Tag Archives: transpacific cruise

December 10, 2014 · 5:35 am

Touring Espiritu Santos

Mavutor River

You can find beaches everywhere in the South Pacific. But you can’t find scenes such as this on every island:

Matevulu Blue Hole

Espiritu Santo is a huge island with many rivers. It also has many areas known as “blue holes.” And blue they most assuredly are.

Matevulu Blue Hole

Our road trip through the Espiritu Santo countryside also took us to coconut orchards,

Coconut orchard

Through grassy ranches,

Ranch land

Over crystalline rivers,

Mavutor River

And even by picturesque cemeteries,

Cemetery

In other words, Espiritu Santo is simply a delightful destination with photographic opportunities galore. You’ll see some of my favorite shots this coming Fun Photo Friday. Until then:

Espiritu Santo

Coconuts

Ranch land

Matevulu Blue Hole

Mavutor River

Chillin’ along the Mavutor RIver

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Tagged as Espiritu Santo, Luganville, MS Oosterdam, photography, R. Doug Wicker, transpacific cruise, travel, travel photography, Vanuatu

December 8, 2014 · 5:35 am

Vanuatu — Port Vila and Luganville

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

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

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: