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Ambrym
Nestled amongst the northern islands of Vanuatu lies Ambrym
– an island dominated by its two active volcanoes Mount
Marum and Mount Benbow. Lava spills regularly from
the volcanoes in a spectacular display and the smell of ash
blends with refreshing sea breezes. Through the centre of
the island runs a 12km ash plain and black volcanic soil contrasts
sharply with lush green vegetation. On the western side of
the island at Sesivi, the sea is warmed by thermal springs
creating a great place for a relaxing dip and a favourite
bathing spot with the locals.
Tenaru Falls
On Guadalcanal Island, the largest island of the Solomons,
is the impressive Tenaru Falls. Situated along the Chea river,
the waterfall is around 60 metres high and cascades down into
a deep pool ideal for a refreshing swim. To get to the falls
a truck can take you as far as Hailupa, from where you’ll
have to walk the last 9km or so. When you get to the falls
you’ll be asked to pay a $10 custom fee although there
is some argument amongst the villages as to who owns the falls,
and you may find yourself charged more than once. Be aware
that there is a real danger of flash flooding.
Skull Island
At the tip of Vonavona Island in the Solomons lies the eerily
named ‘Skull Island’. So called because of its reliquary
or ‘skull house’ – a small decorated casket
containing the skulls of headhunting chiefs and their warriors
and some of the chiefs shell valuables. The casket is an ancestral
shrine that is believed to act as a dwelling place for the
spirit of the dead and for a fee of S$10 the ‘custom
owners’ will remove the lid of the casket allowing you
to see the skulls inside. Some are thought to be several hundred
years old, others as recent as the 1920s.
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