Islandliving pacifi c from the editor
SUMMER 2016/17 | ISSUE 18
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ext issue, we will be celebrating four years of Pacific Island Living. We started this magazine for Pacific people – to find, review and recommend things to see and do, and ultimately, buy. We are proudly an aspirational magazine, we want our readers to sit back and indulge just as much as we want to tell the world how great the Pacific really is. From Georgie Gordon’s health and beauty columns, to Carolyn Ernst’s gardening tips, we hope you agree Pacific Island Living has something for everyone. In four years our market has grown from Vanuatu and Nauru Airlines to cover most of the Pacific. We’re particularly proud of our market share in Fiji and the Solomon Islands as well as our distribution in Australia through Qantas Club lounges. As I write this column I’m in Fiji, having just flown in from Vanuatu. Next month it will be Nauru then the Sollies. Pacific Island Living truly is a Pacific magazine and we’re so pleased you have enjoyed it and helped its growth over the last four years. Please do keep in touch via our website, Facebook page, Instagram or Twitter. Happy reading. Tiffany Carroll
Find us on Facebook
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and Instagram at instagram.com/pacisliving or read this and all our magazines online at www.pacific-island-living. com Cover images - Fiji Island Living courtesy Adrenalin Fiji; Solomon Island Living, by David Kirkland; Nauru Airlines Cover courtesy Nautilus Resort, Kosrae; Vanuatu cover courtesy Pavol Stranák. Copyright: All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. Articles express the opinions of the author and not necessarily those of Nauru Airlines, Tourism Fiji, Vanuatu Tourism Office or Pacific Island Living.
CRUISING I DINING I DIVING I TOURISM AWARD WINNERS PLUS I FASHION I BEAUTY I HEALTH I FINANCE islandliving | 1 pacific
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Welcome m a k l e W Bienvenue
eason’s greetings to all our visitors as we say farewell to 2016 and look forward to the new year. We’ve overcome a difficult year in Vanuatu, and as is typical of our resilient nature, it’s back to business, better than ever. This year will see the major upgrade of Bauerfield airport as well as new hotels and resorts coming online. The investment shows confidence in our country but it also reflects how much we have to offer. So to our visitors, may we say thank you for choosing Vanuatu as your holiday destination, we hope you will see as much of our 83 islands as possible. For some ideas, read
PICTURE: Havannah harbour, Port Vila
about our best restaurants and hotels, villas and outer islands in this issue of Pacific Island Living. And please call in to the Vanuatu Tourism Office where our staff will be more than happy to help you with tour ideas and outer island travel adventures. Welkam and tankyu tumas. Vanuatu Tourism Office
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out and about
Tours, Tips andanTrips uatu V n i o d What to
Vanuatu is all about being laid back and relaxing, or equally, getting out and about and enjoying the vast number of activities on offer.
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FISHING PARADISE A new game fishing operation has come to Port Vila offering comfort, safety, experience and a guaranteed great day out. Relax on Island Fishing Charters’ comfortable Sea Fox 187 boat, with all the creature comforts including a toilet and huge deck space. Named “Little Weapon” and rightly so, this 28ft machine is the perfect boat for all conditions and weather. Island Fishing Charters’ local skipper Kendrick “Kenny” George has over 15 years experience in game and reef fishing. They say the locals know best over here and that is more than true for Kenny. From reef to game fishing, Kenny’s extensive knowledge and experience will put you
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in prime position to catch ‘the one’. “With our always-smiling, friendly skipper and deckhand – you’ll be walking away with good memories and great experiences,” they say. With Island Fishing Charters, you can fish the huge drop-offs that surround the volcanic islands of Vanuatu or fish the many FAD’s (fish attraction devices) and famous marlin highways. Ask them about their spear fishing charters too. From the most experienced angler down to the first timers Island Fishing Charters cater for everyone! Charters from VT35,000. Book by calling (678) 5552277 or visit their website www. islandfishingchartersco. com.vu
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ZOOM AROUND THE ISLAND Customers “find Europcar to be a well established and reliable business compared to other competitors”, says proprietor Shane Royal. “(It’s about) our on-time service to issue the vehicle to any required hotel and resort around Efate”, he says. Europcar operates in Port Vila seven days a week, including public holidays from 8am – 5pm. They also have staff on duty at Port Vila International airport for flight arrivals. Each Europcar vehicle comes with friendly customer service, maps, tourist guides, an emergency contact list and advice. Part of the service at Europcar is pointing out the
great things to see and do around Efaté Island, from the Mele Cascades to great lunch spots such as Francesca’s at Havannah. International visitors do not require international licenses to hire vehicles in Port Vila. Simply present your license from home, complete the paperwork and away you go. Europcar’s selection of quality vehicles include small run-abouts such as the popular Suzuki Jimny and Kia Rio, comfortable SUVs including the Kia Sportage and Toyota Rav 4, to bigger 4WDs including the Isuzu D-Max. There are no hidden charges with Europcar and with 24-hour emergency assistance, you’re in good hands. (678) 26517 or www. europcar.vu
Vanuatu has 83 islands, with the main tourism on Efaté (Port Vila), Tanna and Espiritu Santo. Here’s our pick of things to see and do, buy and drink to get you started.
