‘What the hell is the President doing while this is going on?’
Drinking
WARNING! Watch out for this pastime. It’s deadly, lethal and a whole lot of fun. But join the wrong crowd and you’ll find yourself unable to remember the last dry day you had. This is an extremely popular way to pass the hours on days that end in ‘Y’ so my only advice is to take it slow and let your liver build up to the acceptance levels you know you’re going to be consuming on a daily basis in no time.
So there you have it - my survival guide to Vanuatu!
