Wednesday, 7th. January, '99.
Home.

Nothing like the post-holiday blues to make me feel sorry for myself. So - give Ann a call and ask her to suggest something to 'get away from it all' before everyone is back from the holidays, and committee meetings start again.

Monday, 2nd. February, '99.

Yes ! All organised, and my tickets are ready to collect. Baya has organised an all-inclusive break in Vanuatu, no computers, no net, no phones. Simply sun, sleeping, sparkling sand, swimming and snorkelling.

The brochure I collect is filled with facts and figures, and she's right - not one web address in the entire thing. This will be different. I've already looked around on the net, and have located web-pages for the resort, ^updated the National Tourism Office ^updated through Vanuatu On Line, and have emailed them.

Also contacted my GeoTropics Web-Ring-Master buddy Ian in Auckland, as I know he spent time in Vanuatu, and sure enough - he gives me some names of people to look up - and have a drink on him !

The brochure, filled with photos, has me packing my snorkel, sarongs, sunscreen and sun-hat. It reads:

"Hideaway Island Resort and Marine Sanctuary is everything you would expect on a South Pacific Holiday. This picture perfect tropical island with sand and coral beaches surrounded by turquoise blue water is only a short 15 minute bus and ferry trip from the airport and Port Vila, the quaint capital of Vanuatu.

The ocean front Bungalows have magnificent sea views and features coral walls, coconut beams and an impressive clam shell wash basin, all combined in pleasing tropical decor.

The Melanesian style restaurant on the beach features fresh local cuisine prepared by the resorts international chef.

Hideaway watersports offers exciting activities such as water skiing, ‘banana’ rides, windsurfing, diving, snorkelling, glass-bottom boat rides and sea kyaking in pristine Mele Bay. Hideaway Dive is a registered PADI Resort Association Member, and 17 dive sites are within 10 minutes, reefs are accesible from the beach (great for night diving!) and golf is available just across the bay.

The islands extensive reefs are teeming with a colourful variety of sponges, hard corals, sea anemones, gorgonian fans and tropical fish, including ‘Jack’ the resident trigger fish. Experience walls of coral that drop off 70 metres and open tunnels through the reef.

The reef has been protected as a marine sanctuary for 12 years by mutual agreement with the local village and is managed by the resort. The fish are friendly because they know they are not being hunted. Hideaway Island’s Marine Sanctuary is one of the few places on earth where you can hand feed hundreds of ‘tame’ brilliantly coloured fish in a safe protected area right from the beach.

The 'Hideaway Wall' dive site is only a few minutes away by boat and consists of a drop off to 70 metres. The colourful wall features wonderful bright & wholely intact plate corals and numerous nooks and crannies. This provides a great day & night dive."

It's a late flight out, and I won't even feel like driving all that way, so will catch the Airport Shuttle bus and my holiday starts from the front door !

I'm looking forward to a very pleasant, relaxing stay, and once home shall load my own images and write about my personal experiences.

Depart late Sunday night 7th. February, Air Vanuatu QF331 for Port Vila.

How far is it ? - 1982 kms