YOU ASKED FOR MORE…

…so, for your delectation and as a reward for your patience while I was off-line, a further selection of some of me ‘oliday snaps.

Sometimes, the departing soldiers take their toys home. Sometimes not. I have no idea how long the manufacturers expect a tank to last, but this has been a-mouldering in the mangroves for more than 60 years!

It was Kava Night at the hotel and these two fellows are part of a traditional dance troupe who entertained us. The nut shell anklets and the swishy headgear didn’t seem too uncomfortable, but the palm leaf penis sheaths…ouch!

One afternoon, we met this group of kids, dawdling along the shore, en route from The French School. One lad asked if we spoke French and I said: “Oui, mais je ne parlais pas le francais depuis…oh, quarante ans.” Eyes like organ stops! He’d probably never met anyone that old! And in a delightful mixture of French, Bislama and broken English, they told us about the big seeds they’d collected to play with. A knock-down game, perhaps like conkers without the string?

Of course, a holiday is not a holiday without a leisurely lunch at a fine restaurant… and, while we waited for our meal, this was the view. God! Life is tough!

Remember those laundry ladies (previous post) ? Well, after the washing comes the drying. Love those soccer boots!

And that, for a few days anyway, should be a sufficient “fix” for you. I have a couple of art shows looming and very little work ready! So, to the blades, to the blades…

Oh, if anyone wondered why I’d not been blogging, it seems my browser was the problem.

Tales of the South Pacific. (not by James Michener.)

As I see it, one of the world’s problems is a loss of social intercourse.

Come on, be honest, all you folk with automatic washing machines in your houses…don’t you ever wish you had someone to chat with while you’re sorting the socks and going through pockets for any stray “folding” or credit cards or stuff that might shred confetti-like over the whole damn’ load?

These ladies were laundering their linen, talking, laughing and generally having fun while they “worked.” Mind you,the little kid with the boogie board had the aunties in spades when it came to fun. And they were more than happy to have an impromptu photo shoot.

I was fascinated by the intricate sand drawings (in Pidgin: sandroing) which tell cultural stories. Like many communities, these people had no written language before the arrival of Westerners, but they have a long and rich oral and artistic tradition.

This turtle looks “simple.” I challenge you to try to copy it. Oh, by the way, Eddie did this in less than 5 seconds! Of course, if fractals and Celtic knots are your “thing” you’ll be a shoo-in!

Street art? I love it! And the more community-based, the better. We need more of it. Like this:

Great gloopy splodges of cement slapped on the walls then formed and painted. These are on the front wall of the Chief Post Office, Port Vila.

And, oh joy! I went horse-riding! Years (actually 25 years!) since I rode so this was my treat to myself, my companions being less than enthusiastic about VERY BIG ANIMALS.

The ride began with a leisurely walk along the black sand of Mele Beach, then the horses waded into the sea, stirrup-deep and salty water splashed up. (If I’d had the time I could have ,definitely WOULD have taken a longer ride with time for bare back horse-swimming…)

This is Spot, my noble steed. A trustworthy and reliable fellow;a plodder, one might say.I did coax a trot once or twice, but Spot is, these days, reserved for first-timers and elderly ladies so prefers to amble.

Before anyone asks…I have no idea what petals those pink things are.Remember, I was wearing my riding hat, not my horticultural hat.

Yes, I do have some more photos.But, having been computer-less for more than a week, other work is a little backed-up.

Lukin yu, as the say in ‘Vila.

MORE ART FOR THE HEART

 

In a few hours, I shall be groping my way downstairs in the dark and heading for the airport. There I will board a plane for Brisbane to make the connection for my flight to….VANUATU.

Go here to see some of the things I’m looking forward to.

Behave yourselves while I’m away! Alternatively,kick up your heels and have fun.I shall!

(waves goodbye to the screen…)

Update… a friend sent me an email with some brilliant pictures of pencil art.’Way too big for Blogger, but I went a-googling and tracked down the artist,Jennifer Maestre. Try this:
hubpages.com/hub/Fantastic_Pencil_Sculptures

***********

Remember what I said about windows and reflections? Well, I finally took these off the wall to get a halfway reasonable shot! And still not the best!

This is a watercolour by Harvey Stone, a local artist. A kite, I think.

 

A New Zealand stitchbird, Notiomystis cincta, called ‘hihi’ in Maori. For more information, go to : www.nzbirds.com/

This is my first attempt at etching! It’s a proof which I floated on red paper as a birthday card for P. I wrecked the plate while trying to “add a little background interest” so this is pretty much the Alpha and Omega.
However, a couple of weeks ago I came across my original cartoon for this so perhaps I’ll do a photopolymer print…

And that is all I have to show you today, folks. We do have more pictures, but you’ll just have to wait!

One more clue to my holiday destination?
Oh, alright… go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanesia