Early start to Tuesday, was up at 5am and on the pool deck with the lap top and a cup of latte. Was on the net for 18 minutes uploading Cruising part 1, now back to the cabin with coffee for June getting ready for time on Lifou. I know it is a hard life but someone has to do it so it might as well be me, living the life of Riley.

Had the buffet breakfast and was ready for the call to assemble to disembark for Lifou, we had booked the Melanesian Encounter tour where we were taken, after the tender took us ashore, to the Big Chief's hut. We were told of the rituals involved with the hut, it has 2 doorways and we had to use the right one and sit to the rear and right. The left door is reserved for the Big Chief and his family as is the area to the left inside.

All the business of the tribe is discussed in the big hut, this one is the biggest in New Caledonia and the supports inside are massive mahogany poles reminiscent of the supports to the Dickabram Bridge. When the hut has to be re thatched all the men of the tribes congregate and work flat out for a day and a half and it is redone. The women cook for the day to give support. Before entering we had to take off our shoes and hat and stoop to enter as a gesture of respect.

Behind the Big Chief's hut we were treated to a preparation of the "Bougna" an authentic Melanasian meal consisting of chicken or seafood with local vegetables or fruit in this case chicken, banana, potato, sweet potato and pawpaw. It is cooked in banana leaves wrapped entirely then tied with lantana strands into a ball. There is a traditional way of cooking the bougna covered in hot rocks then draped with cloths and covered with earth.

We observed the preparation and when it was covered we were taken to an area nearby where one previously cooked was opened for us to taste. It was spread out on different plates and cut for us to sample with splinters, the end result was very tasty. The chicken fell off the bone and the vegies were cooked to perfection, I was particularly impressed with the banana and went back for seconds. The cooking takes around an hour so the next group would be able to sample the one we saw being prepared.

After the presentation we were driven back to the landing area with plenty of time for June to look round the markets and for me to go to the beach for a swim and to take photos. We then took the tender back to the ship to resume our onboard activities consisting mainly of eating, walking around the various decks, sunbathing and observing the many diverse passengers wearing just as many diverse outfits.

There always has been the option to be more energetic with the P O Edge and be into vigorous activity as well as getting into snorkelling but we decided that was not for us. For me the activity depends on the company and with Steven in WA there were few limits and on my own in Bali whitewater rafting and snorkelling was the way to go. In Tassie climbing tne Nut with the backpackers then Mt. Roland was the challenge. Probably at 78 it is time to slow down.

Had the evening meal with Bob and Hazel again after booking the same table and time, our waiter Vincent is a real character and has a repetoire of magic tricks that I was unable fathom. The entertainment this evening was of a better quality, a New Zealand diva, Ali,  regaled us with a selection of songs from a previous era including Doris Day and Marilyn Monroe.

Wednesday morning and we had rain and overcast skies but we had made no tour bookings for Vila. In 2001 we had spent 9 nights at the Hotel Mecure and during that time had done most of the tours. We left the ship to do some clothes shopping at the markets along the harbour, June bought a couple of dresses and I found a few tee shirts. My old tees were bought in 2010 and represented musical acts from years ago, Beatles, Eagles, Queen, Bob Marley and Eric Clapton some will live on the others will become cleaning rags.

Apparently June has photos at home from a previous Vanuatu Waterfall Tour and I may be able to copy them on to this page later, if so I will add a + to the blog post title. I have added a couple taken from the ship at Vila.   John