Try one of our many fantastic restaurants, go shopping, go fishing or hire a car and explore the island.
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ELEGANT BEAUTY Vanuatu’s favourite jeweller, Vanuatu Bijouterie (opened in 1981) specialises in the finest gemstones and Tahitian pearls available in Vanuatu. As well as these, Vanuatu Bijouterie offers semiprecious stones, local coral and other minerals and metals cut and polished at their Port Vila workshop every day, the end result being exquisite art for the discerning buyer. Quality is assured with rings, pendants, earrings, necklaces and bracelets made to order. Choose one of their Vanuatu-inspired, stunning designs, or suggest your own. Where: Nambatu area, past Au Bon Marché.Telephone: (678) 776 8750.
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EPICURE A welcome addition to Vanuatu’s shopping scene is a new gourmet store at Tana Russet complex, Epicure. Epicure stocks fine international products to ensure the perfect picnic, day trip or dinner party. From France they have fine tea, jams, biscuits, oils (olive, truffle, avocado) and foie gras pluse wines from the regions of Bordeaux, Bourgogne, Côtes-du-Rhône and of course Champagne. Epicure also has products and wines from Italy and an international selection of oils, balsamic vinegars, salts and spices. NZ and Australian wines are also available. Epicure at Tana Russet complex, Tebakor.
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FOLLOW THE LOCALS The Warhorse Saloon Restaurant and Bar has undergone major expansions, a new menu and great new drinks.. A new beer garden, bar and restaurant area has seen the Warhorse double in size, but with the same great team looking after you. This is one of Port Vila’s best bars, preferred by locals and visitors alike, the Warhorse is located on the Wharf Road about five minutes from the CBD. The Warhorse restaurant has good food too – from pub favourites such as steak and chips, to the best of Mexico with tacos, nachos, quesadilla, burritos and of course margaritas. What’s great about the
Warhorse is it caters for all – from families for dinner, to those proud and loud All Blacks supporters (every game is live on several screens throughout the Warhorse) to those who enjoy live music. The local bands at the Warhorse are the best in Vanuatu and the service is second to none. If you’re in Vanuatu for a wedding, have your hens or bucks night at the Warhorse, it’s a great, friendly atmosphere and you’ll get to meet plenty of locals too. The Warhorse Saloon Restaurant and Bar is open seven days and nights – you can even grab a morning coffee there to take with you as you explore all of the offerings Port Vila has. Enjoy and say hi to Ronald!
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Italian Tuluk
They Call It Fusion Restaurateur Francesca Grillo steps out of her kitchen to take lessons in the preparation of a Vanuatu traditional favourite and finds a modified ‘Italian’ version is a menu hit.
