Days 10 & 11 - 14th -15th March

No lizard today but spot the crab in its shell in the photo today!

For all those concerned about the gecko- he was being very good- not running across dinner plates but up a pillar in the lobby. And yes Mark, we are very ambi-dextrous (how do u spell that??)when it comes to holding torches under the sheets- yes we are having a GREAT time together !!

Hey thanks for all the comments while here, we always look to see whos written and enjoy the shite you all give us- even it is is often anonymous, I can usually work out the authors !! CYA soon'

Day 11

Woke at 7.30am and dragged ourselves up to breakast today (not!) Graeme has had about 20 eggs since he got here and thick bacon every day, he will miss this when back to reality.
I unfortunately had an allergic reaction to the juice today - I always stick with the pineapple eah day as I'm very allergic to the orange and mango ones. But somewhere along the line mango got tipped into the pineapple and I had drunk half a glass before I tasted it. Result - I did a good impression of the michelan man all swelling up!

The manager was very good though as he came over and could also taste the mango and had it taken out. Thought we had better tell the staff as if someone else was more allergic than me, they could have a problem on their hands.

Took an anti-histamine and drank copius amounts of water- no ice cream to be had Mum like when I was a kid ! but it was ok and I will be more careful from now on.

Packed our bags and confirmed the transfer for tomorrow, then we will lax out under our tree. Will try to find my bottle of perfume that seems to have disappeared out of the bathroom while we were in town on Wednesday. Ginette, the office manager was going to come in on her (1)day off to do a report, but I said I didnt want to take it further until we are packed up and know it hasnt been misplaced in the room somewhere. Dont think so somehow and a little disappointing that it has been taken but there are a few staff that have access to the rooms so its too hard to trace. Will just fill a report in at the desk.

There was an amazing thunder storm today- caught the lightening and thunder on video - you could feel the thunder through the ground. It was most impressive to give us a different view on the last day- it teemed down for about an hour and a half which is pretty rare!!

Dont know if its because we know we have to go home or if we are just ready, but we are ready to go and see everyone in cold old New Zealand - like Dorothy said- "Theres no place like home"- even if she did mean Kansas not the Waikato!.

We both think that Vanuatu is majorly missed out in the marketing of the "Pacific theme.... Fiji, Rarotonga, Samoa etc." It is such a lovely sunny destination with friendly warm people who are all bi-lingual and the country has easy access for Kiwis. The food and activities are a little expensive but nothing like Tahiti in our experience - you can easily get around yourselves and we would certainly promote Vanuatu as a great place for couples and families alike.

Finishing the holiday with a night at the wild ginger restaurant, trying out Teppenyaki for the first time tonight. We have heard the chef is very entertaining with his salt n pepper shakers and his knife set !!! Hmmm will be interesting and as long as he doesnt miss, we will see you all on the other side of the ocean !!!!!

Day 10

We have had such great sleeps while away and it has been just the tonic we needed after 9 months of daily routine, to wake each day when we wake rather than getting up to an alarm- for Graeme especially as the 5.15am get ups are a bit cruel!

We travelled into town on the bus/van again- we havent had any trouble getting these and they are a fifth the price of the taxi's. Have hardly ever had to wait either as its the type of service that runs informally all the time.
We were on a route that took us up to the parliment buildings then to the Port Vila hospital. There were alot of women holding their beautiful babies, waiting for the child health clinics. Graeme reckons I could get a job there in nursing or midwifery easily and they have diesel powered generators, so we are sussed if we come to live here!

One thing I would want to do first though would be to try and get children into seat restraints as no-one uses carseats here and kids move around freely inside vehicles and babies are just held on their mothers laps. Dont know what their statistics are like however.

Our resort is noticeably full of kids, we have never seen so many babies in arms and toddlers, then a gap up to the teenage age group away with their parents. It works well I think as the babysitting is only about $3 an hour and there is a kids club.

Maybe with couples achieving careers before becoming parents more these days- that this is why so many more seem to be able to travel with very young children and babies, its quite noticeable. We take our hat off to them, as taking babies and teenagers! on holiday overseas can be hard work as we have witnessed here.

One teenager here with the family gave his parents hell everytime we saw them in the restaurant- yet he came from private school, had all the techno equipment, ipod etc. But he held his prents to ransom all the time because he didnt want to be there. Graeme said he wanted to go up and throttle him as here he was in pacific paradise, ruining it for the rest of his family.

Anyhow! back into town, we swapped over our thai dvd for an english version! Not such great copies but as it is only just out at the movies at home, cant complain!

Went back to the resort and read etc, swam and snorkelled. It has been a funny day cloudy and rains but still very hot snd tropical. I managed to continue my bikini outline tan ! even though I have been under a tree each day sunbathing !!

Went to the seafood buffet as it was so nice last week and the prawns were the largest we've ever seen, but alas these were a disappointing normal size- bum.

Went back to our room and watched the national treasure- book of secrets dvd, very handy having the laptop!