Travel the Pacific - Vanuatu

HALO, BONJOUR!

Made up of 80 islands strung out in the heart of Melanesia between the Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and Fiji, Vanuatu ‘The Land which has always Existed’ brings to mind a vision of timeless tranquility. Whether it’s the excitement of witnessing the death-defying land divers of Pentecost - which inspired the bungy jumping craze - or discovering its amazing underwater life, Vanuatu will captivate you.

Issue 21 Travel Feature
Photo Essay: Te Wa - The traditional Canoe of Kiribati

Anthropologist TONY WHINCUP has spent more than 30 years photographing in Kiribati. In our latest photo essay, courtesy of Pacificfocus.org we present his documentation of the traditional canoe from the vast atoll nation.
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The 83 VANUATU Islands make up a Y shape in their Pacific Ocean home, presenting an incredibly diverse range of scenic attractions from mountainous volcanic landscapes to gentle white sand beaches and the clear deepwater harbour of Port Vila. The country’s fringing reefs, tropical climate and fertile soils make it a haven for a diverse range of flora, fauna and wildlife. Tropical rainforests and thick natural vegetation contrast pristine beds of as many as 1500 species of flowers, ferns, shrubs and trees. The country boasts an impressive 158 species of orchids, which adorn the landscape. The beautiful waters are ideal for snorkellers and divers, as they are home to some 300 species of coral and more then 450 species of reef fish.

VANUATU was first occupied by Melanesian settlers about 3000 years ago. A European presence wasn’t felt until navigators began to visit the islands from 1606, Captain Cook being the first to thoroughly map and name the islands the New Hebrides. Both the British and French showed an interest in the islands, buying land and raising the countries developing economy. In 1906 this interest was made official as the New Hebrides was formally declared a condominium under the joint rule of Britain and France. However, a desire for independence was expressed by the Melanesians from the 1960s, and they began to claim back their land with the support of an improving economy. After Melanesian political success in 1979, the first President of the Republic was elected in 1980 and the country was renamed VANUATU, meaning ‘our land’ or ‘land eternal’.

VANUATU is recognized as one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world, with 115 distinctly different cultures that thrive there. Each island has its own unique culture, language and customs that reflect the French, British, Australian, New Zealand, Vietnamese, Chinese and other Pacific Island people who live there. Most of its 180,000 people speak both French and English as well as the national language Bislama, a form of Pidgin English. The original descendents of the Melanesian call themselves Ni-Vanuatu (meaning ‘of Vanuatu’), and they have actively blended their traditional beliefs and customs with the new doctrine that was introduced by Missionaries. Traditional cultural life (kastom) remains strong in many places, particularly in the outer islands. While life in the larger towns and cities had changed recently to a more modern lifestyle, the structure of village life remains almost intact. Some 80% of people live in rural areas, mostly in small clan-based villages of less then 50 people. The traditional society expresses a distinctive Melanesian cultural heritage blended with the influence of the French and British colonists. Dances, ceremonies, funerals, weddings, initiations, status and systems of authority, artistic styles, and animal and crop husbandry vary from island to island, and often from district to district on the larger islands.

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