ZEBRA CROSSINGS

There’s one Zebra Crossing in Port Vila (near the netball courts) - but this isn’t a cheap excuse to find something to go under ‘Z’. Crossing the main roads in Port Vila can be both dangerous and easy, depending. Visitors from Australia and New Zealand will have a ‘look to the right’ first habit, which can get them into trouble as the cars will be approaching from the left. In the main street, buses and cars will slow and let pedestrians cross - look for a flash of headlights. If driving, especially at night, be wary of pedestrians. Be especially wary if driving in the wee hours of Saturday or Sunday morning as man on their way home from nakamals (kava bars) may not have the leg coordination to walk in a straight line.

ZILO

An example of a ni-Vanuatu name, and a name that belongs a delightful bloke who has taking up carving full time after leaving the harbourfront Nambawan Café (near the souvenir markets). If you are looking for Tam Tam carvings or wooden pigs - Zilo is your man.

ZINC CREAM

Just a reminder of the power of the sun in the tropics. SPF 30+ sunscreen should be used but for sensitive areas like the nose, lips and tops of ears, nothing beats the impenetrable zinc cream, which also comes in an array of trendy colours.

ZOO

Okay, this is a cheap excuse for a ‘Z’ word because there is no zoo in Vanuatu. The closest is the Secret Garden at Mele where you can see fruit bats, rare banded lizards, snakes, coconut crabs, turtles, pigs and many different species of birds.

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I could have said that some restaurants serve zabaglione, that there are zebra fish to be found on the reefs, that Zen is practised by some Chinese residents, that zephyrs roll across the lagoons and kava can make you feel like a zombie! All true, but probably a little bit silly.