I Stret Nomo
03 July 2008 | Port Vila
John and Shauna
Vila is a really interesting town; much of the young population here consists of kids who have come in from places like Tanna looking for whatever the bigger town has to offer. For many this means work, cash and the opportunity to advance oneself in financial or career terms; for others it means dislocation, lack of family support and a risky life of beer, street life and trying to cash in on the large number of Aussie, Kiwi and Japanese tourists here. For all that however it is a lovely, picturesque and friendly town: still getting "Hello" and a smile from everyone we pass on the street, and the still-surprising genuine desire to welcome us to their place.
Last night we went out for dinner - not a common event for us; we went to a restaurant about a ten minute walk from the harbour, with Bart and Dorit and their boys Thibaud and Olivier, where they advertised an all-you-can-eat Sri Lankan buffet; it was authentic, copious and well-presented. Cheap it wasn't, but then nothing is in Vila! This is a very expensive town, with prices supercharged by the aforementioned tourists. Oh well - we'll just have to shell out and enjoy it!