Secret Gardens-killer Kava
28 July 2011 | Port Vila, Vanuatu
rob
Aloha, Guy and I went to this interesting cultural place where they have all sorts of grass shacks and thatched roof structures displaying the culture and history of Vanuatu from Quiros in1606 up through capt Cook and the cannibals. We got there early and spent a couple of hours reading and looking at all the old photos and goofy stories of snakes turning into people and having human children,etc. After we tired of that we wandered around the grounds which were quite beautiful and well kept. At 5:30 Pm the hotel tourists showed up and we had a brief unintelligible lecture followed by a "magic Show" and some dancing. The highlight was the Kava. I have been through Tonga and Fiji and had lots of Kava, but nothing compares to the Kava in Vanuatu. I skipped it in Tanna I because they enhance the effect there by chewing up the kava before they drink it. When the men get tired of chewing up the roots, there are designated children who help chew it up for them. Didn't sound like good hygiene to me . Anyway, the Kava tasted a bit more bitter and spicy than usual, but I didn't think too much of that. I noticed the local anesthetic affect in my mouth fairly early on , but after the third coconut cup I experienced "cerebellar paralysis "and had difficulty walking to the dinner table. Your mind is alert but your legs don't work. It was like being drunk except you don't pass out. You also get a little queasy so they told us to eat light- good idea! They say its just supposed to make you relaxed and sleepy, but it didn't alter my sleep pattern at all. I still get up every 2 hrs to pea and wake up at 0615. Good news is it only lasted about an hour, and there is no hangover. It finally stopped raining Yeah! Ya'll have fun, We leave tomorrow for the West coast of Efate. I'll be out of touch for a while since the SSB died and my mail program isn't working. Rob, Guy, The Rose