ISSN 2200-9566 04
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Flores •Indonesia
Unique Freehold Opportunity Located only an hour from Bali but the place everyone in Bali is talking about. Flores has long been overshadowed by its neighbour’s reputation and popularity as a holiday island but the name Flores is about to hit the headlines for all the right reasons. In September this year a new extended runway airport is due to open along with planned international hotels which in turn will open Flores to tourism and new investment opportunities. Indeed the first of these developments is already under way and the first parcels of land are now on sale.
Current offerings include six x 5000 square-metre blocks situated on green hill-land overlooking two glorious white sand beaches and the islands of the archipelago towards the famous Komodo, including Banko Island. The blocks are serviced by a brand new road linking them to the nearby beach and jetty from which some of the most spectacular coral reefs of the region can be found. In addition to this Flores offering there is also a unique opportunity to purchase the entire freehold of Banko Island for which concept plans have already been drawn for a luxury resort or, retain as a private sanctuary with residence to your own design if you choose.
Both of these prime investments are available at amazing introductory prices which are sure to increase after the opening of the airport in September. The Flores blocks are for sale immediately at AU$75,000 while the entire island of Banko is priced at just AU$3 million. Buy into this remarkable paradise now. For further information contact Justin Ingram on +61 431 471 352 Email: justini@oneagency.com.au
As one of Port Vila’s iconic hotels, The Melanesian has recently undergone an AU$1,000,000 renovation. Oasis Poolside Bar and Grill | Adult & kids pool | Le Melanesian restaurant BBQ and Culture Entertainment Night | Club 21 Casino and Gaming Lounge Located a short walking distance to Vila’s vast array of restaurants, markets and shops. The Melanesian……arrive as a guest, leave as a friend!
t. +678 22150 | f. +678 22678 melanesian@vanuatu.com.vu | www.melanesianportvila.com
info@whitegrasstanna.com ■ Telephone: (678) 30010 ■ www.whitegrasstanna.com
When visiting the charming Island of Tanna ... Indulge by staying at White Grass Ocean Resort - the most superior accommodation available! ■ Suitable for couples, families or group bookings. ■ Located on the spectacular coral coastline, this resort offers sensational ocean views and snorkeling. ■ All bures have ensuites, ceiling fans, refrigerators and 24 hour electricity. ■ A variety of tours are available at this resort; including the Blue Cave Boat Tour, a variety of Custom Village Tours and the Unique White Grass Ocean Resort Volcano Safari Tour which gives you an opportunity to travel across the island and experience the culture and tradition of Tanna. ■ If you just want to relax, you can laze by the pool or enjoy a Volcanic Hot Rock Massage ■
ww Bib Stillwell BMW
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3 MORE WAYS TO LOVE THE WAY YOU MOVE. At BMW, we only make one thing and everything we do makes it more luxurious, more balanced, more fun to drive. More exhilarating, more efďŹ cient, more dynamic. More Ultimate Driving Machine. Introducing the all new 2013 BMW 3 Series Range: Sedan, all new Touring and, available from the middle of the year, the all new Gran Turismo. Only BMW gives you 3 more ways to love the way you move, visit Bib Stillwell BMW to arrange a test-drive today.
THE ALL NEW 2013 BMW 3 SERIES RANGE AT BIB STILLWELL BMW.
Bib Stillwell BMW 145 Williams Road, South Yarra. (03) 9521 2121. bibstillwell.com.au
LMCT 7674
An Incredible Opportunity Not To Be Missed ‘Onyx Apartments’ without doubt is the most prestigious and unique, architecturally designed residential water front development ever built in Port Vila. Enjoy the magnificent sunsets and harbor activity whilst enjoying your favourite cocktail on your private deck. These apartments have been beautifully finished with the best quality European fittings and chattels available. Complete with a charming entertaining area beside the water including a first-rate 20m lap pool for those who want to stay in shape. Each of the three apartments has two covered car parks plus a cyclone rated boat mooring.
Property ID:
2079199
Neil Hamilton: +678-7739672
FR8 LOGISTICS
Fr8 Logistics is perfectly positioned at 1 Wharf Road, Port Vila, to look after all your shipping arrangements, both into and out of Vanuatu, via Air, Sea or Courier.
Allow us the privilege of serving you by contacting us on gm@fr8.vu or sales@fr8.vu
+678 27744
Eating Out: The Itinerant Diner Two Vila eateries spanning the spectrum from haute tropical to super casual both worth the trip.
