Inside Olal bungalow, North Ambrym, Vanuatu
July 2011: Looking inside the bungalow we stayed in at Chief Sekor's place, Olal village, North Ambrym. Phone: +678 5907659. Cost is 3000 vatu (AU$36) pp, per night including all meals. The footage is a little rocky in places but I'm working in a small space! The other 2 bungalows had wooden bed frames so their mattresses were off the ground. There were 5 of us, so I guess they only had bed frames for 3 people. I quite enjoyed the experience of sleeping on the floor; very authentic. Can't say the same for my friend Sandie, though! Next visit, I'll take my own mattress and leave it with them. Chief Sekor and Lourdes, his wife, speak French and Bislama very well. The chief is okay with English if you keep it simple and go slow. Chief Sekor will arrange boat transfers from Craig Cove to Olal (2 and a half hours). You will need to fly from Santo to Craig Cove, a great trip in a small plane. Be prepared to walk a couple of km from the airport to the boat connection. Bags with wheels are not fun to drag in the soft ash underfoot. Backpacks are the best form of luggage.
Magic Festival is on early July. Back to my roots festival in August. The chief will arrange it all for you.