AmyHuang
Tanna - a feisty little island
I must admit getting married wasn't my main objective to coming to Vanuatu - it was more like "I want to go to Vanuatu, so why not just get married there so I don't have to plan two things?"
One major reason I came was for Tanna. This island approx 40 - 55 mins flight away from Port Vila is home to Mt Yasur, the world's most accessible active volcano.
It was active alright. After our 4WD drove through local villages and a massive desert of volcanic ash, we parked at the base of the mountain ready to climb. I thought we would just be standing somewhere close by hoping to get a glimpse of the activity, that our movement will be limited by barricades and the like... but no. When we reached the end of the pathway, I was literally standing on the rim of the crater, with hot molten rock spurting up right before my eyes.
It was, indeed, a scary experience. I've seen it all in documentaries, and heard all about the force of nature, but actually being there, is something else. On a safe category 2, the activity is considered small yet, I felt I was being sucked in, and the heat coming from the craters, and the noise it makes, it is all very overwhelming.
Here is a little clip we took, it shows the crater and the environment surrounding it as well as a little bit of eruption at the end. Unfortunately we are not very good at capturing the moment, so that we didn't get to film the actual bigger ones we saw...
Besides Mt Yasur, Tanna is also great for exploring the real Vanuatu life. I wouldn't recommend it to people who are used to comfort and convenience, as there is none. The 'highway' coming from the airport to the resorts is what we would only call country dirt roads. Villages are dotted around the island with one small town used mainly for administration. Locals are extremely friendly, and the snorkelling is good, thanks to the minerals in the volcanic ash creating a beautiful marine sanctuary. However don't expect sandy beaches, as I had written before - it's all rocks and corals and wearing reef shoes are recommended.
I'll post some more photos in my next post.
One major reason I came was for Tanna. This island approx 40 - 55 mins flight away from Port Vila is home to Mt Yasur, the world's most accessible active volcano.
It was active alright. After our 4WD drove through local villages and a massive desert of volcanic ash, we parked at the base of the mountain ready to climb. I thought we would just be standing somewhere close by hoping to get a glimpse of the activity, that our movement will be limited by barricades and the like... but no. When we reached the end of the pathway, I was literally standing on the rim of the crater, with hot molten rock spurting up right before my eyes.
The Tanna landscape with Mt Yasur in the background
It was, indeed, a scary experience. I've seen it all in documentaries, and heard all about the force of nature, but actually being there, is something else. On a safe category 2, the activity is considered small yet, I felt I was being sucked in, and the heat coming from the craters, and the noise it makes, it is all very overwhelming.
Here is a little clip we took, it shows the crater and the environment surrounding it as well as a little bit of eruption at the end. Unfortunately we are not very good at capturing the moment, so that we didn't get to film the actual bigger ones we saw...
Besides Mt Yasur, Tanna is also great for exploring the real Vanuatu life. I wouldn't recommend it to people who are used to comfort and convenience, as there is none. The 'highway' coming from the airport to the resorts is what we would only call country dirt roads. Villages are dotted around the island with one small town used mainly for administration. Locals are extremely friendly, and the snorkelling is good, thanks to the minerals in the volcanic ash creating a beautiful marine sanctuary. However don't expect sandy beaches, as I had written before - it's all rocks and corals and wearing reef shoes are recommended.
I'll post some more photos in my next post.
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