Category: 2013 Supporters Tour

Saturday 28^th September.

Finding a bus in Port Vila is simple. Stand still on the edge of the footpath, look vague for more than 10 seconds, and one of the local “buses” will pull up before you can say “Where is the bus stop?” The only places that buses do not appear to stop are the few dedicated bus stops! Never mind the traffic either, the drivers stop anywhere. Or even pull up onto the curb and footpath.

These “buses” are really small people-mover vans (seating 8-12) displaying the prefix “B” on their rego’ plates. They are to be found in various stages of cleanliness and structural integrity. Squeeze in, no maximum number. Safety belts not required. And delivery is straight to your front door or wherever you want to get out.

Pick-up Anywhere, Go Anywhere, Stop Anywhere seems to be their motto. And the cost is 150 vatu per person (~ $1.50AUD) for a trip anywhere around town.

Of course if you are dressed in your best or want a tour around the island it is helpful to know someone like Richard’s cousin, Tony (ph: 7746 067), who knows his way around and owns a new 15-seater bus that is clean and has air-conditioning.

So much happened during the last two days it all seems a blur. After a long day of travelling on Friday most of the group took the opportunity to sleep in Saturday morning.

Two of our group are named Sue – one was up at 6am for a 1hr morning walk before breakfast, whilst the other took advantage of the opportunity to sleep in and partake of a late breakfast. Some observant members of the group noted an inverse relationship between age and time of rising and arrival at the breakfast outdoor dining area – 7am for the octogenarians and 10am for the younger ones.

The dining area at The Melanesian is situated in an open-plan but under-cover area around two large pools. Great for relaxing and chatting over our breakfast consisting of fresh local fruits and juices, cereals, waffles, eggs, toast and pastries. Maybe I could sneak a croissant into the bag for morning tea?

Our schedule for the week was clearly laid out in the “Supporters Tour Program” [sic] provided upon our arrival. This informed us that there was morning tea provided down at the waterfront on board Chimere, within 6 minutes walk of our accommodation. Matt and Cathy had placed a bulk order of fresh pastries from the french patisserie in the main street, named Au Peche Mignon. (And just in case there was one squashed croissant in my bag for emergency rations.)

It was a lazy kind of day and by 10:30 we were all aboard under a fine bright sunny sky, looking across the blue and turquoise waters of Futumara Bay (where there was not much activity to be seen) and enjoying an assortment of local fruits and fresh pasteries. Yum.

The rest of the day was filled with a variety of leisurely activities of personal choice – strolling through the fresh food market, browsing the local souvenir and duty free shops, the occasional purchase, lunch at Nabawan Café or Jill’s Café, lazying by the resort pool, resting, and – for a few die-hard fans – watching the AFL GF at the Cruising Yacht Club on the big screen. Afterwards the rest of the group met at the Club bistro for dinne. A time to share our first day’s experience in Vanuatu.

“Oh, no it’s 7:40 and according to the ‘Program’ we are due back at the Melanesian by 8pm!” for an “MSM Presentation” from the world-famous low-smoke mud-brick stove expert, Mr Robert O Latimer. “Grab a bus!” Within 2-minutes we packed ourselves into two buses and were heading up the hill and back to The Melanesian.

Rob and Linda welcomed us all at the 8pm gathering, they explained the proposed program planned for the next few days, and Rob presented an informative overview of the Medical Sailing Ministries project and itinerary of the previous 4-months, including many wonderful photos of the places and people they had met during this time.

The MSM team seems to suit Vanuatu and Chimere it just like a Vanuatu Bus – it is a Pick-up Anywhere, Go Anywhere, Stop Anywhere type of service.

Cub Reporter secretly embedded in MSM Supporters Tour.

“Not a lot happened on today.” one of Chimere crew declared. This opinion appeared to conflict with credible eye witnesses claiming that sleeping-in and breakfast at the French patisserie on the main street required serious effort. Over the past few days Chimere has indeed undergone a spring clean ready for thirty new arrivals today from Melbourne as part of the MSM Supporters’ Tour. So maybe the crew of Rob, Matt, Cathy, Dave and Liz deserved a break?

