Early 2020 AD. Danny and I embark on a 21st century Odyssey. On the Majestic Princess from Sydney to New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji. Back to Sydney, then to Melbourne and flying back home.

Port Vila is the capital city of Vanuatu. Once a condominium of France and the United Kingdom, it is now independent. Our guide – I’m afraid I didn’t note his name, first took us to the Nikolai Michoutouchkine and Aloi Pilioko Foundation Museum. Nikolai Michoutouchkine migrated from Russia to Vanuatu and started a bohemian life, collecting local Micronesian, Melanesian and Polynesian artifacts.

There we learned amongst other things bungee jumping originated in what is now Vanuatu in 1865.

Afterwards we went to Pango, a ‘cultural village’. These are villages were local people display their ancient culture. Dances, goods to buy. It always feels a bit awkward.

We proceeded to the National Museum, which desperately needs an update. We ended the tour with an overview of the city.

I wanted to walk in the city center, but a) Im’m not sure there is one properly speaking; b) it was a Sunday and the practicing christian Vanuatuans close up shop and c) the way to the ship was too long.

So our venture into Vanuatu ended there. We felt we had seen what there is to be seen…