Easter Sunday, Exploring Mystery Island

All the necessary ingredients for a very Happy Easter surrounded us on board including dyed eggs and Easter displays, a HUGE bowl of jellybeans at the breakfast buffet, an Easter Egg Hunt complete with prizes (Big-O points), God threw in a rainbow and a wonderful Easter Service.

  In between all these activities under BEAUTIFUL sunny skies, those who so chose boarded tenders to unravel the "mystery" of Mystery Island. Somewhere between Fiji and New Caledonia lies the island chain nation of Vanuatu, one said island is this unspoiled, unpopulated Paradise on Earth - Mystery Island. In WWII, a very strategic airstrip was built by US troops among the palm trees making it virtually impossible to see from the sea, resulting in much consternation in the opposing forces. Thus the name...

The mystery to me today is how have they been able to keep its serene splendor from being overrun? It has no roads, no electricity, no residents, no pollution, no anything negative! It does have beautiful white sand beaches, exquisite coral reefs easily visible thru the pristine aqua/teal/royal blue sea, equally beautiful blue skies and a very few ru

stic cabins available for one who truly wants to get off the grid for a day or so. Cell phone service is available, but that's it in the way of what we have deemed "necessities." In all of Vanuatu, there are five cars and one police officer. (Maybe I have that backwards?) Law and order is maintained by each chief within his chiefdom.

After far too short a time on this piece of Paradise, some 30 of us waded through knee-deep crystal clear water to board one of 3 Zodiac boats to be carried to the island of Aneityum to learn of their culture in the Village of Keamu. Most enjoyable, informative, unique, welcoming, delightfully entertaining scenic excursion thus far this trip! Before we were allowed to enter the village it was necessary to persuade the screaming Tribesmen who appeared from nowhere, dressed in grass skirts and brandishing spears that we came in peace. Obviously this was ceremonial only, but has been their custom for centuries. Once inside the village, the 1,001 uses of coconut trees/leaves/branches/shells/oil/cream/meat were both explained and demonstrated to us in great detail...

Nothing is wasted here. The barter system is still very much in use, however, a contribution box was prominently displayed on the corner of the bountiful buffet table. The island is divided amongst five tribes, land owned by the chief is worked by his tribe. Should a member of one tribe wish to marry one from another tribe, both Chiefs must condone the marriage and a payment must be made to the bride's family. I'm sure that is what he said - not sure that is what he meant, but who am I to say? A typical payment would be 20 of each of the following items: baskets, coconut leaf mats, clay pots, pigs, chickens, hats, etc. I asked if these items were valued differently. The answer was, "no, they are equally essential to survival." All too soon we were guided back to the shore to return to Mystery Island, where we would board our ship's tender to return and continue our voyage. Still have not seen the airstrip, though I was assured it remained. I continued to snap pictures as long as possible. This kind of beauty must be seen, if only in photographs.

I Could Get Used To This

Hitching a Ride

Today is Someday! Enjoy the Beauty!