Malekula Cultural Arts Festival

Thank you to all of our participants from all over Malekula, to our Committee and to our sponsors. It was a great week end, we are looking forward to 2011 bakagen....

1,2,3rd Oct Malekula cultural arts festival

This event will begin at the beginning of October. The tickets will be only 7000 vt including meals all dances and workshops inquire at the Vanuatu Cultural Centre. There is a range of accommodation from bungalows, home stays and camping, you'll have to arrange before to assure your desired selection. Call 7765302.

You can reach our sunny shores with Air Vanuatu, ask for David Dick, which will bring you to Lamap then a boat will bring you to our island. Or cruise on a fast catamaran, Fresh Cargo 22660, it should take about 4 hours and bring direct to site.

Culture Festival Firestick

Chief Kalmet, the president of the council of chiefs Maskelyne Island, has received the fire stick from the Malekula Cultural Centre giving the Maskelynes the right to hold a festival celebrating the culture of South Malekula. The chief along with others are excited to be apart of this festival. He said;

‘Tribes of South Malekula share similar languages, traditions and families. This festival will give our children the chance to see their other families’ customs and for us celebrate together.’


Participants from the main island and surrounding islands of Malekula will be making the day long voyage to converge on Sangalai Harbour, on Maskelyne Island on
Thursday 1st October 2009.

The participants will be following historical trade routes, to come together and be part of the three-day cultural celebration.

The festival will be hosted in a new village daily, and visitors will be taken to each village by the local village chief. There visitors will witness Smol Nambas Kastom Dance and will be invited to participate in interactive workshops and displays of weaving, carving, coconut scratching, canoe building and sailing amongst other cultural activities.

There will be plenty of opportunities for visitors to explore the island.
Visitors can take a guided tour on a traditional canoe to the Giant Clam reserve, the outer reef, or just relax on the sand beaches and absorb the relaxed island ambiance.

Reef Island Life

Reef Island Life

The Maskelyne Island community, in conjunction with the Vanuatu Kaljarol Senta, are glad to be hosting the South Malekula Kastom Festival “Reef Island Life”

October 1st, 2nd, 3rd 2009

A three-day festive insight in to the ancient traditions of the Small Nambas,
and the living culture of South Malekula.

Malekula is made up of the most culturally and linguistically diverse islands of Vanuatu.


Participants from the surrounding islands of South Malekula will be making the day long voyage to converge on Sangalai Harbour, on Maskelyne Island on
Thursday 1st October 2009.

The participants will be following historical trade routes, to come together and be part of the three-day cultural celebration.

Maskelyne Island is a small island, which takes less than one hour to circumnavigate. Three villages are linked with shady paths, bordered by lush rainforest that hold an array of birds. The island is perched on an extensive reef shelf that is dissected by channels and lagoons, and is home to many ocean species and includes conservation sites for the Giant Clam.

The festival will be hosted in a new village daily, and visitors will be taken to each village by the local village chief. There visitors will be invited to participate in workshops and displays of weaving, carving, coconut scratching, canoe building and sailing amongst other cultural activities.

There will be plenty of opportunities for visitors to explore the island.
Visitors can take a guided tour on a traditional canoe to the outer reef, or just relax on the sand beaches and absorb the relaxed, island ambiance.

Evenings will be spent together at Sangalai point where a Melanesian feast will be shared by fire-light, followed by kastom performances and storytelling.

Bungalow accommodation is available on the island. Bookings need to be
pre-arranged as numbers are limited. A secluded campground is available on the pristine white sand beach of Malaflaf, and village stays can be arranged.

Tickets will be available at the Vanuatu Kaljarol Senta in Port Vila and Wrecks to Rain forest in Santo, in July 2009.

For more information please Contact Anna and Liam on ecoadventuremaskelyne@gmail.com

Ph: 7765302 or 5484597

Round Maskelyne Island Tour

Day-1. Pick up from Lamap airport and taken by speed boat to ‘Ringi tu su’ giant clam shell conservation area. Board your selected vessel and head to Sakoa ‘Garden Island’ Tour and tastes, with swimming in secluded beaches along the way. Camp at sandbeach at the estuary of mud crab creek.
Day-2. Travel to Bagatelle Island, beach and reef fringed tropical island with ruins from time before. Lunch at Ayom a remote village, climb atop of the rocky outcrop to view the whole Maskelynes. Head to Vulae to a private beach camp.
Day-3, Wake up to the sun rising over the Sugarlump reef plateau. Visit a turtle nesting beach, swim in sheltered lagoons. Head to Malaflaf point to camp with the opportunity of a night snorkel.

Maskelyne Islands, situated of South East Malekula, the culturally and linguistically diverse Island of Vanuatu. The Maskelynes are perched upon an extensive reef shelf dissected by deep channels providing a haven for a vast array of marine life, including turtles, dugongs, rays and occasionally whales. Eco Adventure Maskelyne are proud to present the first multi-day tour in the Maskelynes. The tour will weave around the multitude of rocky out crops that are ringed by white sand beaches and fringed by tropical coral reef. The islands are inhabited with remote villages and shaded by rainforest.

Welcome

On arrival to the island recievce your Kastom welcome

Ringi Ti Su

A conservation area that hosts a rehabilitation site of giant clams. The tabu on fishing has ensured a great exhibition of reef fish.