Exploring on the Explorer. Lautoka, Fiji to Broome, Australia

[mysty]

10 minutes ago, highplanesdrifters said:

SLIGHT DELAY OF GAME

If this is TMI, just move on.  Travel God's did a U turn on me.  I've been in quarantine.  NOT Covid, whew! Three negative tests. Doc is chalking it up to some Acute Gastro catch all. Aparently quite common on cruise ships. Fever shot over 102, wouldn't leave. Delirium, wild dreams. Had visions of a Medjet pick up in Venautau.

 

Out of quarantine and on the mend. Your regularly scheduled programming will resume shortly.

 

I was  beginning to worry about you High!  Your downward slope sounded scary!  Happy to hear that you're on the mend! 🥰

[jpalbny]

49 minutes ago, highplanesdrifters said:

Lol, one of my delirium thoughts was wondering if I could take my Blue Turtle Gin on Medjet.

 

That's a very rational concern. Glad you're on the mend though.

[highplanesdrifters]

Pentecost Island, Venautau 

Home of the Land Divers. 

 

This event was HUGE. There were more locals from surrounding villages than people from the ship. They came by boat, truck, or walked. I was the last on the island  [for obvious reasons 🤣].  It afforded me the chance to sit with one of the hosts, Jeffee.    Her 13 old daughter begged her to come.  She works at a local school and was pressed into service when she arrived.  I learned much from her.  The Dive was "sponsored " by the previous Cheifs daughter.  The fees from the ship are shared throughout the village. We were thanked profusely. This is the first time for Diving at this site. We are the first ship post covid. Many of the children have never seen white people. They were agog, curious, and even a bit scared. For most it was a giant circus of joy, running around and new things. 

 

The Dive site from the ship. So much jungle was cleared.

 

Landing

 

 

The new infrastructure up to the dive site. Such thought and hard work went into this.

 

 

 

 

 

Getting close.

 

Some of the dancers.

 

 

Jeffee, one of our hosts. 

 

 

I'll try and post videos next.

 

[highplanesdrifters]

 

 

This was one of the early dives. His first time, from very low on the tower.

[highplanesdrifters]

The Sponsor decides who jumps and in what order. Each jumper spends a good 15 minutes of pre jump tower theatrics.  Or in the case of newbies, sheer fear. 

 

We have all seen thus on the TV machine. But hearing the thud when they hit the ground when the vines break or are too long has a different impact in person. Yes, serious injuries do occur.

 

We are told the dive is either a fertility rite or insures agood yam harvest. You decide.🤣

 

And....think about those dancers and singers. This went on for and hour and a half in the bl

azing sun. They never stopped

 

This fellow is clearly the master of the tower.  Sound up for full effect. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

UP NEXT

 

Ambryn Island, Venautau 

 

Unlike Espiritu Santo with its raised coral reefs and white sand Ambrym is a volcanically active island with dark sand beaches. Ambrym is known as the island of magic and is the source of five local languages that all evolved on Ambrym. This handful of languages contributes to the well over 100 languages of Vanuatu. Some of Ambrym’s magic takes place in the lush greenery of the local community of Ranon. Here the people perform a very special and traditional ‘Rom’ dance. Participants prepare their masks and costumes in secrecy and the dance is reserved for special occasions

[highplanesdrifters]

 

Ambryn Island, Venautau 

 

It is hot. Sun searing, high humidity, no breeze in sight hot. Except for the children rolling around the surf even the locals are stationed in patches of shade. It is the second excursion of the day.  Pentecost offered a steep short hike and hour and a half in the sun. Ambryn offered a short walk, along with plenty of shady seating. Whew.

 

Welcoming committee. 

 

 

I want to throw a party and hire these guys!

 

Giant carvings. Each design is specific to a tribe.  If a carver want to use another tribes pattern he must get permission from that tribe. I was concerned that this pair would not fit in my luggage.

 

Ready for the dance.

 

 

The 'Rom' dance is another fertility rite or yam harvest dance.  Or in this case, preformance for the tourists. Circumcision was mentioned with uncontrolled giggles by Jeffee, my host from this morning.

