OFFICE HOURS

Office hours are fast becoming pretty much 8:00am to 5:00pm for tourist needs - photo development, post office, banks, souvenir shops, bookshops etc but most local businesses and government offices still have a ‘siesta’ from 11:30 to 1:30.

OFFICE PUB

The Office Pub recently finished a ‘siesta’ and underwent a refurbish and a change of name to The Port Vila Pub and Flaming Bull Steakhouse but the Office Pub is still what it is mostly known as. In 2000 I played darts for the pub and enjoyed its ‘English’ pub feel - pool, darts, snack bar etc. It changed hands and subsequent owner/managers couldn’t make a go of it and took some ‘last resort’ initiatives. They flew in strippers from Brisbane and held wet t-shirt competitions to attract a different clientele. Big mistake. Such obscenity isn’t on in Vanuatu, legally or culturally. While it could close the doors so passers by couldn’t see in and argue it was a private party, people stayed away in droves - it’s a small town and word soon gets about. And isn’t the Office a great name for a pub? You could ring home and say, “Sorry darling, still stuck at the office” without lying! It’s a good spot for steak.

OFF-SHORE INVESTMENT

Vanuatu is a tax haven and, while much offshore investing is legal, there are a number of ‘banks’ that aren’t totally legitimate and are rumoured to be laundering Russian Mafia money and the like. The major banks, however, keep a close watch on where funds come from and go to. If you have some lazy money to invest though, rental returns on property can realise over 10% tax-free and international companies can be set up in a day. An example of a simple, legal ‘scheme’ - if you had a share portfolio and believed it would continue to increase in value, you could sell it, pay any capital gains tax owing and let your international company buy the same shares. If/when they are sold in the future there would be no capital gains nor income tax on the way, just the cost of maintaining the company (say, US$1000 per annum). A number of Internet gambling operations have run successfully from Vanuatu. Investors who bring 5 million vatu or more into the country are given pretty much automatic residency. The money can be in cash or assets, like a house but, to be recognised by Australian and New Zealand governments as expatriate, you have to live out of the country for more than six months a year.

OLYMPIC TAKE-AWAY

The Olympic is a fast-food outlet adjacent to Goodies and El Gecko. It serves good fish and chips. The poulet is local fish, the hoki or whiting is flown in frozen from New Zealand. The chips are thick (fat-fat) or thin (bun-bun). People will see similarities in other food on offer, like the ‘Bigfala Burger’, which is two all beef patties, pickle, lettuce, cheese, onion, sauce on a sesame seed bun. Would you like fries with that?

OPTOMETRIST

There is an optometrist (French), but for tourists the only reason for calling would be to fix a broken frame or to buy a pair of ‘magnifying’ glasses if you’ve left your own at home.

OUTER ISLANDS

Most tourists who have limited time will choose side trips to either Santo (for diving) or Tanna (for the Volcano and culture). Epi is an accessible island with friendly locals, great snorkelling and a resident dugong. Malekula has lots of history and culture and the annual Pentecost dive is legendary. But for those with more time and a spirit for adventure, there is much to do and see on other islands. For more information when in Vila, drop into Island Safaris - behind the café opposite Ma Barkers.

We haven't checked out all the accommodation facilities, however if you’re after something a little different and looking for that Robinson Crusoe experience, we have put together a thumbnail guide on a few of Vanuatu best kept secrets.

AMBYRM:


• Milee Sea, Sanselik Sanesup: Phone (678) 23288 c/- Island Safaris, restaurant, no bar, 3 bungalows (breakfast and dinner or half board, volcano tours, bush walks, no credit cards accepted.
• Solomon Douglas, Ranon, North Ambyrm: Phone (678) 48507, restaurant, No bar, 2 rooms (bed & breakfast), volcano day & overnight tours, custom dance demonstrations, magic and sand drawing, no credit cards accepted.
• Vet-Mer Bungalows, Ranvetlam, North Ambyrm: Phone (678) 23288 c/- Island Safaris, restaurant, no bar, 3 bungalows, (full board), volcano day & overnight tours, organised tours to historical sites.


ANEITYUM:

• Mystery Island Guesthouse: Phone (678) 68672 or c/- (678) 26779, no restaurant, no bar, 2 rooms, self-catering food and fresh water, beach, no organised tours however locals are very friendly and helpful, no credit cards accepted.


BANKS:

• Harry Memorial Guesthouse, Rah Island, Motalava: Phone (678) 38552, restaurant, no bar, 3 bungalows, (bed and breakfast), shared toilet and shower, canoe fishing, snake dance demonstrations, no credit cards accepted.
• Wongrass Bungalows, Gaua: Phone (678) 38519, restaurant, no bar, 2 rooms, (bed and breakfast), shared toilet and shower, overnight trekking tours to the volcano, lake and waterfall, no credit cards accepted.


