Sunset at Revolieu Bay

8 June 2012

Two weeks after ordering a new fridge for two day delivery by FedEx, extracted, with some effort, information that it had come previous day and was probably being brought to their office in town. A confirmation call was to subsequently ensue. Yachting World was requested, middle afternoon, to call discovering it had indeed arrived and would possibly be delivered in a day or so after return to airport for mandatory customs inspection. A saunter to their office, other side of town (should be noted at this point that desire to depart Port Vila had peaked 4 days previously), provided eye contact with both boxes which I was loath to relinquish, but which they insisted could not be had until next day following previously mentioned scrutiny. After patiently explaining that all their requirements had been met, that sailing that afternoon was necessary to prevent my head from exploding and then staring at agent long enough to elicit a twitch, he, a driver, the boxes and I piled into a van the size of a skateboard and careened through 12 car rush hour traffic to the airport for a 48 second visit with customs agent who, noticing the 1500 vatu "handling fee" clipped to paperwork and having zero interest in observing any parts, whacked my copy with a stamp and smilingly bid me a good journey.

Having been mildly disingenuous with officials about immediately weighing anchor, did so at 0430 next morning for 12 1/2 hour motor upon glassy sea to lovely Revolieu Bay on Epi, arriving just before sunset to observe a couple of dugongs paddle by ignoring the proffered gin and tonics. Really, teetotalling is no excuse for rudeness. Snorkeling next day there and at Lamen Bay, 10 miles north, was excellent although again our offer of friendship was rebuffed by a turtle cleaning remora. Human inhabitants of Vanuatu are infinitely more sociable.

Yesterday's motorsail to Wali Bay, Pentacost was uneventful and somewhat more enjoyable than previous night's gun'l to gun'l cradle dance starting at 0200. Avoided having to request sleep-in delay as land diving ceremonies next morning didn't begin until 1000. Remarkable insanity of this will be described anon.

Jack