 

The costumes are held in a secret place in the rainforest.  Made once a year, and destroyed after the preformance. Or in the case of tourist season, maybe used a few times?

 

 

Snarkiness aside, the dance was captivating. Elders are in the center.  Around their necks are boar tusks. Quite a process to get them to grow in those circles on the boars. It involves tooth removal and hand feeding. A symbol of power. Found on elders necks, the flag and local beer.

 

This is the Chief doing Magic. I have no idea what the magic was.

 

 

The Aunties

 

The Pentecostal Church. Including their church bell which was a former propane tank.

 

 

The pig feeding. All part of the village tour. We bailed after this.

 

 

Community kitchen

 

 

And surfs up!

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Rom Dance 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

UP NEXT

Champagne Beach, Venautau 

As world famous beaches go, Champagne Beach is one of the big hitters. In 2003, CNN ranked it number nine in its list of top 100 beaches and independent travel specialists permanently include it on their list of 50 best beaches worldwide. It’s one of the world’s greatest natural beauties: picture-perfect beach white sand, turquoise water and nothing – save for the occasional cow or curious turtle - around. With only coconut plantations and a few friendly locals to keep you company, this might just be the island of your dreams. The glorious name “Champagne Beach” was given to the island in the 17th century, when Pedro de Quirós believed he had reached the famous unknown southern land or the “Tierra Australis Incognita” (or Australia as we now know it). He believed the effervescent bubbles of volcanic origin that bubble up from the crystal clear waters were reminiscent of the bubbles of Champagne. Additionally, the coastline is shaped like an art deco Champagne saucer, so the name stuck! The beach is located on the largest yet least populated island in the 40-island Vanuatu archipelago, near the village of Hog Harbor on Espiritu Santo Island. If you want to venture beyond the beach, then Espiritu Santu is also famed for its blue holes. The island is home to some of the clearest waters on Earth, benefiting from natural filtering from underground limestone caves. Ride or paddle your way through emerald green rainforest amid the sound of birdsong for an experience that will make your soul sing

[highplanesdrifters]

Champagne Beach, Venautau 

 

This is the day you dream of when you're researching your trip in mid winter. Sugar sand, turquoise waters, and a shady spot with gentle breeze blowing.

 

 

These young lads pulled every boat in and pushed every boat out. Highly entertaining. 

 

The water singers.

 

 Reed Band.

 

The locals were charming. We spent some lazy time floating, laughing, and making friends for the day. They were keen to show their youngest these strangly colored new people. One screamed in fear which brought on roars of laughter. Eventually I got a smile. 

 

Videos to follow...maybe.....

[highplanesdrifters]

 

 

The Water Women

The Expedition team tried to hype this up as something special. Boy were they right.

 

[highplanesdrifters]

A bit of snorkeling.

 

 

 

 

[highplanesdrifters]

Another band for my big party.

 

 

[caradara]

I can't see any of the videos but I can hear them.  Is it just my computer?

Wonderful reporting.  Thank you.

[WesW]

caradara; suggest trying boards.cruisecritic.com  this Silversea thread on your Iphone or Android phone.  highplanesdrifter vid's play on my Iphone and they really complement well his posts. btw, on my lenova laptop I also only hear sound no visuals.

 

Thanks highplanesdrifter for sharing your vid's with us, imagine sharing these with us is time consuming for you--we appreicate the visuals.

Edited May 1, 2023 by WesW

[5waldos]

Taking this trip in October- looking nicer by the minute! Thanks for the previews. 

 

Notice that there are a fair number of masks being worn- would the Fijians prefer that we wear masks when visiting? 

Edited May 1, 2023 by 5waldos

[jpalbny]

3 hours ago, caradara said:

I can't see any of the videos but I can hear them.  Is it just my computer?

 

3 hours ago, WesW said:

highplanesdrifter vid's play on my Iphone and they really complement well his posts. btw, on my lenova laptop I also only hear sound no visuals.

 

How interesting! On my laptop I have video but no audio. But yeah I get both on my android phone.