Les Jardin des Saveurs
Port Vila, Vanuatu. Santo’s loss is Efaté’s gain after chef Francis Mouroux and his maître d’ wife Catherine moved their iconic restaurant to the capital after five years serving the best food in Luganville. Le Jardin des Saveurs (garden of flavours en Anglais) has opened on the Route d’Elluk next door to Le Lagon on the site previously occupied by a couple of other reasonably fine diners. The building retains its French colonial charm while the main room has been freshened up in a stylish black and white theme with quality white napery and some stunning graphic art on the walls. This is worth a mention because the very talented Catherine is responsible for the jazz-themed paintings which are created using sand mixed with paint on canvas and lend the place a stylish 1920s feel. She has even created the lampshades and bases in similar style offset by the very attentive and professional wait staff crisply dressed in typical black and white French style. All up the effect is a wonderful fusion of trad French and wide-opening windows and sweeping views to the lagoon for that tropical touch. But while the ambience is great the food is even better. This is traditional French haute cuisine complemented by Pacific touches; perfect creamy sauces and pastry, superb combinations of ingredients and liberal use of unique local produce. Oysters from Santo, flying fox and pigeon teamed with extremely generous serves of local lobster, prawns and the finest Vanuatu grass-fed beef, created with impeccable care and presented with flair. The menu is extensive with choices ranging from beef, veal, poultry and seafood to game, often described in quaintly translated English, for example, ‘Old Mother Style jugged of local flying fox in red wine’ this loosely approximates as grandmother’s version of flying fox, assuming your grandma was a flying fox aficionado. The same ‘old mother’ also does pigeon in a similar style. For the more traditional palate there’s an Assiette TerreMer which sounds so much more exotic than Surf and Turf but in this case it’s the most expensive dish on the menu at VT3800 (about AU$38) for a half lobster and a superb chunk of beef tenderloin. While on the subject of cost, Le Jardin des Saveurs is surprisingly reasonable for an establishment of this quality, whole lobsters start at only VT3200 for the lemon butter sauce version and they were so big we ended up taking at least half home in a ‘chien’ bag. The entrée list is equally large and adventurous with 19 choices covering Santo oyster brochettes, a wonderful pastry cup filled with prawns in a sublime creamy saffron sauce, Santo snails served with a disc of puffed pastry and aniseed
66 | Islandliving pacific
sauce through to an extraordinary goats cheese construction which sounds a little bizarre but tasted delicious. Described as ‘crispy lollipops of goat cheese and melon pearls flavoured with mint and port’ this was presented in a long glass with a stem which contained the balled melons and liquid but sticking out of this on two wooden skewers were two muslin-wrapped balls of cooked goat cheese – voila! Desserts are perfectly partnered with Gallic favourites like Crème Brûlée with local vanilla, floating island with caramel and a couple of dishes which need to be ordered at the outset – warm chocolate soufflé and a thin apple tart with cinnamon and vanilla ice cream. There is also an after-dinner chef’s special; Roquefort terrine with sultana grapes, Vanuatu peanuts, crunchy celery, salad and homemade bread. Delicious if you can actually eat three courses here. The wine list, as you would expect, is well matched and includes a good selection of international varieties. Francis and Catherine deserve success as this has to be Vila’s finest food, served in elegant surroundings that do credit to the passion evident in the cuisine, indeed Francis, who not surprisingly is French, enjoyed a reputation as one of France’s better chefs back in the mother country while Catherine hails from Morocco; they both share a love of jazz and food which for anyone looking for a special night out in Vila can be grateful. Bon Appetit! Open Tuesday to Sunday, bookings recommended, phone 25 405.
Tropicana Lagoon Bar and Grill Port Vila, Vanuatu. For something much more casual and simple but in equally peaceful tropical surrounds try the little overwater dining platform at the Tropicana Lagoon Bar and Grill attached to the Tropicana Resort on Vila’s Second Lagoon. Under the (temporary) watchful eye of Gerry Smelik of Vila food fame at several highly regarded restaurants and resorts this informal dining option is the beneficiary of her talent while she awaits a post at a related establishment which is currently being refurbished (watch this space). Here she is overseeing a small kitchen sitting over the lagoon under a thatched roof adjacent to 60 metres of beachfront which serves a variety of wraps, snacks and salads as well as fish (succulent Poulet) and chips along with perfectly cooked local beef. The restaurant only seats 34 and is perfect for an impromptu meal or cocktails from 7.30am to 8pm daily. While you’re there you might be tempted to take a post-prandial lagoon cruise on the resort’s pontoon ferry, a relaxing way to get your bearings on one of Vila’s famous waterways. Phone 772 2202.
