Travel Guides: Vanuatu

Vanuatu Beach

Vanuatu is an island located in Oceania. The archipelago that forms the country is at 1,750 km from Australia.

The Melaneziens live on the islands which now make up Vanuatu since 1300 BC. The locals lived in harmony until the year 1606, when in the archipelago came the first white: the Portuguese explorer Pedro de Queirós. The chain of islands which is part of the state, north – east of New Caledonia, spans on a distance of about 800 km. The largest of the thirteen main islands of the archipelago are Espiritu Santo (4.900Km²), Malekula (2023 km²), Efate (923 km ²) and Erromango (894 km). In addition, Vanuatu also has about 70 smaller islands. The archipelago owes its existence to the volcanoes (in the neighborhood, two cones were found even underwater). The climate is tropical and humid subtropical, with average annual temperatures of +27° C in January to + 23° C in August. The quantity of annual average rainfall is between 1,500 and 2,500 mm.

Apparently, in Vanuatu has been the last known case of cannibalism in 1969, on the Malekulu Island. Vanuatu is at the end of the world, only a few feet and your legs hang in the void, at least that is what is said in the ancient mythology, but it looks like the earth is round and people see others living at the end of the world and they represent the center of the Earth. There is no hot water in the capital. People live in wooden bungalows with large terraces and low rooms, tiles in bedrooms and tile in bathrooms. However, the bathroom English faucet that is rusty is only cold water. It is always hot and you will fell the need to take a shower to cool off all the time and dry your skin. Although hot water was not invented neither was the cold one; all the water is thawed, and you can shower without problems, but it is bad when you have to drink it.

People walk barefoot here. The whole country is the same. All have a rich social life, their homes are open to all tourists, and they know a lot of people and act like they know the entire country even if some of them live in the capital. People here did not break from the of clan life, with neighbors, friends, all kinds of knowledge, they are not individualized and isolated as the “civilized” world. The view from the streets of Port Vila exceeds expectations. Most of them are barefoot, but no matter how dirty their feet are, cleanliness is not important, but the gesture of taking off your shoes. Even in the shops in some cities people come barefoot. People speak 116 different languages. Vanuatu, a country which gained independence from France and Great Britain on 30 July 1980, is in the South Pacific at a distance of 1,750 kilometers of Australia, and is composed of 83 islands, mostly volcanic.

The country has an area of 12,200 square kilometers and a population of 215,000 inhabitants. Although there are three official languages – English, French and bislama (a combination of Melanezien grammar, with the English vocabulary) – in Vanuatu are spoken other 113 indigenous languages, which places the archipelago first in the top of density of languages per capita in the world.

(www.stopco2.ro) Vanuatu Skyline

Island of Moso is an exotic trip through the Pacific Ocean barely entering it through the papaya, kumala, cassava, bunches of bananas, bags of rice and more. The beach is white and the small island is filled with giant snail shells. Although Christians, Protestant and Evangelical, the natives do not reject the old beliefs. The next destination is the village on the island of Tanna, Larwanu. The village wakes up early in the morning. People wake up at five in the morning, fresh, laughing and singing with the birds in concert; they have a rhythm in tandem with nature to bed soon after sunset and sunrise wake. They do not lose the evenings in activities because the fire is too little to illuminate any activity, only men drink kava and talk to each other with light cigarettes wrapped in bamboo sheets.

The hugs scare them. The traditional village is different only in that it is much more primitive, no one wears clothes, this is the choice of the chief and the whole village must obey without complaining; they wear only nambas for men and grass skirts for women. The coming of the white in the village, it is viewed with much interest. Although the appearance of a white man is regarded with suspicion, confidence grows as they learn that you come from Europe and you might help in some ways. Education and hygiene education is poor and nonexistent. There are areas untouched, people without clothes, without tools and without writing.

Vanuatu is a magical realm, with volcanoes, shipwrecks on the seabed, ancient traditions, waterfalls, geysers, natural food and plenty of hidden coves and beaches. Vanuatu is a chain of 83 islands in the shape of Y, at 800 km west of Fiji. The Vanuatu inhabitants are peaceful and quiet, people who enjoy life’s simple pleasures in a country with a unique and diverse culture. In Vanuatu you can experience unique experiences like jumps from the island of Pentecost, the place where the first jumping, “bungee jumping” in the world took place and Tokai ceremonies on the island of Tanna. The inhabitants are predominantly Malaysian and have over 115 distinct cultures and languages. There are small communities of French, British, Australians, New Zealanders, Vietnamese, Chinese and others who live in harmony with Vanuatu people.

