Tag Archives: MS Oosterdam

Vanuatu — Port Vila and Luganville


Rainy Day in Port Vila

Rainy Day in Port Vila

The MS Oosterdam continued to make her way along the Vanuatu archipelago after we departed Mystery Island.  Our next stop was Port Vila on the island of Efate.  Port Vila is the capital of Republic of Vanuatu, and it was not named after Bob.  Unfortunately we were greeted with overcast skies and light rains throughout our brief stay there.  Ursula and I made it downtown, but I didn’t really want to take the camera out in those conditions.  So, the pictures you see here of Port Vila are taken mostly from the ship.

Port Vila

Port Vila

 Our port of call following Port Vila was another Vanuatu destination —Luganville on the island of Espiritu Santo.  And while Efate is more populous, it is Espiritu Santo which holds the distinction as Vanuatu’s largest island.

MS Oosterdam in Luganville

MS Oosterdam in Luganville

On Espiritu Santo the clouds had given way, so there was much more to do, see, and photograph during our brief stay here.  Indeed Ursula and I spent little time in Luganville.  Instead we hired transportation and headed well into the island for some spectacular scenery.  We’ll take a look at these sights beginning Wednesday, but here’s a glimpse of the welcoming committee to Luganville:

The Luganville Ladies Welcome Wagon Committee

The Luganville Ladies Welcome Wagon Committee

Until Wednesday I’ll just leave you with this gallery of Port Vila shots:

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Fun Photo Friday — Inyeug is still a Mystery


Lonely Windsock

Lonely Windsock

Here’s my favorite shots of our stop on Mystery Island, Vanuatu:

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Touring Mystery Island on Foot


Mystery Island Marketplace

Mystery Island Marketplace

As I mentioned Monday, Mystery Island (Inyeug) is uninhabited until the tourists arrive by either ship or plane.  Once the tourists do arrive, they are greeted by great beaches, diverse flora and fauna (including hanging from the trees some of the biggest spiders I’ve ever seen), and a marketplace at which to shop.

Mystery Island-064

Massive Spiderweb

And a Massive Spider to go with it

And a Massive Spider to go with it

The small World War II airfield relic is a sod strip approximately 2,001 feet/610 meters long.  And, yes, there is a terminal building at Anatom Airport.

Watch out, Chicago and Atlanta — Anatom Airport Terminal

Watch out, Chicago and Atlanta — Anatom Airport Terminal

2,001 feet of landing strip — Aneityum in the background

2,001 feet of landing strip

Click on any image below to bring up today’s gallery:

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Filed under Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel