Vanuatu 17

Today was a day of contrasts.

We were out early to the wharf where we have booked a fair space on the Touraken ferry. The ferry leaves Monday for multiple islands in the south. Cargo had to be loaded today ready for Monday's departure (the wharf being closed Sunday).

We loaded over a tonne of rice to go to the high school on Anatom. We also loaded fishing boats, tackle, solar powered freezers, batteries, jerry cans, seeds and a range of up hygiene education materials for our projects on Tanna. On Monday, three of our team will lave with the Touraken for the overnight trip to Tanna to unload.

After that we visited a local NGO, the Butterfly Trust, who are working north of Efate. Through a partnership deal we gave them some of our tarpaulins - a few of whom ironically and to go back to the wharf to cover their materials that will be left on the dock during Sunday's closure!

One of the other agencies we've worked closely with this week is the International Office of Migration. They found some families living in an abandoned shed who couldn't affford to restore their homes so they could return. We were able to provide them with hardware materials thorough our voucher scheme and also purchase household items, so they can start to fix things ready for going home. They are from the village of Ferarri (I love the names of places here. Our car is garaged at Beverly Hills. The Tagabe Outpost is at 21 Jump Street...)

We finished the day by hiring some ocean kayaks from the nearby resort (only cost $5 each) and going for a paddle.  Google maps suggests we paddled about 6-7km. We're sore! Just when we got through the heads to come back through the lagoon to the resort, two of us were dumped. I landed on coral, cut my foot and lost my drink bottle and half of the snorkel gear I'd borrowed. Alastair lost his glasses (made for an interesting paddle back) and snorkel gear. Thankfully he didn't lose my dri-bag that he had on his kayak with his phone and our snacks in it. It was a great day, but it's meant everyone's gone to bed early. It's 9pm and I'm last to turn in. Which nonetheless is happening now.