Above: Chef Francis Mouroux in the kitchen at Les Jardin des Saveurs. Below and top right: The elegant interior. Right : Views from Tropicana Lagoon Bar and Grill on the beach.
islandliving | 67 pacific
● Located at the Menen Hotel, Nauru outside on the beach ● Coldest drinks in town, largest alcohol range ● Music, Outdoor seating & Ocean views
Click Here For Health Advice
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Sensible everyday health advice for the lay reader, thoroughly researched and authorised by peak health bodies. E Books or paperbacks. AU$9.95 Sleep Well, live Better 3 StepS to Good Sleep
dr. Helen r. Wright, phd, professor leon C. lack, phd
20 Years Experience In The Vanuatu Real Estate Market
Beachfront Resort For Sale VENDOR FINANCE AVAILABLE UP TO $1.5 MILLION AT ZERO INTEREST
Beachfront Resort on approx. 42,900 m2
REDUCED PRICE
OFFERS OVER AUD $2.5 MILLION VALUATION AUD $5 Million (Available on request)
150 Seat Restaurant
15 Villas
Pool
Mini Putt Putt Golf
Tennis Court
H O T E L
N A U R U
â– Offering warm island hospitality and service, Menen Hotel provides well furnished rooms with fridge, T.V and coffee making facilities at a scenic location. â– Bar & Restaurant, ATM machine, internet access, Health and fitness centre and Coffeholic Section.
Contact: menhotreservation@yahoo.com Phone: +(674) 5578020 | +(674) 5578021 | +(674) 5578022
Lelepa Island Day Tours
So many have called it Paradise‌ but we call it home. 100% owner operated by the local Lelepa Islanders | We operate every day except Saturday | Fishing Charters half day and full day available. Your day tour includes:
Return transfers, morning and afternoon refreshments, BBQ lunch, snorkelling at our beautiful coral garden, visit our historical cave, learn about native herbs used for medicines and visit the kids in our village.
Phone: +678 77-42714 | Email: lelepatours@vanuatu.com.vu | Web: www.lelepaislandtours.com
Un cabinet de gestion de patrimoine agrée, spécialisé dans la gestion de portefeuille et assurance-vie, en partenariat avec une banque luxembourgeoise, un cabinet géré par Sonia Bonneau, Banquier Privé installée à Nouméa
Sonia Bonneau Finances A company specialised in wealth management and life insurance, partnership with a bank in Luxembourg, the Gestion de Patrimoine SBF manager, Sonia Bonneau, is a licenced private banker practising in Noumea
Un cabinet de gestion de patrimoine agrée, spécialisé dans la gestion de portefeuille et assurance-vie, en parRésidence Le Mirage Plaza - B201, 27 promenade Roger Laroque - Baie des Citrons, 98 800 Nouméa, Nouvelle-Calédonie. tenariat avec une banque luxembourgeoise, un cabinet géré par Sonia Bonneau, Banquier Privé installée à Nouméa
Partenaire privilégiée
A company specialised in wealth management and life insurance, partnership with a bank in Luxembourg, the manager, Sonia Bonneau, is a licenced private banker practising in Noumea
Résidence Le Mirage Plaza - B201, 27 promenade Roger Laroque - Baie des Citrons, 98 800 Nouméa, Nouvelle-Calédonie.
Partenaire privilégiée
Vanuatu Food Safari
A DISCOVERY OF TROPICAL FLAVOURS
Slip your curiosity in high gear and join me on a culinary day out on our beautiful island. You are invited on my own cook’s journey through the South Pacific, a unique food experience that’s inspiring, informative and fun! Cooking classes every Thursday. For details, bookings and availability please visit W: www.vanuatufoodsafari.com T: +678 26 108 M: +678 775 1793 E: bookings@vanuatufoodsafari.com
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The definitive guide to Vanuatu culture, commerce, tourism and adventure. The perfect souvenir for travellers or the essential guide for residents or expatriates. Available on Air Vanuatu flights, Vanuatu Post or Stop Press.
International Freight Forwarding Specialists How Can We Help? Air Freight Sea Freight Air & Sea Charter Customs Clearance International Logistics Warehousing and Distribution
â– Cargo Transport System offers a complete range of freight forwarding and international logistics services, including importing and exporting, air freight and sea freight, Quarantine and Customs clearance as well as warehousing and distribution. With a truly global freight forwarding network, Cargo Transport System can take care of all your international shipping needs. â– As we have our own warehouse and a team of qualified international logistics experts in-house, we can provide a personalised service and customise a freight forwarding solution specific to your needs. We have shipped cargo as small as 200 grams through to equipment as big as 200 tons.
Head Office: 2 / 101-103 Buchanan Road Banyo QLD 4014 Phone: (07) 3267 3012 | Fax: (07) 3267 3740 | www.cargotransport.com.au Contact David Brough: david@cargotransport.com.au