Thursday 10 February 2011

Happiness is ..... Vanuatu

In 2006 the New Economic Forum measured countries according to a scale of human well-being and environmental impact. This produced the Happy Planet Index. http://www.happyplanetindex.org/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Happy_Planet_Index
In particular it discarded GDP as a measure since the usual ultimate aim of most people is not to be rich but to be happy and healthy. It also looked at the environmental costs of development.
In 2006 Vanuatu came first in the Index.
We encourage you to check out the websites.
(Since 1972 Bhutan has Gross National Happiness as part of its political agenda. King Khesar describes Gross National Happiness as 'the creation of an enlightened society in which happiness and well-being of all people and sentient beings is the ultimate purpose of governance.')

Monday 7 February 2011

Visting

We would love you to come and visit us. It would not be for the fainthearted!
The flights to Australia usually take about 24 hours and it is another 3 hours to Espiritu Santo.They are expensive.
There are many way of travelling. Here are some suggestions:
1. Find a cheap return flight to Brisbane (about £800) or Sydney. Then check Pacific Blue (or Air Vanuatu more expensive) for their flights to Espiritu Santo or Port Vila. Currently (in February 2011) flights three months ahead are about AUS$200-500 out and AUS$180- 240 back. These are the cheapest ie more for baggage and are non refundable - see website.
2. Fly from Auckland via Fiji for £185 to Port Vila then Espiritu Santo and then to Brisbane/Sydney.
3. Try Trailfinders or Flight centre or another similar agent for cheap round the world tickets that take in a flight to Fiji and allows a deviation to Vanuatu enroute to NZ or Oz.
(flights from Port Vila to Espiritu Santo cost about AUS $140)

Don't forget the rainy season is December to March with some heavy cyclones.
Both of us will be working so largely we will have to leave you to your own resources during the day.
We do not know yet what kind of accommodation we will have. If we only have a shack then there are plenty of guest houses and even a couple of very expensive resorts.
Check out these websites, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanuatu www.vanuatu.travel , www.espiritusantotourism.com , www.vanuatumotel.com ,www.vanuatu.net.vu/home , http://www.positiveearth.org/bungalows/SANMA/santo.htm
for weather reports  http://www.worldweather.org/169/c00674.htm


Take courage!!!!