Vanuatu, Vanua Lava - Kastom Festival

Created by sue. Last modified on 2009-06-02 17:27:36
Countries: Vanuatu

We highly recommend that any trip to Vanuatu include the more remote island of Vanua Lava in the Banks Group. You won't be disappointed. We enjoyed it so much we returned for a second time from Australia.

This year the Kastom Festival will be held starting Sept 1st for 3 days of Kastom dancing, water music & those famous rite of passage ceremonies.

The main event will be conducted by the Paramount Chief of the island ~ Chief Godfry Manar. This is a chance of a lifetime to witnesss his passing of the legacy.

No matter when you arrive, the villagers will treat you like honored guests and come down to help you with your dinghy & invite you into their village, their lives & their hearts. They can help you with your laundry, fruit & vegetable replacement & even minor boat repair/cleaning. As always, they can use any medical, personal hygiene or school supplies, magazines are a special treat, spices, seeds, rope for cattle, glasses, any solar or wind up powered torches or lights, food or fuel containers (with food or fuel even better. They have beautiful weaving & carvings that they use to trade with.

Paramount Chief Godfry & Veronika Manar
Nerr Guest House/Vureas Bay
13 55.153 S X 167 26.854 E
W Vanua Lava
Banks Group/Torba Province
Vanuatu

Sons: Stephen, Frank, Johnston & Steward
Jif Graham Muneh, Chief of Vetimbosa Village

If you are fortunate enough to be able to witness traditional kastom village life celebrating the Yam Festival at it's fullest, be sure to tell our family, "Halo" from us & that we love & miss them.

Judy & Dave Howell
S/V Freebird at Langkawi, Malaysia
www.svfreebird.com