(http://fbc-wa.org) Vanuatu Beach

Tourism is centered on the islands of Efate, Tanna and Espiritu Santo. Visitors first arrive in Port Villa on the island of Efate, and then travel by boat or plane to explore the rest of the country. Main attractions: Visit the capital of Port-Vila, on Efate Island. The Cultural Center here has one of the largest collections of artifacts from the Pacific world. There are also plenty of facilities for water sports; Go by car to the top of the active Yasur volcano on Tanna island. Look over the edge of the crater, the mass of boiling lava. Visit the village John Frum cult goods, where everything began with the arrival of a soldier in the Second World War, and villagers are waiting today for the return of the goods account.
Look at the show offered by Naghol (a ritual of bungee jumping) in April and May on the island of Pentecost. This ritual is performed to ensure a rich crop of yams. Participants tie the ankles with a rope and blow off a 30 m tower, head first. Recently, this ceremony was open to the public and a fee is charged. Explore the underwater world of Vanuatu. The benefits are better visibility and high temperatures. Most works are in Port Villa and Espiritu Santo Island. Areas of the islands are filled with the wrecks of World War II, the most famous being the SS President Coolidge.  Hike through the tropical forests and mountains. You can discover the tribes who have never had contact with civilization or white people.

Traditional crops include yams and taro. You have a selection of international foods and foods in the market in Port Villa where are located local fresh produce. National specialties include “Lap Lap” (root of yams, bananas and cassava on the grill, since the coconut cream and cooked in an earth oven) and also coconut crabs. Kava is a drink made from a plant that is very closely related to pepper. Kava in Vanuatu is the hottest in the world, is not fortified, but it is intoxicating. It is believed that the first settlers arrived here 3,500 years ago in New Guinea and Solomon Islands, with the canoe. The islands were sighted by Pedro Fernandes Queiros of Portugal in 1606 and were mapped by the British navigator James Cook in 1774, which he called Hebrides archipelago, after the islands of northern Scotland.

(www.tripadvisor.com) Vanuatu Volcano

The competition between the French and British governments led to the formation of a Franco-British joint leadership in 1906. The economy of the plantations on the island is based on imported Vietnamese labor and prospered until the 1920s, when product market went into decline. Diseases brought by missionaries and other visitors to the islands population has reduced from 1 million in 1800 to 45,000 in 1935. The islands were an important base for the Allies in World War II. After the war, they started asking Melaneziens indigenous independence, which they also won in 1980. Then the state was called Vanuatu. In 1980 there was a brief rebellion of French settlers and workers on plantations in the Espiritu Santo. United Kingdom, France and Papua New Guinea have sent troops to crush the revolt which the government claimed was funded by the Phoenix Foundation in the USA.

The style is casual clothing for all occasions. Modern influences are seen only in big cities, while villages and secluded islands old habits prevail. If you want to go hiking and explore the territory, know that Vanuatu has strict rules against the property. Vanuatu is a top recommendation this year, because it represents the ideal destination for those interested in authentic experiences. Vanuatu is a natural beauty that characterizes the value placed on all forms of relief from forested peaks to spectacular waterfalls. The cities are surrounded by natural paradise and are located either near or hidden lagoons and beautiful rainforest. On the other hand, Vanuatu will not please those who appreciate convenience more than a five star resort or specific nightlife bars and clubs on the beaches of Cancun. In Vanuatu tourists are encouraged to check in traditional houses, inhabited by locals, ideal for romance or for the less demanding in terms of luxury accommodation.

Vanuatu is a parliamentary democracy. The Parliament is unicameral (52 seats, members are elected by popular vote for a period of 4 years). The islands are of volcanic origin. The landscape is dominated by mountains and on the coast are plains. The highest peak: Tabwemasana, 1877 m. Sea: The Pacific Ocean offers Vanuatu 2.528 km of coast. Climate: The climate is tropical. It has the rainy season from November to April. Area: 12,200 km². Neighborhood: Pacific. Main Cities: Port-Vila, Luganville. Administrative Divisions: It has six provinces: Malampa, Penama, Sanma, Shefa, Tafea, Torba. Time Zone: UTC+11. Country code (phone): 678. Radio waves of emission: AM 2, FM 4, ultra-short 1.

