Ban Muang

Finally left Vanuatu.  Wonderful place and caught up with some old friends etc.  Will have good memories of the place thats for sure.

However life moves on.  I needed to get my eye checked and a new prosthetic one installed!!!! Done.  As of yesterday I now have two eyes again.  Not much help but it does noticeably cut down on the "double takes" I used to get when walking around!  That was apparent almost immediately.

So after a few days in Bangkok visiting Hospitals etc we also caught up with Owen and friends. Late last night eventually got up to Ban Muang. Needless to say not much has changed. First job was ot unload the car and second was to set up the bread maker for fresh Loaf tomorrow. (Thats today !). And well worth the effort too.

I've promised myself this trip I am going to relax.  Even to the extend of thissi posting.  I only walked round the house to take a few shots!!! Beautiful day. Just to lazy to move anywhere.....

Looking forward to a few bike trips and general messing about. Buts thats all later on.

When in Vanuatu we dried out some PawPaw seeds and brought them back to Thailand. Planted them about a month ago. Of 50+ only about 18 look OK. I think this trip we will plant them out and see what happens.

Vanuatu Part 6 Remembrance to the King of Thailand

On 27th October the local Thai community was invited to the "Exotic Thai" Restaurant for a memorial service in memory and to show respect to the late King of Thailand 

His Majesty, Bhumibol Adulyadej.  

Very emotional experience with about 30 Thai people turning up. All dressed in Black and looking decidedly despondent and very sad to the extent there were quite a few tears....

There were prayers and a short service followed by a few eats and chit chat. It was really more like a wake than anything else I can describe.

Wanna and I attended. We were not in black as we were out for dinner when the late notification came through via a friend.

Vanuatu Part 5 Visit to Santo

What a weekend. Flew up to Santo Esprito Island obstentiously to look at a future wharf construction but really a good excuse to have a long weekend away.

Santo is about 45 minutes flight north of Port Vila. We left Sunday Morning and had time for work inspections then a trip up the east coast.

We travelled up from the bottom right hand corner up to the yellow star shown above.

Has a swim and for lunch coconut crab cooked in a mild curry sauce. Fantastic.  I cannot begin to describe the taste except to say writing this I could eat another one!!!

The beach. Well I thought I had seen them all. But this was a s good as it gets.  Possibly one of the best beached I have ever seen.  Had a swim and relaxed.

On the way back we looked as some coconut drying houses and native plants. The kilns were not operating as it was a public holiday.

In particular we were shown the native Kava plant famous for its root drink.  If you've never heard of Kava now is the time to learn  10 things you need to know about Kava.  And it works.  I've tried it a few times. You just relax.  Funny thing is your lips go numb and the legs seem ot have a mind of their own. But very different to Alcohol or dope. And it does not leave any headache or after effects except to reduce appetite and make you a bit lazy.  Both good results don't you agree ?

 Plenty more to write about but I'm off got a bowl of Kava and relax. When I find some energy I'll pen a few more words......

Vanuatu Part 4

Lovely Saturday.  Horse racing Island style. Annual Charity event. Everyone was out having a great day. Just seemed the whole Island had turned up. Complete families and just a great atmosphere. 6 races with 4-6 horses per race. But for the racing we have no idea who to bet on!

Don't suppose it matters that much. It was all for charity. Even the car park attendants, security etc were all working for free. So great atmosphere.

So a few racing photos and tried out some local foods. Kebaks and grilled fish and various root crops.   Live music.  Excellent day.

Vanuatu Part 3

Been a good week. Time does fly here, faster than anywhere I've been.  Work is OK and then evenings seems to disappear as fast as switching a light off.

However yesterday while driving along I saw small bus stop.  Talk about laid back ! If it moved over a bit more it would fall into the sea. I think is sums up island life here. Cool, relaxed and in no rush to go anywhere !!!!