One of the most common questions we get asked is what prompted our decision to sell up everything and hit the road full time. Although there are many factors that played a part, there was one experience that sealed the deal; our trip to Vanuatu earlier this year.
We had 3 whole weeks exploring 3 of the 83 islands of Vanuatu. Starting first on Espiritu Santo, where we hired a car and spent 10 days discovering magical blue holes, lush rainforests and picturesque beaches. Then a few days visiting Tanna Island's famous highly active Volcano - Mt Yasur. After which we had just over a week on the most visited Island, Efate.
We stayed well clear of the popular, more western resorts, choosing to stay in local accomodations, which ranged from tents on the beach (at Le Life resort on Efate) and incredible beach front bungalows (like at Aore resort on Santo). This way we were able to truly experience the real Vanuatu, rubbing shoulders with the locals and being absorbed in their way of life.
And what a life they lead! Not only do they live in one of natures most beautiful playgrounds (the South Pacific), but the western worlds obsession with technology, consumerism and wealth seems not to have infiltrated this beautiful place.
They do not work all week, barely seeing their families, only to scramble around for spare time on the weekend, in between kids sports activities, work commitments and maintaining their properties. They seem to hold no value in money and riches, other than to make a few Vatu for the evenings Kava sessions - which in itself is a huge community / family affair, every night of the week.
The overwhelming feeling we had during our three weeks was that the Ni-Vanuatu are incredibly HAPPY! Could this be because they are not slave to money and 'things'? Their wealth lies in their ability to enjoy their families, their surroundings. Time slowed down in Vanuatu, the people all refer to it as 'Island Time', and let me tell you its a real thing! We would wait over an hour for lunch or dinner, while they picked the food fresh and cooked it from scratch. It once took us 3 hours to get a tyre pumped up on our hire car, another time we waited 45 minutes for smoothies (we were the only customers) as they had to go pick the mangoes. We could slowly feel our blood pressure dropping as we too succumbed to 'Island time' and began to enjoy all this extra time to just do nothing but wait... it sounds crazy, but there is no rushing in Vanuatu, and it is so refreshing!
Seeing how happy, content and relaxed these people were, with their lack of money and belongings, was so inspiring to us. So although we had already put a plan into place to finish up work within a year, to homeschool the kids and see more of our country, it really didn't feel real until we had experienced this simple and rewarding way of life, if only for 3 weeks! Vanuatu and its people cemented our plans, and since then it has been all systems go!
It really was so beautiful 💚
This place looks amazing! I can see why it would inspire your journey!
If I would be on the edge sell or not sell everything, and I would visit Vanuatu, I would never look back and stay on island ;)
This island life looks so relaxing :) what an experience you guys had ;)