EPI:

• Epi Island Beach Guesthouse: Phone (678) 28225, restaurant, bar, guesthouse, village and garden tour, waterfall tour, outrigger canoe fishing, horse riding, plantation and historical ruins tour.
• Paradise Sunset, Lamen Bay: Phone (678) 25204, restaurant, bar, 6 bungalows, (breakfast and dinner or half board), fishing, resident dugong, no credit cards accepted.


ERROMANGO:

• Meteson Guesthouse, Dillons Bay: Phone (678) 68677, restaurant, no bar, 2 rooms (bed and breakfast), shared toilet and shower facilities, bush walks and fishing, no credit cards accepted.


MALEKULA:

• Alo Lodge, Wintua, South West Bay: Phone (678) 48466, restaurant, no bar, 4 rooms, (bed and breakfast), shared toilet and shower facilities, organised tours to traditional historical sites, no credit cards accepted.
• Banam Bay Bungalows, Fartavo Village: Phone (678) 23288 c/- Island Safaris, restaurant, no bar, 2 bungalows (bed and breakfast), shared toilet and shower facilities, organised tours to traditional historical sites, Small Nambas custom dance demonstrations, no credit cards accepted.
• Rosebay Bungalows, Orap, NE Malekula: Phone (678) 48602, restaurant, bar, 5 bungalows (half board), shared and private shower and toilet facilities, organised tours to traditional historical site, Small Nambas and Big Nambas custom dance demonstrations, credit cards accepted.


PENTECOST:

• Nangol Bungalows, Salap, South Pentecost: Phone (678) 38327, restaurant, no bar, 3 bungalows, (full board), shared toilet and shower facilities, special Pentecost jump packages available during the months of April and May, no credit cards accepted.


SANTO:

• Bokissa Island Resort: Phone (678) 36913, restaurant, bar, fares all with private bathroom facilities, swimming pool and full resort facilities, many organised tours including scuba diving, credit cards accepted.
• Hotel Santo: Phone (678) 36250, restaurant, bar, rooms with private shower and toilet facilities, many organised tours, credit cards accepted.
• Aore Island Resort: Phone (678) 36705, restaurant, bar, 10 twin/double and 8 family bungalows, many organised tours, credit cards accepted.
• Coral Quays Resort: Phone (678) 36257, restaurant, bar, 18 fares with private bathroom facilities, many organised tours, credit cards accepted.
• Deco Stop Dive Lodge: Phone (678) 36175, restaurant, bar, 11 units, lockable wash area for divers, organised tours, credit cards accepted.
• Oyster Island Resort: Phone (678) 36283, restaurant, 8 bungalows, private toilet and shower facilities, many organised tours.
• Lonnoc Beach Bungalows, East Santo: Phone (678) 36141, restaurant, bar, 8 bungalows, (bed and breakfast), shared toilet and shower facilities, beach, fishing, no credit cards accepted.
• Vatthe Conservation Lodge, Matantas, Big Bay: Phone (678) 36153, restaurant, no bar, 6 bungalows, (bed and breakfast), shared toilet and shower facilities, forest walks, no credit cards accepted.


TANNA:

• Uma Guesthouse, Lenakel: Phone (678) 68768, restaurant, no bar, 4 rooms (bed and breakfast), shared toilet and shower facilities, no credit cards accepted.
• Tanna Evergreen Bungalows, Whitegrass: Phone (678) 68774, restaurant, bar, 6 bungalows (bed and breakfast), shared toilet and shower facilities, volcano, John Frum Cargo Cult and custom village tours, no credit cards accepted.
• Port Resolution Bungalows, Port Resolution: Phone (678) 68791, restaurant, no bar, 6 bungalows (bed and breakfast), shared toilet and shower facilities, volcano and custom dance demonstration tours, no credit cards accepted.
• Volcano Adventure Lodge, Loanengo Village: Phone (678) 68676, restaurant, no bar, 2 bungalows, shared toilet and shower facilities, volcano tour by foot and custom dance demonstrations, no credit cards accepted.
• White Grass Ocean Resort: Phone (678) 68688, restaurant, bar, 12 bures, private toilet and shower facilities, private beach, volcano tour, custom village, The John Frum Cargo Cult, volcanic black sand beaches tour, wild horses excursion, credit cards accepted.
• Friendly Bungalows: Phone (678) 26856, restaurant, bungalows, private and share toilet and shower facilities, volcano and custom village tours, no credit cards accepted.

As mentioned, we can’t vouch for all the above properties, but word of mouth tells us that the Epi Guesthouse is great and we really enjoy both Friendly Bungalows and White Grass Resort on Tanna as well as Aore and Bokissa on Santo. Stay tuned, we’re planning on getting out and about soon.

OUTRIGGER CANOES

Outriggers give a tropical flavour to the country and are seen on the lagoons with locals casting nets or travelling about. Because of their design, they’re not as easy to manoeuvre as they look. The trick is in the oar motion - rather than paddling ‘straight’, pull the oar through the water in a ‘J’ curve.