Adventures on the Sailing Vessel Moorea Vanuatu Active Volcano, Mt. Yasur resides on Tanna Island which brings a decent Eco Tourism income to the Island.
	Fataraba Village: Invited to a child’s birthday party, the women prepare LapLap which is ground up yam and liquid making a thick gelatin consistency, wrapped in leaves and cooked in coals accompanied with rice, fruits and other local items for the lunch.  Learning that there are 105 languages in the Vanuatu nation, on Tanna alone there are 40.  French, English or Bislama (a pidgin English) language is used to communicate between the villages.
The food presentation was perfect and the plates were weaved from Palm tree leaves and a leaf were placed in the center to contain the food.
Alice proudly had shown us her village along with the fruit and flowering trees that she owns.  She has two huts,  one for sleeping and one for her kitchen.
Armed with cameras we watch the volcano spit lava while listening to it’s deep moaning as it built pressure to burst out the hot magma and sulfur clouds.  Thankfully we were visiting at it’s lowest level, level 1 (out of 4 levels).  When it reaches level 3, no one is allowed up on the crater.
Escorted by the children to their village, note the third child from the left.  He has a machete between his legs.  They learn how to wield the tools at a young age and he also had all his digits!
A typical boat on the islands, this outrigger made from a breadfruit tree, the hull was carved out of the trunk.
Students from the English taught school, have flowers to decorate their tables and just on the other side of the school yard was the French school.  Children went to one or the other school, a reminder of the English & French Condominium lead government.
The local Nakamal or Kava Bar where the village men gather to partake in the mood soothing, gritty beverage.  Traditionally the Kava root is chewed by young children and they spit the root and their saliva into a bowl, then the men strain the concoction and drink up.  Kava is typically served every night!
Visiting a Kastum (custom) Village on Ambrym Island, the residents of Fanla village hold onto their traditions and these strong believers of magic can keep their lifestyle going by performing the Rom dance for visiting cruisers and small cruise ships.  Wearing a Namba or Penis Sheath is part of the traditional clothing.  Also the older man wearing a curled pig’s tusk around his neck and a necklace of Vanuatu coins shows his wealth and he is the main man of the dance.
Keeping the culture alive, brilliant wood carvings are displayed for sale from Fanla village. With two active volcanoes on Ambrym, black beaches are another trait.
Click here to view 2006 cruising pictures