Congratulations to Roger and Briony on the arrival of Douglas Frederick on 22nd May

Mother and son both doing well

Travelling here was most uncomfortable, when will the traveller be able to have a bit more creature comforts?  I was so cramped in my area and was physically unable to get out and stretch my legs.

My new home is very comfortable. I have my own boudoir which seems to nestle in the tree tops with views are of the glorious ocean and a distant little island and on the other side of the garden beautiful majestic jungle trees teeming with tantalising birds.   There is only one little hiccup…. Would you believe that my family has 2, yes 2, DOGS that live INSIDE.   I am not a dog person; I find THEM  smelly and too aggressive.    But I feel THEY have the same antagonism toward me and as I am a delicate being these 2 dogs take advantage of my size and THEY often gang up and try to intimidate me.   One evening I was having a private moment strolling around the balcony and, for what reason only THEY know, the 2 of them started to snarl and chase me and wanted me to jump off the balcony, luckily my hosts were awake and thwarted their efforts.    It was a sleepless night after that, I clung to the balcony and no enticement from my hosts would encourage me to venture back . I did not sleep until the early hours of the morning when I could see that THEY were securely locked outside of my balcony area.

Views over Erakor Island

The week has been interesting to say the least. My arch enemies have not ventured into my territory and I have had time to reflect on the week as I see it in Vila

A huge hurrah went up when the roof started to be replaced at the decrepit main wharf shed, however this turned to dismay when those with freight in the shed noted that the contractors were taking the short odds to rain not falling in Vila..yeh right!!! and so guess what we had 60mm’s on early Saturday morning

Whilst I never met this man, it’s 3 years since one of Vila’s favourite sons passed away. Asco GM David Pullin was remembered by his golf mates this week in a memorial tournament that will become and annual event on the Port Vila Golf Club’s annual calendar. “Pully’s” favourite..or not so favourite tree (he hit it most times he played) carries a plaque to his memory which is suitably inscribed with the words..”Missed by all but Pully never missed it”

My favourite topic this week is the wonderfully organised traffic chaos we live with in Vila. I read recently of a grand plan to spend OPM by the squillions to build a freeway style network of roads but guess that will not be in my lifetime or my children. A simple extension of the existing one way system past the markets and a NO U TURN sign between Proud’s Corner and ABM No. 2 would probably be a good start. A few uniformed Municipality Police at peak hours would also be needed to police such a major change in the current I DO AS I PLEASE rule

Our beloved Anchor Inn has had a major refurb and but for a small oversight in relation to the septic system location the works seem nearly complete and looking good. There is differing opinion on the huge roof which some believe could be relocated to the Chew Stores new mall come the next cyclone. I guess time will tell. I know once the new bar is open the beer WILL be colder wont it???

Another interesting topic I always struggle with is GLOBAL WARMING. According to long time residents of Vila they have never experienced such a mild May and the forecaster say it may get even cooler as the year goes on. Certainly our power bill has been spared the spike in costs by not having the metre get dizzy keeping up with the AC on full blast. Oh well guess this is one area we cannot change…the weather that is

From me to you just hope you have another pur….fect week

Lulu

My Ganddaughter Zoe is nearly 6 months old and is a really gorgeous girl

Briony and Roger are very proud parents

I miss you all

This magic oil is now written about by Barry Roche and can be viewed on the Volcanic Earth Website

http://www.volcanicearth.com/

I have used this for years and it does all it says it can do in the book

Observations on Yasur volcano on the 16th of February 2008 by officers from the department of Geology, Mines and Water Resources and IRD showed that Yasur volcano is on a state of high activity.The activity recorded by the permanent monitoring station close to the volcano reveals that the activity of this volcano has increased since the 7th of January 2008. Since then, the activity continues to

remain high .  Another field observation on the 6 to 8 March confirmed this stable high activity.

Visitors are reminded that the alert level of the activity of this volcano is maintained at Level 2

according to the Vanuatu Volcano Alert Level (VVAL) system (see indications page 4). This

means that visitors should observe the volcano from a safe distance away from the volcano

crater. This means that it is advisable to observe the volcano from the car parking area.

Visitors’ and tourists’ agencies are advised to seriously consider this information until a further notice

is issued.

For specific information contact the Geo-Hazard section of the Department of Geology, Mines and

Water Resources, telephone 22907 email gesline@vanuatu.gov.vu, and mharrison@vanuatu.gov.vu .

