Day 5 - Saturday 20 July - Mystery Island, Vanuatu

Anchored off the island at about 8.10am this morning. This island is un-inhabited as the local people believe it is haunted by ghosts at night so they come over from their nearby much larger island when cruise ships are docked to set up stalls, photo opportunities and entertainment.

The island has a grass strip running the length of the centre of the island. This was built during WW II. We and many others didn't realise that there could be light planes landing when we used the end of the runway for a photo opportunity with the Spirit in the background! Alison witnessed one come in during the afternoon while she was relaxing out on our balcony after our return from the island.

We circumnavigated the island and Philip snorkelled through the coral alone. He didn't see any coloured coral in the lagoon where he snorkelled but a myriad of colourful tropical fish made up for that. One coral bank was playing host to at least seven different species of fish. Was like a painters colour palette. Included one fish that we have not seen whilst snorkelling before - red and white striped like a candy.

Philip prepares to enter the unknown

He's off

It was worth the effort

The locals set up a substantial thatched shopping mall in amongst the trees near the jetty. Lots of colourful shirts and cloths and synthetic leis and hula skirts. Big stall in the central area with seats facing out around the edge and a team of women doing hair braiding. They were the hit of the day and doing great business today. No Alison and I did not go for braids.

The only money we spent was in the form of donations to the kindergarten and primary school choirs from the nearby island. Some songs in local language and others like Baa Baa Black Sheep in English.

Back to the ship around midday and then a swim in the pool, a go in the whirlpool for Philip, a ride on the tame version of the two water slides onboard for Philip - port days are the days to do this - only one child in the pool while we were in and no one in the whirlpool! Then it was a chance to claim a pod in the Serenity area and dry off before lunch.

We have spent the afternoon relaxing in the cabin and watching the departure from our balcony.

Spent a very pleasant time before dinner in the bar near the dining room taking advantage of the $19.95 sample tasting of four different mini sized cocktails. Four cocktails selected out of a possible eight and then we shared 1/2 glass of each one each. Made it into the dining room feeling quite warm and pleasant.

Then off to the 9.30pm show which was a mind reader who was fabulous and we don't know how he did what he did. One of the segments involved four nail guns, one of which was loaded, and he was assisted by a young blonde passenger. We are unsure what was more entertaining - his powers of deduction or her inability to follow instructions and the way she would point the "dangerous" end of the nail at herself when handling them while the mind reader was blindfolded!

After that show, we were in true cruise mode so headed to the adults' only comedy show and were entertained by some quite blue humour. Did we laugh? Alison did not have sufficient tissues tucked where ladies tuck tissues to keep her eyes dry.