(http://curiozitati.net) Vanuatu, View From The Sky

Several waves of settlers arrived on these islands before the explorations of the 18th century. Eventually the British and French who colonized the islands have agreed to a common administrative system. The islands have gained independence in 1980 when the name of Vanuatu was adopted. Modern Politics: The president is elected by an electoral college (members of Parliament and presidents of local councils) for a period of five years. Independence: Obtained before Britain and France on 30 July 1980. Tourism is an important sector of the economy in Vanuatu. In 2002 the government adopted a series of decisions intended to develop tourism and to turn it into the strongest sector of the economy.
What to see: Siri Falls, Yasur volcano, Vanuatu National Museum. When to go: the most appropriate time to visit Vanuatu Islands is during the dry season from May to October. Events: Independence Day, July 30. Estimated Population: 211.971 inhabitants. Population density: 17.3 persons / km². Population Distribution: Urban: 23% Rural: 77%. Birth rate: 22.35 to 1000 inhabitants. Death rate: 7.75 to 1000 inhabitants. Average Age: 23.4 years. Education Rates: 74% – People who know how to read and write (more than 15 years). Unemployment rate: 1.7%. Ethnic Groups: Vanuatu 98.5%, Others 1.5%. Emigrants: 0 persons / 1000 people. Language: 72.6% of the local language, Bichelama, 23.1%, English, 1.9% French, 1.4% other 0.3%, Unspecified 0.7%. Religion: Presbyterian 31.4%, 13.4% Anglican, Roman Catholic 13.1%, Adventist 10.8%, 13.8% Other Christian, local beliefs 5.6%, Other 9.6% None 1% Unspecified 1.3%.

Transport: plane, ship. Highways / Roads: 1.070 km. Railways: None. Airports: 31. Ports: 3. Coin: Vatu. Gross Domestic Product: 739 million. Minimum Wage: 20,000 vatu/ month. Industries: refrigeration and food fish, timber processing, preserving of meat. Agriculture Products: copra, coconuts, cocoa, coffee, fruits, vegetables, beef, fish. The Republic of Vanuatu is an archipelago of volcanic origin located in the Pacific Ocean northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji and south-east of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea. Climate and relief: The climate is tropical and humid subtropical, with average annual temperatures of 27 ° C in January to 23 ° C in August. The islands are of volcanic origin. The landscape is dominated by mountains. Flora and fauna: tropical forests on 90% of the territory. Fauna: snakes, crocodiles and birds. Resources and Economy: Weak economy based on agriculture and services. Fishing is developed; tourism to some extent. Equity tax relief granted entry by foreign firms. Reserve of mineral manganese. Other resources: wood. Export: coconuts, cocoa, coffee.

In 1980 on the map of the Pacific Ocean is a new state, born both in the work of billions of coral (madrepore-tiny creatures that live a little and leave behind them a calcareous shell) but the hype magma (hot matter inside about 900 degrees) in the western Pacific plate but also behind the animosities between the colonial powers. This state of only 18,000 square kilometers dwarf called their language Ripablic blang-Vanuatu, “The Island above the sea” – has the membership of the Commonwealth (politico-economic organization founded by Britain to help the former British colonies, actually maintain control over them) and is located about 1,000 kilometers from Papua New Guinea (the second largest island on Earth) and also at the same distance and from Australia to the east.
Weird stuff about the area: Protestant missionaries sent by the queen to Christianize the natives are massacred, and eaten by cannibals of the islands.  In 1860 a very rich Irish nobleman, bought land from the British and the natives. In 1906 on the political map of the world appears a strange name: Anglo-French Condominion Vanuatu, a strange form of government in which there were two languages, two police, three utilities, three courts, three coins (franc, lira currency and condominium) and three budgets. The two commissioners, the French and the English lived in different capitals, one at Vaiaku and one in Port Villa, today the capital city. There were at one time 7 hospitals, 4 in France and 3 in England and schools had only the French who were a minority, and the natives had no rights.

There were joint administrators of: customs, postal, manganese mines, finance policy but was done separately, in which case it was totally ineffective. In 1972, the islands pour a film titled, “The Cannibal”, which set up a new kind of documentary namely that “sensational”. In 1944 came into being the organization called “Naked Cult “, the island of Espiritu Santo (the largest), which proposed the idea of living naked, lounging, waiting for immortality – in the ’80s this island actually separates from the island of Vanuatu for a short time, creating tension between the government and separatists. The Melaneziens, Polynesian cultural influences speak 60 languages and are still a Matriarchal family organization. Leading edge in world culture and coconut oil, copra, and arable land occupies only 1% of the country. There is now tension between the minority Francophone and Anglophone Catholic and Protestant majority, which are reflected in disputes in the parliament crumbled to politics.11