Mota Lava

We spent 4 days here relaxing in the beautiful Sunset bungalows. We went for walks and were constantly greeted by all and sundry eager to know where we were from and where we were going.

The people of Mota Lava are some of the friendliest we have have met in all Vanuatu. There was a sea mist for all the time so never saw the volcanic outline of Vanua Lava or Mota. The snorkelling off the reef was splendid with great collections of plate coral as big as tables with the clear sapphire blue of the deep ocean acting as a backdrop.

We crossed to Ra island by water taxi (20 vatu) and visited Father Luke's establishment Paradise Bungalows. It was lovely and they gave us a great welcome (but somehow we preferred the bungalows of Sunset.) There was a young American couple who were there for two years finishing off the translation of the Bible into the local language. It was something like a 10 year project. I admire their tenacity but do question the huge resources that are put into these grand works when there are so many other pressing needs. Vanuatu is full of overt Christian worship but the practice …

On our last night we almost burnt the hut down when a redundant blanket fell from the bed onto the mosquito coil in the middle of the night and smouldered away. Fortunately the smell of burning woke me and I put it out before it burst into flames. Of course with a leaf roof and bamboo walls there would have been a rapid conflagration!

Alice arriving!!!!!

 On Friday we had to get to the airport early as Alice was arriving from England. One of the only two trucks on the island had broken its springs so we used 'the blue one' and piled in the back. Annie sat besides the driver which was awkward as she was sitting over the engine and twice we had to stop to fill up with water. Hot bum! However we arrived in plenty of time and were delighted and overjoyed to meet Alice. We now continued up to the Torres islands flying over the uninhabited reef islands on the way.

Reef islands