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07/24/2008: "A hunting we will go"

Location: The blown out volcano island 'Ureparapara', Banks Group, Vanuatu. There has been no supply boat for 10 months and this island community survives subsistence style - but they do it well, all look healthy and fit. Chief Nickelson and his son Genuray are here building two hunting bows and arrows for Fletcher and Baden. They use the bows to hunt pigeon, using a knock out tip so that the stunned pigeon can be kept alive until needed. No refrigeration here.
The village is simply beautiful, well organised and clean and with bamboo piped running water throughout. The cooking areas have carved timber sinks, flowiing water (continuous as there are no taps and no shortage of water) and are well organised for smoke flow and preparation.
When we arrived at Ureparapara a huge high parked off New Zealand and generated rough seas ans strong winds across Vanuatu - for nearly two weeks! So for two weeks we anchored off the tidal beach of the Village. And we had a wonderful time as the village took us into their fold.
The bows are made from Mangrove root, the arrows bamboo and the tips hardened carved wood.