Business: AIR WARS OVER THE CORAL SEA

And the winners are? The customersNina Ratulele Don’t write off Solomon Airlines. That was the message in the Solomon Islands capital, Honiara, as the national airline prepared to battle for its busiest international route.As this month began airline wars were breaking out, and bringing good news for passengers. Brisbane-Honiara-Brisbane over the Coral Sea was becoming the most competitive island route in the South Pacific. The fast-growing Brisbane-based SkyAirWorld was preparing to launch five flights a week on it from March 3 using modern Embraer 170 and 190 regional jets. Nauru’s Our Airline was flying the route twice weekly using its Boeing 737-300. And Solomon Airlines was maintaining its four flights a week, using a mix of Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737-200 planes. It was planning to replace the 737-200 flights with 737-300 services. As the air wars intensified, people flying were the definite beneficiaries. SkyAirWorld got all the early publicity with the announcement of its plans. Solomon Islands tourism operators welcomed its innovative ideas and new services. Many people welcomed its low-cost fares and modern jets. But at Solomon Airlines headquarters in central Honiara, chief executive Ron Sumsum and his management team had their own plans. This included highlighting they had more seats and space on the route, cheaper fares and service by friendly local cabin crew. As this ISLANDS BUSINESS edition went to press, it appeared Solomon Airlines would replace the Boeing 737-200 flights with bigger 130-seat Boeing 737-300 flights from next month. These would be flown for it by Australia’s OzJet with Solomon Airlines cabin crew aboard. Melbourne-based OzJet currently operates three of Solomon Airlines’ Brisbane-Honiara-Brisbane flights a week using all-Australian crews. It uses the smaller and older Boeing 737-200s for this. The fourth flight is now operated for Solomon Airlines by Sumsum’s former airline, Air Vanuatu, using its flash new 185-seat Boeing 737-800. Sumsum is the most senior ni-Vanuatu jet captain and a former operations manager and acting chief executive of Air Vanuatu. The Brisbane route has been an important revenue earner for government-owned Solomon Airlines. Passengers travelling on it include the many Australians going to and from Honiara because of the presence of the Australian-led Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI). Meanwhile, tourism is growing again amidst the stability brought by RAMSI. And there are strong local connections because of the big Solomon Islander population in Australia. Brisbane is also the country’s nearest connection to other international flights. So there is plenty of business at stake and both SkyAirWorld and Solomon Airlines launched major advertising campaigns. Both ran full page colour ads in the daily Solomon Star newspaper. The competition also had an added edge. Solomon Airlines and SkyAirWorld had last year launched what turned out to be a short-lived partnership. SkyAirWorld’s brand-new 76-seat Embraer 170 was painted in Solomon Airlines colours. It was leased to fly Solomon Airlines services linking Honiara with Brisbane, Santo (Vanuatu) and Nadi (Fiji). But the agreement soon collapsed amidst allegations and counter allegations. SkyAirWorld abruptly grounded the plane in Brisbane. It said Solomon Airlines was not meeting lease payments. At Solomon Airlines they said the E170 was not providing the capacity they had expected and revenue was reduced. The heavy fuel load the smallish jet had to carry restricted passenger and cargo loads. Reports of flights arriving without the bags of passengers were common. This was because of a third factor. Honiara International Airport has only limited navigational facilities and no air traffic control. Planes flying there have to load up with extra fuel in case poor weather around the airport prevents them landing. There is no other alternative international airport in the Solomons. The nearest are in Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea. The collapse of the SkyAirWorld deal briefly grounded all Solomon Airlines international services. A surrounding financial crisis led to predictions by some that the airline would collapse. Power struggles between a powerful new board and airline management plus political interference didn’t help the airline’s public image. But despite all this, Sumsum and his management team flew the airline internationally and domestically. Solomon Airlines quickly brought in OzJet planes to maintain the Brisbane service. It developed code-share flights on other routes with Air Niugini and Air Vanuatu. By the end of the year, it had actually expanded international services again through code-sharing on other airlines’ planes. This included a weekly Sydney service code-shared with Air Vanuatu, and three Nadi flights a week code sharing with Air Niugini and Fiji’s Air Pacific. Questions have been raised in government and board circles over whether Solomon Airlines now needs to continue international services of its own. However, there is also a public realisation of the importance of the airline to the country. A recent editorial in the Solomon Star highlighted the airline’s role in providing both international connections and local domestic services. It also pointed out that in times of trouble when some other airlines did not want to know the Solomons, Solomon Airlines kept the country connected. “Let’s not imagine a world without Solomon Airlines,” it said. The coming months will be crucial for Sumsum and his management team. Their relationship with the government-appointed board of directors will be watched closely by those interested in the airline’s future.

 “Tusker to the fore again in 2008 Golf Open” Brewery Boss Murray parsons has confirmed Tusker’s support for the Vanuatu Golf open 2008.Tusker has naming rights to the event and their sponsorship this year will assist the organizing committee to offer AUD$50,000 in prize money. Tuskers support for the event is longstanding and the Chairman of the committee Bryan Death paid tribute to Murray’s support over many years. “Without the Brewery we would find it hard to attract the quality of professional that we now do’ said Bryan.  The VGO is an opportunity for aspiring young professionals from the region to gain experience in a 4 round championship event and to pocket a nice cheque on the way. The professionals also accrue points in the NSW Order of Merit which is part of the attraction for them coming to Vanuatu.Past winners have gone on to make it on the world tours including Scott Strange whose last week finished second in the prestigious Johnnie Walker Cup played for in New Deli Already this year over 60 entries have been confirmed and with 50 spots set aside for the professionals the amateur players will need to register and pay early to guarantee a spot in the field, as the field will be limited to 180 players Returning players are expected from New Zealand, Australia, the Solomon Islands and Noumea this year. The event this year will be played at the port Vila Golf & Country Club form the 7^th to the 10^th of August. The 4 day event is preceded by Registration on Tuesday the 5^th August and the pro am event on Wednesday 6^th August. For more information: ContactBryan Death +678 77034Tony Ryan +678 45247

Website: www.vanuatugolfopen.info

Welcome or Welkam as they say in bislama. Hi My name is Bryan Death and I have lived and worked in Vanuatu for the past 6 years. Like many other expats in business here I now call Vanuatu Home.

I moved here 6 years ago to take on a role as GM of Iririki Island Resort and now operate a new boutique property right on the harbour in Port Vila called Moorings Hotel

Tourism has been my passion here and each year we see more and more visitors discovering this little bit of paradise right on your backdoor if you live in Australia or New Zealand.

Air Vanuatu and Pacific Blue provide plenty of weekly connections from Auckland, Sydney and Brisbane

I have started this blog to spread the word about this great destination and wet your appetite to come and visit us