The Hills are Alive…

On Father’s day (the Australian, not American one) Mitch took me to the Dandenongs also known in Melbourne as The Hills to meet his dad, half brother and half sister.

We set out early to pick up his brother Max and an hour later we found ourselves in the pretty surrounds of The Hills where the air is much fresher (and a lot nippier), the roads are zig zag and the forest is right outside your window. Spent the day with his adorable siblings Max and Mira and their hilarious dad. A great day of seeing what lies beyond inner city Melbourne.

melbourne from the top of the hills

into the woods

Puffing Billy

max, mira & mitch

eeire tree where we had coffee

isn't Max cute?

mitch & max

In the jungle, the mighty jungle..

So I went on a safari in Africa.. and took photos of these guys

sleepy lion

giraffes

rhinos and zebra

the guide said these guys are mistaken for unicorns

mongolian wild horses

big burly bysons

lazy hippo

beautiful cheetah

funny meerkats

monkeys

big something or other

Jack and Jill went up the waterfall..

Even before he decided to come to Vanuatu, Jack has become familiar with the must-see sights in Port Vila thanks to my screensaver/slideshow that shows my adventures from last year. He’s always been intrigued by my photos in the waterfalls and my smug boasting that I prefer to climb up the waterfall as opposed to using the sissy mud paths that were made for the tourists being herded in and out of the place.

So when we went on a beautiful Monday arvo, he was insistent on climbing up the falls despite the slippery rocks, gushing water and precarious paths. Good job Jack. Neither of us fell and our cameras didn’t even fall in the water and we went up right up close to the twin falls where even I didn’t dare to go before.

The Mele Cascades is about 10 minutes drive from town (don’t quote me on that). You pay Vt1500 (about A$15) per person for entrance fee which they claim they use for maintenance and security.

Don’t be discouraged when you see the puny falls for the first five minutes of the walk. After the long haul up the rock stairs and the little trickles of streams the rock pools and Cascades await..

Don’t forget to have a photo taken in the giant bamboo poles

And climb other things that come your way for wacky poses..

Don’t be shy.. ask the American Dude to take a photo of you. He went to a waterfalls and didn’t bring bathers.  We might as well make use of him.

Lelepa Island Day Tour

We meant to go to Nguna or Pele or some other island overnight. But our schedule was tight and catching the flu and the sporadic downpours hampered those plans. I still wanted to take Mitch to one of Efate’s smaller outlying islands and going on the Lelepa Island Day Trip came highly recommended and fit snugly with the rest of our holiday plans.

The tour costs Vt7,600 (around $A76) and includes a pick up and drop off at your hotel, 40 minute land trip to Havannah Harbour, a 10 minute ferry ride to the island, snorkelling gear, a very short guided bush walk, a cave tour, lunch and morning and afternoon tea. Best of all they give you lots and lots of time to just relax in the beautiful powder white sandy beach of Lelepa Island.

Here are just some photos (out of the hundreds) we took  on that relaxing, breathtaking, perfect day.

1 of 3 ferries that took us to Lelepa island

lelepa island from the ferry

mitch meeting the shore

waiting for the tour of the scary creepy cave

Eton Beach, Efate: where waters meet. .

I still wasn’t feeling 100% better on Saturday, but I knew Jack only had less than a week in Vanuatu and I really wanted him to see as much of the island as we can fit in. I was determined to bring him to one of my favourite spots in Efate, so with a slight fever, a vague idea of how to get there and my mum’s car we headed to Eton Beach, about a 45 minute drive on unpleasant roads but beautiful scenery.

Eton Beach is spectacular. It’s a small stretch of white sand beach that is protected from the crashing Pacific waves by rock shelters. A clear water spring from in land empties into the cove allowing for a unique experience of swimming in freshwater and salt water. When you stand there, you can feel the warmer freshwater from your feet to about your thighs and the colder ocean water from your waist up. Sit far below underwater and you can drink the sweet spring water.

Not to mention the sight is just spectacular. When you stake your claim on a spot on the sandbar you are caught between the Pacific Ocean

and a the small freshwater river

Come on a weekday and you get the beach all to yourself. On weekends, chances are, there are tourists and locals enjoying the beach with you. But there  is a whole lot of sand and sea for everyone.

kites, crabs & carefree

After a morning in Iririki, I took Mitch to meet my bestest friends in the island: crazy/beautiful Rusty, Will my yoda & Polina the lovely. After the usual lunch of inappropriate, life stories and shit talking Mitch and I were invited to tag along to witness the breaking in of Rusty’s new kite surfing gear. So tag along we did to Mele Bay. About a 10 minute drive outside the town right where you go to catch the ferry to Hideaway Island.

The wind was not good enough for Rusty to surf in but it was a beautiful Vanuatu afternoon spent with my most beloved people.

rusty unfolding his 9 meter kite

poli learns to fly the smaller kite

and it soars while i dig my feet in the sand

the sea and me <3

will takes a turn

sea creatures to visit and eat

On one of those nights when we were just being sloths watching episode after episode of How I Met Your Mother.. Jack & I decided to do something that requires us to use our legs a little more exciting the next day.

we let ideas stew for a few hours until I decided that I want to see wildlife. No not the kind commonly found in ClubX.. I meant that of a different species.

Sunday proved to be a dreary, cloudy, chilly day. Zoo was not a very pleasant option so we opted for the Melbourne Aquarium. Took the tram 112 to the Crown Complex and walked and camwhored our way to the Penguins.

I finally found the words..

I’ve been meaning to find the words to describe KAKULA..

It is after all my most favourite place in the world.

The place will forever be tattooed in my mind but I wanted a post that would remind me that once three times in my lifetime..

I have been to paradise.

KAKULA IS THE PERFECT PLACE…

‘

And We Sailed Again

Every sail is different.. Each one an experience.

I mean how many people can honestly say they’ve sailed on a pirate ship?

This time there were only a few of us:

The newly arrived Mac & Helena – all the way from Sweden 5 days before they got married in Kakula.

Helena.. my fellow STERN JEWEL (def: girl who uselessly hangs out in the stern of the boat while the boys do all the work. Her only purpose is to make the stern look good by lounging in her bikinis and smile beguilingly when her man looks over to her)

Why are pirates pirates?

Because we ARRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!

Who says piracy is a crime?!! Criminally fun maybe!!! ARRRRRRRR!!!

Had a great Sunday arvo and early evening sailing on Harold’s Pirate Ship Casseopia (spelling courtesy of Will. So if it’s wrong blame him.) with a bunch of awesome people mostly volunteers. We had a boat full of fun mostly shit talking, lounging, acting like monkeys & lots & lots of Posing!!

the gang (minus some) with the pirate harry

i’d rather kill myself than talk to you Osama

marion with an olsen twin. ha.

on the gang plank with verity

the coy pirate. like my sailing outfit?

I hope it’s not the last time we sail like pirates.

Next time i’ll wear bathers and I’ll take a plunge. Promise.

View the complete album here.