Dipsi Dream in Vanua Lava
27 June 2012 | Vanua Lava, Vanuatu
Admiral 40 Catamaran
Okay, so hanging out around live volcanoes can be pretty amazing but today we discovered the downside. No sooner had we lifted the hook at Gaua (the most southern of the Banks island group belonging to Vanuatu) than a rain cloud decided to dump itself upon OD .... along with a million tonnes of ash from the resident volcano. For the duration of the 25 mile passage north to Vanua Lava, we kept hoping for a good downpour to rinse both ourselves and the rigging off but it was not to be so instead of chilling out after a somewhat bumpy ride, we found ourselves scurrying around with bucket and mops in hands rinsing down the decks of OD. Why-oh-why did we buy a cat?! It would have taken half the time with a mono! You can guess what happened next? The heavens opened and a thorough drenching was had by all. A little drier now thanks to a brief but intense sunny spell, and we expect the Customs and Immigration guys to visit the anchorage tomorrow to complete the formalities to clear us (all Rally boats) out of Vanuatu. We've been having an amazing time, meeting the locals, trading goods and learning about the ni-Van way of life. Our knowledge of the Bislama Pidgin English language has also grown ... it's worth saying out loud the Bislama, they really do spell it as they speak it.
Do you speak English? Yu tok tok Engliss? How many? Hameni? Ocean - Dipsi (as in Deep sea) We are tall - Mi tu fala, long fala. See you soon - Lukem yu short taem See you but not for a while - Lukem yu long taem