Well, we are still not officially in Vanuatu.
Due to bad rain on the morning before we arrived the road from the other side of the island had been washed way. This meant customs could not get here.
There are 4 other boats in the bay with us some trying to book in some trying to book out. We all went ashore to look at the volcano yesterday evening. What an experience! What’s health and safety?? We were picked up from the bay by two Toyota 4×4 dual cabs. Five in the cab + driver and six in the tray. 45 minutes later we arrived at the base of the volcano. We were each issued a plastic helmet to protect us from falling ash (health and safety). This is where we get transferred to single cab 4x4s this time ten of us in the tray. The tray did have seating, 50mm x 200mm planks nailed together and a pipe framework holding up a trampoline. We all clung into the pipes as the seating slid around as we went up the mountainside.
We arrived at the top of the mountain just before sunset and we walked up to the rim of the crater. We were then lead around the rim of the volcano which in places was only 500mm wide. The hand rails along the track ended just before reaching the rim. Who needs hand rails?? They probably kept burning up.
But there is nowhere else you could get so close and see so much. There was loud bangs as the lava exploded into the air with such force that the air pressure would push you back if you weren’t steady footed. We stayed there for about two hours after dark and then made our way back to the 4x4s using torches or our phones to see the way.
An amazing experience. Now we are off to Port Vila to clear customs and officially be here.
