A wooden slit drum (L) is surrounded by tree fern
carvings of human forms
Human effigy made of mud and anatomically correct
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The ni-Vanuatu have always been skilled carvers and
weavers
In the traditional ceremonies of ni-Vanuatu even now,
men wear unique and striking headdresses
We visited the National Museum of Vanuatu and met the
director Noe Saksak. We delivered donated clothing
collected by the Opua School children in NZ
The Museum exhibits were unusual and extremely
interesting, and included a 3000 year old ceramic pot of
the first migrants from Papua New Guinea
Otto went on strike when a cable connector came loose
mid-way from Tonga to Vanuatu, so in crappy weather
Bob hand steered at the NAV station with strings tied to
the wheel so he could play Spider solitaire on "watch"!
Miserable drizzly cold weather welcomed us to
Vanuatu-- we didn't care, we were so happy after 9 days
at sea to finally arrive August 5!
Behind the souvenir market, an unidentified,
weird tree, probably a tree pandanus
Traditional crafts like woven mats, baskets, grass skirts,
and wood carvings were sold from a protected shed
Farther in town along the waterfront, a cool shady
thatched market sold fabrics and souvenirs
The selection of hats, leis, and pareos was huge and
came from all over the Pacific
The capital of Vanuatu, Port Vila
Produce for sale in the large central public market
Wooden xylophone and mallet chime instruments
The weather cleared up and stayed fine
Tables covered with laplap, the national dish made from
shredded manioc soaked in coconut milk, wrapped in
banana leaves with a few pieces of meat and baked in a
ground oven. The cook is fanning away flies with a plate
Colorful ginger, proteus, and bird of paradise flowers
for sale in the produce market
Cut flowers for sale brightened up the interior of the
public market
Lettuce skewered on sticks for easy carrying. Veggies
all had to be soaked in bleach water before eating due
to snail-carried parasites