Gemmie Alliston, 28, Canberra, ACT
Who did you travel with?
My sister Sarah and I live in separate states and hardly get to see each other. As neither of us had been overseas before, we thought we would make the perfect travel buddies.
What islands did you visit?
To see as much as possible on a small budget, we decided to book a P&O cruise. In nine days we visited the beautiful Port Vila in Vanuatu and the Isle of Pines and Lifou in New Caledonia. It was a great way to experience all the different cultures, while enjoying the sun, sand and sea.
What did you learn about the islands?
We took a guided tour of Lifou, where we got to visit an old church and watch locals cook a traditional chicken meal. Then we were taken to a small village where an elder told us the history of the island. Very few people spoke English but everyone was very welcoming. In Port Vila we visited a museum where we learnt about Vanuatu's different tribes and watched a local demonstrate the traditional art of sand drawing, using just one finger to create amazing patterns that tell a story on the sand. We also visited Port Vila's parliament, located at the top of a hill where the views of the island were amazing!
What were the islands like?
Although we enjoyed our time on the ship, we really looked forward to our island stops. Each one was so beautiful and covered in amazing greenery. The beaches were pristine with perfect warm water for swimming, and the sunsets were breathtaking as well.
How did you keep occupied on board?
There were lots of activities to keep us entertained on the ship. We enjoyed trivia nights and karaoke, and watched great live shows every night. Sarah even won $300 during a game of bingo! There were also five restaurants on board and meals were included in the price. However, alcoholic drinks cost extra, as did any activities on the islands themselves.
What else did you do?
At Port Vila we went to a wildlife sanctuary, where we got to see native lizards and snakes. After a long day we indulged in some shopping at the local markets, which sold everything from handmade dresses and bags to wood statues and souvenirs.
Most memorable moment?
Snorkelling on the Isle of Pines was unbelievable! We swam with hundreds of tropical fish of every colour, shape and size. Seeing them in their natural environment was amazing and it's something I'll never forget.
Facts about the Pacific Islands:
- The indigenous people of New Caledonia are the Kanaks, and they call the island Kanaky.
- Vanuatu is made up of 83 islands but doesn't have a single set of traffic lights!
- The national dish of Vanuatu is 'lap-lap', which is made from a vegetable porridge and cooked in coconut milk.
|