[TLCOhio]

3 hours ago, caradara said:

I can't see any of the videos but I can hear them.  Is it just my computer?

Wonderful reporting.  Thank you.

 

Videos and sound has worked fine/perfect for me on my MacBook Pro laptop.  Loving the pictures and all of the details.  Super great for the "Another band for my big party."  What is better than "Party Time" music and fun on the beach?

 

Appreciate this great sharing and follow-ups from highplanesdrifters.  Wonderful!!  Keep it coming!!

 

Brings back nice memories from early 2020 when we sailed the South Pacific and visited some of these scenic and interesting locations.  

 

THANKS!  Enjoy!  Terry in Ohio

 

Early 2020, many visuals and details from New Zealand/South Pacific in going from Auckland to French Polynesia.  This includes Bora Bora, Fiji, NZ experiences, etc:  Live/blog;

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/2735732-live-terryohio-“new”-regatta-south-pacificnz-pix’s/

[caradara]

Thank you WesW.  Both audio and video work on my Iphone just not on my desktop.  Fun to see/hear.

[Stumblefoot]

13 hours ago, highplanesdrifters said:

 

The Water Women

Good workout!  Used to drive my dog nuts when I did this in the pool.

[highplanesdrifters]

Thanks all for your kind words.  Sorry about the audio/visual issues everyone is having. 

 

@5waldos There are very few masks anywhere. Our host on Pentecost had one on though.

 

@WesW Thanks Wes. You sre the master, so I'll take any tips you have.   I do have a new system. I've started posting videos separately after most of the information. I edit them to under 10 seconds, less bounce backs. I can do other things while the download is happening. Still takes time, but not all consuming. Posting helps me to organize along the way. Especially to Edit out junk, and collect my thoughts.

 

Thanks all for following!

[highplanesdrifters]

UP NEXT

Santa Ana, Solomon Islands

 

Port Mary is the name of the bay adjacent to Ghupuna the main village in Santa Ana. A bright white sand beach with huge shade-giving trees runs along the shoreline in front of the tidy village. The houses here are made with local materials and most are built on stilts. Islanders generally welcome visitors with traditional songs and dances performed by members of the three different villages on Santa Ana. Some local people will also set up stands offering souvenirs for purchase. The Solomons are best known for strings of traditional shell money and elegant carvings based on local stories and legends.

[mysty]

1 hour ago, highplanesdrifters said:

UP NEXT

Santa Ana, Solomon Islands

 

Port Mary is the name of the bay adjacent to Ghupuna the main village in Santa Ana. A bright white sand beach with huge shade-giving trees runs along the shoreline in front of the tidy village. The houses here are made with local materials and most are built on stilts. Islanders generally welcome visitors with traditional songs and dances performed by members of the three different villages on Santa Ana. Some local people will also set up stands offering souvenirs for purchase. The Solomons are best known for strings of traditional shell money and elegant carvings based on local stories and legends.

@highplanesdrifters thank you for your excellent reporting combining context and passion while breathing life into the adventure you are enjoying!  Kudos!

Edited May 1, 2023 by mysty

[highplanesdrifters]

4 hours ago, mysty said:

@highplanesdrifters thank you for your excellent reporting combining context and passion while breathing life into the adventure you are enjoying!  Kudos!

❤️❤️❤️

[highplanesdrifters]

Santa Ana, Solomon Islands

 

Explorer has shifted out of the Coral Sea and into the Soloman Sea.  Slipping into this little bay under cloudy skies, we are happy for the break from the intense sun. The locals were out in full force. We find a very busy little village preparing for our arrival. Known for its excellent carvers and a blond gene.

 

Let's begin with some sheer JOY!

This will never get old.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Carvers. Thanks goodness I am in the 'no more stuff phase'.

 

Never mind. These are too cool, and only $20.  Which one did I get, Pigboy or Batshark?

 

 

A cruise ship grounded not far from here. The locals make good use of the dinning chairs.🤣

 

The snorkeling has been lacking. But, there are always a few interesting bits to find. Let's not forget we are in the South Pacific, in 86 degree water, it is wet, and I am happy.

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome dances to come.