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t was one wintery sunny day of June when I ventured to the village of Tanaliu, not far from the restaurant, to learn how to cook Tuluk with my adorable kitchen hand Gladys. This staple comfort food of Vanuatu consists of a banana leaf parcel of manioc, pork mince and condiments flavoured with coconut milk and slow cooked under hot stones in the ground. I brought with me pork mince, spring onions, onions and garlic. Gladys and her family collected the leaves and grated the manioc and coconut with the typical ‘ras ras’, a flat round sharp metal tool to scrape and shave the flesh. Gladys started by cooking the mince with some water until just boiled, while her ‘little mother’ (young sister of her mother) Elsie was squeezing the coconut with water to extract the coconut milk to pour into the manioc and drained mince for flavour and moisture. The cooked pork mince was also added with chopped spring onion, chopped onion, chopped garlic, salt and a small amount of vegetable oil. I walked away to check Gladys’s big sister Ruth preparing the hot stones by burning fire wood in between the lava stones and I came back to watch her nieces Lisa and Merylin straightening and oiling the leaves from a tree, they said it is like a banana tree but it does not make the fruit and it is found in the bush. With all ingredients ready, we started preparing the parcels by putting wet manioc on the upper side of the leaf and pushing it with our fingers to make it like a ‘pool’ as Gladys said, then put some meat mixture inside and cover it up with manioc, before folding both sides of the leaf over the mixture, then the bottom and the top to close the parcel. Lisa brought some long pandanus leaves which Elsie and Gladys cut lengthwise with a knife to make string-like filaments and arranged four of them in a square pattern, placing four big leaves on them, two horizontally and two vertically. All tuluk parcels were arranged in the middle of the leaves and the leaves folded to make another large parcel before finally being tied up with the pandanus strings. The big parcel was placed on a layer of hot stones covered with firewood coal and covered again with more hot stones, leaves and plastic bags to ensure some steam. After two hours cooking, the parcel was uncovered and we tasted the tuluk which I found absolutely delicious, with 6 | IslandlivingVanuatu
the manioc coating delicate and moist with an inviting slightly burnt crust at some points. The coconut flavour was subtle but very pleasant to the palate, while the meat was tender, tasty and very moist. Determined to reproduce this traditional Vanuatu treasure at the restaurant, I had to recreate the same cooking environment in my oven and find a fusion of ingredients to make it more intriguing and a little ‘Italian’. This time Gladys and I played in our kitchen with chef Helena, and equipped with the proper lava stones and the idea of a heart of prosciutto and mozzarella, we created the perfect ‘fusion’ Italian Tuluk which is now very popular on our menu. When in Vanuatu, it’s must-try!
Stockists Vanuatu Bijouterie, Port Vila Ph: 776 8750 Vila Distribution, Port Vila, Ph: 22 882 Urbane, Ph: 774 7666 Etam, Ph: 27 547 Australia’s favourte wine, Shaw & Smith available exclusively at Vila Distribution
Vanuatu Bijouterie handmakes jewellry onsite using Tahitian pearls and precious metals.
Island by Katie Dwyer dress. Available online at islandprincess.cc
Favouritetu finds style Vanua
Dermalogica primer available at Urbane and Arom’essence Beauty
Etam, the high street French label is in Port Vila. Fantastic swimwear and underwear.
Styled by Rebecca Worsp.
Tanna Farms coconut oil products available at Traverso.
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Vanuatu’s Most Sophisticated
BeachfrontVilla Rentals Paua offers a range of spectacular private, absolute beachfront villas in the Whitesands/Narpow Point area of Efaté.
Established in Port Vila 28 years ago, Vanuatu Agricultural Supplies is Vanuatu’s most trusted agricultural and horticultural supplies business. Vanuatu Agricultural Supplies can quote on your building project, from water supply to alternative power sources.
Contact Christiana or Toga. T: +678 775 1793 or +678 775 1792 or+678 26 108 E: info@paua.co W: www.paua.co for villa details
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Port Vila Ph: +678 22 376 Fax: +678 23 402 Santo Ph/Fax: +678 36756 E: ben.vasvila@vanuatu.com.vu
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H EFILL ESSENTIAL 1/8 pageTPaua
VANUATU
The definitive guide to Vanuatu culture, commerce, tourism and adventure. The perfect souvenir for travellers or the essential guide for residents or expatriates. Available at Vanuatu Post or Stop Press or see: theessentialvanuatu.com
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CULTU RE I CO MMER CE I TO URISM I ADV ENTU RE
A sustainable eco-experience for the whole family, set in a stunning tropical paradise
Join us for the Eden Experience, Port Vila | Contact +678 7710765
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