Dining is a highlight of Vanuatu.
Fresh local fish, beef, fruit and vegetables are in plentiful supply and
Vanuatu is famous for its coconut crabs. Restaurants offer Melanesian,
French, Polynesian, Indian, Chinese, Thai-Vietnamese, English and Japanese
dishes at very reasonable prices. Restaurants are also notable for their
cleanliness.
Like other South Pacific nations, Vanuatu's icon
meals are prepared in an earth oven, heated by extremely hot rocks. But
the meals themselves differ from their neighbours. An example is laplap,
which is made from grated root crop, topped with fresh coconut milk,
island cabbage and meat or fish, wrapped in banana leaves and baked in the
earth oven, uma.
Visitors wanting to experience kava, the
traditional south Pacific drink made from the roots of a pepper bush, can
buy it by the bowl full at a kava house, nakamal. But be careful to watch
how others drink before trying it.
Shopping
Visitors can find a wide
selection of authentic handicrafts from many islands of Vanuatu at the
Handicraft Blong Vanuatu and Art Blong Yumi and Goodies in Port Vila.
Shopping for local brightly coloured material, dresses and shirts can also
be fun. There are also some duty-free shops in Port Vila.
Shops are generally open weekdays and Saturday
morning. While many shops close from 11.30am to 1.30pm for lunch, eating
places, banks, supermarkets and the Post Office remain open. Some
specialty shops and supermarkets also open on Sunday morning.
Foreign cash, travellers cheques and major
international credit cards are widely accepted, though bankcard is not
normally accepted.
Nightlife
All major hotels have
regular entertainment that includes cultural shows. Club Vanuatu and Club
21 also have poker machines and entertainment.
In the evenings, men drink kava at local kava bars or akamals.
Alcohol is available at hotels and in local bars in urban areas.
Sports & Activities
Ni-Vanuatu love soccer,
and golf, tennis, squash and aerobics are becoming popular. Triathlon
events are held throughout the year, culminating in some international
competitions.
There is a great variety of watersports,
including reef and wreck diving and big game fishing. There are four golf
courses to choose from in Port Vila, as well as tennis courts, fitness
centres, jazzercize and squash. There is also Hash House Harriers, horse
riding schools and cycling. The annual triathlon is a big event attracting
international competitors. The annual picnic horse race day is a feature
of the calendar. The Amateur Theatrical Society stages regular productions
as well.
ACTIVITIES
Melanesian feast nights
Diving on reefs and wrecks
Snorkelling and swimming
Fishing and shell collecting
Sea-kayaking and yachting
Day and night cruising
Village tours
Trekking and nature walks
Exploring volcanoes
Bird watching
Sky diving
Helicopter scenic flights
Bus tours
Horse riding
Golf, tennis and squash
Gambling
Vanuatu now has a Hyperbaric Recompression
Chamber, it is situated at the Santo Northern Districts Hospital. There
have been a number of people involved in the setting up and training of
staff for the recompression chamber. There are six inside attendants,
three of which are in Vanuatu. Having a recompression chamber in Vanuatu
is a huge step forward in the safety and promotion of Vanuatu as an
international diving destination. Already the chamber has successfully
treated a few divers.
Pacific Island Travel has 3 offices
in the Netherlands, in Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Eindhoven. Please
make an appointment for a talk to our salesstaff. Our offices are
opened from monday to friday between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm and on
saturday between 10.00am and 4.00 pm.