For the ‘thirty somethings’ from Melbourne it was a long day. Many were up at 3am, whilst some took the luxury of sleeping in ‘til 4:30am. All 30 made it to Tullamarine airport to check-in, pass through security and chemical explosive checks (We will probably never know what Graeme was carrying in that tin canister!), a resuscitating coffee or croissant, and compulsory loo stop, to make it to Gate 10 on time. The Qantas flight to Sydney supplied us with breakfast for those who needed a boost.

How do you keep 30 adults together over two flights and through four different airport terminals? The answer: hire Linda Latimer. Linda was highly organized and we, like a group of “school girls in two straight lines” were ushered through each of these steps in the correct sequence. But by the time we arrived at Sydney Domestic terminal, however, the group of “school children” became unruly and independent, heading in several different directions!

“One, two, three,….twenty-eight! Oh dear, who’s missing?…..OK where’s George and Joy?”

“Oh, they missed the connecting bus to the international terminal.” Like duckling returning to their mother George and Joy turned up a few minutes later, unfazed and unconcerned.

Getting the correct seat on the Air Vanuatu flight was a game of musical chairs, with lots of giggling but without the music. The group seating had been allocated Melbourne and none the couples or close friends were seated next to each other.

“What’s your seat number? I’m 28D.”

“I’m in 25A!”

“Here’s a solution: We’ve all got the last 30 seats in the back of the airplane. So if Peter moves to 30B and Jill moves to 30C and Sue sits in Graeme’s 28D – no you stay where you are Ruth – and Alison moves to 27B, then John can be next to her.” And so on it went for 10 minutes. When the music stopped there were seats for all. But none were in their original seats!

Upon landing at the Bauerfield International Terminal, Port Vila, Rob Latimer with Bob and Dick (from the Eye Clinic) were there on the observation deck to great the new arrivals.

“One, two, three…twenty-nine. Where’s Graeme?”

“I think he’s still on board.” It turned out one of the flight attendants had an eye problem and saw the PCV Health insignia on Graeme’s T-shirt and he had stayed on the plane after all the other passengers had disembarked to suggest a management plan for her eye problem – a common illness found in sun-exposed eyes that causes blindness if not treated, but easy to treat.

Immigration and customs seemed to go smoothly, didn’t it?” someone remarked as greetings and hugs were shared.

“One, two, three, twenty-eight. Oh no, who’s missing this time?”

“Liz and Greg” replied Linda. It had transpired that the customs officer did not like the fact that Liz and put some commercially packaged and sealed sachets of tuna fish in her luggage (as emergency rations when they go to Tanna), and had taken them aside to a private room. And he charged them $30!

The Melanesian is a friendly and well-appointed resort overlooking the harbor and close to Parliament and the Museum. We all gathered at 6pm in the outdoor restaurant area around the pool for a sumptuous barbeque of Aussie food and some local delicacies, such as lap-lap made of ground up taro, coconut and banana. It was great to relax and catch up and meet new faces.

The night ended with a Ni-Van band from north Pentecost Island who sang, danced, and performed some kustom dances and amazing sand drawings with commentary.

By now there were 34 of us with the addition of Cathy, Matt, Dave and Liz from Chimere, but who’s counting? For some it has been a long day.

Thanks to Ari from Excuse2Travel for all the arrangements and bookings to make it possible. And welcome to thirty something supporters.

On-duty Cub Reporter

Friday 27 September 2013

Melanesian Hotel, Port Vila, Efate Island

After much planning, preparation and anticipation, 30 excited Aussies flew into Port Vila on the 3:10pm Friday flight to be greeted by a very active string band playing live music in the arrival lounge … a standard feature it seems of all planes arriving in Vanuatu.

For most it had been a very early 3:00am start, in order to catch the 7:00am Sydney flight from Melbourne, so by mid-afternoon that dazed, compliant … tell-me-what-I-need-to-do … look was in evidence.   

It was then onto the Melanesian Hotel where room keys were handed out, credit card details taken and bags lugged up stairs and along corridors.

Six o‘clock and it was time for the Welcome Dinner which was accompanied by an amazingly talented string band, who apart from playing nearly non-stop all night, (wearing the briefest of woven cloth around their waists) but also did Kustom dancing and demonstrated sand drawings.

By 9:00pm the look on many faces showed that whilst the lights were on, no one was at home and everyone slid off to bed for a good nights sleep

Smooth seas, fair breeze and go the Supporters Tour!

Rob Latimer