It is three weeks since we have arrived in Vanuatu and so far so good. We started building in the first week and have been impressed with the work ethics of the Ni-Vanuatu. Steady on they work in a sometimes-murdering sun. The builders have made camp on our land and are living there 24/7. All the concrete block we use are hand-made and all the earthwork done so far is with a wheelbarrow and shovel.

We were staying in friend’s house but that was so far out of town and away from where we built that we decided to rent a place in town. So we have all ready moved once! We had bought a car over the phone in New Zealand so when we arrived the dealer had somebody waiting with it and we were immediately mobile. Although the island is only 120 km round, I drive about 600 km per week. To reduce this I bought a car for Ineke so she is independent from me and this saves a lot of planning. Cars are expensive here because of the import duty the government puts on them when they come in the country. There is no income tax in Vanuatu so this is another way of receiving revenue; the user pays. It is a good system that works.

The island might not be rich financially but it is rich in every other way; fruits and vegetables plenty and everything grows quick. You don’t have to be hungry here if you have no income.

Ni-Vanuatu are warm and friendly. Most people help you with a smile and patience. It is amazing that if you drive around the island a lot of people wave at you; you never feel unwelcome. The country has been voted the happiest country in the world and for good reason.

Soccer is the number one sport, they even have a international soccer school to develop talent. They will probably never play in the world cup tournament but everybody chooses his own team and shows that by flying their flag on the antenna of the car or even stickers. There were not many Dutch flags going around; more Brazil and Argentina, but in the finals there were more Dutch than Spanish. Too bad it didn’t help the Dutch team.

Today I saw the president of the Port Vila Aero Club, who happens also to be the pilot of air Vanuatu that flies the 737. The club is dormant as he calls it due to a lack of members but with me as a new member it can be active again, I think we are the four of us. They have a Cessna 172 that needs a complete rebuilt. It could well be that I am going to be involved in the process so that I have a plane to fly to the other islands and explore them with Ineke and Bo and whoever is around.

Today we are also connected to the Internet again and I must say that after a week or so it was actually not that bad to hear nothing from the rest of the world; nothing to worry about either!